Bogota Santa Fede

Bogota, Santa Fe de, town in South America, near the river Bogota, and on a table-land 8,694 feet high, which separates the basins of the Magdalena and Orinoco, capital of the Republic of Colombia (formerly New Granada) and of the State of Candinamarca. It is the seat of government and of an archbishopric, and of the supreme court of justice. It possesses a university, colleges, library, museum, botanical gardens, observatory, school of painting, and mint. Among its industries are manufactures of soap, cloth, and linen, and the preparation of leather. Printing and working in the precious metals are also carried on. The climate is wholesome and agreeable although very damp. There are frequent earthquakes, and the houses are in consequence mostly one-storeyed. Founded in 1538, Bogota was for three centuries the seat of the Spanish vice-royalty, and having been taken (1816) by the Spaniards after the declaration of independence, it was retaken by Bolivar (1819), and became the capital of the republic of Colombia till 1831, when that republic was subdivided. At that time Bogota was made the capital of New Granada, and since 1858 has remained the seat of government. The great drawback to its prosperity is the difficulty of transport; but a railway has been projected, and the neighbouring mountains give much promise of mineral wealth in the shape of iron, coal, and salt; while gold, silver, copper, and emeralds are also said to exist.