Tasco is a town and municipality in the Valderrama Province, part of the Colombian department of Boyacá. Tasco is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at altitudes ranging from 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) to 3,800 metres (12,500 ft). The Chicamocha River flows through the municipality which borders Socha in the north, Corrales and Gámeza in the south, Socotá in the east and Betéitiva and Paz de Río in the west. The urban centre is located at an altitude of 2,530 metres (8,300 ft) at 115 kilometres (71 mi) from the department capital Tunja.[1]

Tasco
Municipality and town
View of Tasco
View of Tasco
Flag of Tasco
Location of the municipality and town of Tasco in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Location of the municipality and town of Tasco in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country Colombia
DepartmentBoyacá Department
ProvinceValderrama Province
Founded15 October 1577
Government
 • MayorJuan Yesid Cusba Tibaduiza
(2020-2023)
Area
 • Municipality and town
167 km2 (64 sq mi)
 • Urban
0.3 km2 (0.1 sq mi)
Elevation
2,530 m (8,300 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Municipality and town
6,361
 • Density38/km2 (99/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,905
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

Etymology

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Tasco in the Chibcha language of the Muisca means "Enclosure or mansion of the sovereign".[2]

History

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The area of Tasco was inhabited by the Boche and Pirgua tribes, before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca.[3] Modern Tasco was founded on October 15, 1577.[1] Mummies have been encountered in Tasco.[4]

Economy

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Main economical activities of Tasco are agriculture and livestock farming. Among the agricultural products are potatoes, Ullucus tuberosus, turnips, maize, beans, barley, peas and chick peas. Fruits cultivated in Tasco are peaches, pears, prunes, apples and the Colombian fruit curuba.[1]

Paleontology

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Fossil remains of the Rosidae Berhamniphyllum and Archaeopaliurus boyacensis have been found in the Maastrichtian Guaduas Formation in Tasco and described in 2010.[5]

Climate

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Climate data for Betéitiva/Tasco, elevation 2,575 m (8,448 ft), (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 23.2
(73.8)
23.8
(74.8)
23.2
(73.8)
23.3
(73.9)
22.5
(72.5)
21.9
(71.4)
21.7
(71.1)
22.0
(71.6)
22.1
(71.8)
22.6
(72.7)
22.3
(72.1)
22.6
(72.7)
22.6
(72.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.2
(59.4)
15.5
(59.9)
15.4
(59.7)
15.6
(60.1)
15.5
(59.9)
15.2
(59.4)
14.8
(58.6)
14.9
(58.8)
14.8
(58.6)
15.1
(59.2)
15.2
(59.4)
15.3
(59.5)
15.2
(59.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 8.2
(46.8)
8.3
(46.9)
8.7
(47.7)
9.4
(48.9)
9.4
(48.9)
9.5
(49.1)
9.0
(48.2)
9.3
(48.7)
8.8
(47.8)
9.2
(48.6)
9.4
(48.9)
8.6
(47.5)
9.0
(48.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 34.5
(1.36)
43.9
(1.73)
72.0
(2.83)
91.0
(3.58)
82.6
(3.25)
52.3
(2.06)
52.4
(2.06)
52.6
(2.07)
70.3
(2.77)
85.9
(3.38)
93.5
(3.68)
50.6
(1.99)
748.9
(29.48)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 8 7 11 13 15 13 15 14 14 15 13 9 140
Average relative humidity (%) 77 76 81 81 81 81 81 81 80 80 82 80 80
Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales[6]


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References

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  1. ^ a b c (in Spanish) Official website Tasco
  2. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Municipalities Boyacá - Excelsio.net
  3. ^ (in Spanish) Boche and Pirgua people territories
  4. ^ Martínez Martín, Abel Fernando; Meléndez, Fernardo Francisco; Manrique, Fred Gustavo (2010). "Bio-anthropology and paleopathology of the SO10-IX Muisca mummy from Sátivanorte, Boyacá, Colombia". Colombia Médica. 41 (2). Universidad del Valle: 112–120. ISSN 1657-9534.112-120&rft.date=2010&rft.issn=1657-9534&rft.aulast=Martínez Martín&rft.aufirst=Abel Fernando&rft.au=Meléndez, Fernardo Francisco&rft.au=Manrique, Fred Gustavo&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Tasco, Boyacá" class="Z3988">
  5. ^ Tasco in the Paleobiology Database
  6. ^ "Promedios Climatológicos 1981–2010" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2024.

5°55′N 72°47′W / 5.917°N 72.783°W / 5.917; -72.783