Fúquene

Fúquene is a municipality and town of Colombia in the department of Cundinamarca. The municipality borders Ubaté, Susa, Guachetá and the department of Boyacá. Fúquene is located 116 km northwest from the capital Bogotá.[1]

Fúquene
Municipality and town
Park in Fúquene
Flag Seal
Location of the municipality and town inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
Fúquene Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 5°24′18″N 73°47′45″W
Country	Colombia
Department	Cundinamarca
Province	Ubaté Province
Founded	6 November 1638
Founded by	Gabriel Carvajal
Government
• Mayor	Oscar Fredy Rojas Briceño (2016-2019)
Area
• Municipality and town	90 km^2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation	2,750 m (9,020 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	5,617
• Density	62/km^2 (160/sq mi)
• Urban	263
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website

History

Fúquene, in the north of the present department of Cundinamarca, was in the centuries before the Spanish conquest inhabited by the Muisca. The village was located in the border region of the northern Muisca territories, ruled by the zaque of Hunza, the southern Muisca area with the zipa based in Bacatá and the independent territories in the northwest. A lake within the boundaries of Fúquene, Lake Fúquene was considered a sacred site in the religion of the Muisca.[2]

With the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores many indigenous people fled to an island in Lake Fúquene.[1] Modern Fúquene was first established by one of the few female founders in 1542, Teresa de Verdugo. The town was properly founded on November 6th, 1638 by Gabriel Carvajal.[1]

Etymology

The name Fúquene is either derived from the Chibcha words fú and quyny, meaning "bed of the fox", or named after the god Fu, who inhabited the lake defending the terrain against the Muzo; "bed of Fu".[1]

Economy

Main economical activities of Fúquene are livestock farming and agriculture, mainly potatoes, tomatoes, maize and fruits as strawberries.[1]

References

1. (in Spanish) Official website Fúquene - accessed 05-05-2016
2. Ocampo López, Javier (2007). Grandes culturas indígenas de América [Great indigenous cultures of the Americas] (in Spanish). Bogotá, Colombia: Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A. p. 226. ISBN 978-958-14-0368-4.