Bogota

Bogotá, officially Bogotá, D.C., is the capital and largest city of Colombia. Located in the center of the country on the Bogotá savanna in the Andean highlands, it sits at about 2,640 meters above sea level and experiences a mild, variable climate year-round.

The city was founded in 1538 by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada on the site of the pre-Columbian Muisca settlement Bacatá. It grew as the political and administrative center during the colonial period and later became the capital of the independent Republic of Colombia.

As of the early 2020s, Bogotá has a metropolitan population in the vicinity of 9 to 11 million, making it one of the largest urban areas in South America. The city is Spanish-speaking and serves as the seat of national government, ministries, and many corporations. The economy is dominated by services, government, education, healthcare, and finance, with El Dorado International Airport acting as a major regional hub.

Culturally, Bogotá features La Candelaria, the historic downtown district, and major museums such as the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) and the Botero Museum. Landmarks include Plaza de Bolivar and Monserrate hill. The city is also a center for higher education, hosting universities such as the Universidad de los Andes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and the National University of Colombia.

Public transport includes a large bus rapid transit system, TransMilenio, with plans and construction advancing on a metro line to extend rapid transit. The climate is temperate due to altitude, with relatively constant temperatures and two rainy seasons each year.