Santa Marta

Santa Marta is a city and municipality in northern Colombia between the Caribbean Sea and the mountains named Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Santa Marta is the capital of the Magdalena province. The city is an important maritime port and a hub for tourism, history and culture.
It was founded on July 29, 1525 by Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, who named the city after the holy day for the Catholic Martha wich in Spain was celebrated with festivities. However many historians argue that he called it after the Spanish city of Santa Marta de Astorgas that he had visited. It was one of the first cities that was established in Colombia.
The liberator Simón Bolívar died on 17 December 1830 on a farm called "Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino. This farm was situated on the outskirts of Santa Marta. The city is also affected to some extent by the Colombian Armed Conflict.

History

The area where the Santa Marta was located prior to the arrival of Spanish explorers inhabited by Amerindians of the Tairona culture, and further including families and Arhuacos Koguis. The city was founded in July 29, 1525 by Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, combined with nearly two hundred of his people and a few Amerindians. He named the city after the Catholic Holy days for Martha, who in Spain was celebrated with festivities. However many historians argue that he was after the Spanish city of Santa Marta de Astorgas that he had visited. With its foundation, the Spanish began colonization also capturing country of this area, and the drafting of administrative functions for the colony, including a sea port and the construction of defense to prevent pirate raids.

During Colonial times, the city began to lose its importance as a seaport harbor town to nearby Cartagena.
During the mid-nineteenth century, began the French, British and North American immigrants along with some locals to industrial methods of production to introduce and trade associations formed by farmers and the Industrials. For the connection of the productive networks they built railways.
In 1871, the University of Magdalena established, initially with two faculties: law and medicine.
During the 20th century the city was mainly used as a main hub for the massive export of bananas and coal which were acquired in the interior with the help of major multinational companies.
The warm climate and the opportunity to work in the tourist industry have led the city grow in recent years.

Climate

Temperatures in Santa Marta are between 19 and 32 degrees Celsius at sea level. The temperature drop as you go up the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The rainfall in this area varied from 12 to 97 mm per month.