Bucaramanga
Bucaramanga (Spanish pronunciation: [bukaɾaˈmaŋɡa]) is the capital and largest city of the department of Santander, Colombia. Bucaramanga has the fifth-largest economy by GDP in Colombia, has the lowest unemployment rate and is the ninth most populous city in the country, with a population of 613,400 (2023 projection). Bucaramanga has over 160 parks scattered throughout the city and has been given the nickname "La Ciudad de Los Parques" ("The City of Parks") and "La Ciudad Bonita de Colombia" ("Colombia's Beautiful City").
Bucaramanga | |
|---|---|
Municipality and city | |
From top, left to right: Panoramic, Santander Park, Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Family, Courthouse and Night view of the Provincial Viaduct | |
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Flag Seal | |
| Nicknames: La ciudad bonita (The Pretty City) La ciudad de los parques (City of Parks) | |
| Motto: Montani semper liberi | |
Location of the city and municipality of Bucaramanga in the Santander Department | |
Bucaramanga Location in Colombia | |
| Coordinates: 7°8′N 73°0′W | |
| Country | Colombia |
| Region | Andean Region |
| Department | Santander |
| Foundation | 22 December 1622 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Juan Carlos Cárdenas Rey (Movimiento 'Ciudadanos Libres') |
| Area | |
| • Municipality and city | 152.9 km2 (59.0 sq mi) |
| • City | 55.31 km2 (21.36 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 959 m (3,146 ft) |
| Population (2020 estimate) | |
| • Municipality and city | 607,428 |
| • Density | 4,000/km2 (10,000/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 893,040 |
| • Metro | 1,304,288 |
| • City | 597,316 |
| • City density | 11,000/km2 (28,000/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Bumangués |
| GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total | $22.7 billion |
| Time zone | UTC-05 (Eastern Time Zone) |
| Postal code | 680001-680011 |
| Area code | 57 + 7 |
| Website | Official website (in Spanish) |
Bucaramanga has grown rapidly since the 1960s, mostly into neighbouring locations within the metropolitan area. Floridablanca, Girón and Piedecuesta are inextricably linked geographically and commercially with Bucaramanga, and now all form together the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area with a population of 1,304,288.
The city is the base of the Colombian Petroleum Institute (ICP), the research branch of the state oil company Ecopetrol.