Amazonas (Colombian department)

Department of Amazonas

Departamento del Amazonas
Department of Amazonas Departamento del Amazonas
Department
	Flag Coat of arms
	Motto(s): Entre todos podemos; (Spanish: All together we can)
	Anthem: Himno de Amazonas
	Amazonas shown in red
	Topography of the department
Country	Colombia
Region	Amazonía Region
Department	1991
Intendancy	1931
Capital	Leticia
Government
• Governor	Óscar Sánchez Guerrero (2024-present)
Area
• Total	109,665 km2 (42,342 sq mi)
• Rank	1st
Population (2018)
• Total	76,589
• Rank	30th
• Density	0.70/km2 (1.8/sq mi)
GDP
• Total	COP 1,068 billion; (US$ 0.3 billion)
Time zone	UTC-05
ISO 3166 code	CO-AMA
HDI (2019)	0.717; high · 26th of 33
Website	www.amazonas.gov.co

Amazonas (Spanish pronunciation: [amaˈsonas]) is a department of Southern Colombia in the south of the country. It is the largest department in area while having the third smallest population among the departments. Its capital is Leticia and its name comes from the Amazon River, which drains the department.

Toponymy

The department name comes from the name of the Amazon River. The river was named by the Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana (1511–1546), who, on his voyage of exploration, said he was attacked by "fierce females" who looked like Amazons of the Greek mythology; however, the existence of a female warrior tribe in that time hasn't been demonstrated and it is possible that they were long-haired Native American warriors who impressed the conqueror, who called the jungle and the river with the name of Amazon.

Demographics

The following ethnic groups are found in the department: Bora, Cocama, Macuna, Mirana, Okaina, Ticunas, Tucano, Uitoto, Yagua, and Yucuna, among others. These groups are more than 5,000 years old. In 2018, the population comprised 76,589 people.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1938	6,414	—
1951	7,619	+18.8%
1964	12,962	+70.1%
1973	15,677	+20.9%
1985	39,937	+154.7%
1993	56,399	+41.2%
2005	67,726	+20.1%
2018	76,589	+13.1%
Source:^[6]

National parks

The Amazonas Department covers 109,665 km² (42,342 sq mi) of protected area, most of it under the name of "forest reserve" since 1959. There are currently four "National Parks" (Amacayacú, Cahuinarí, Rio Puree, and Yagoje Apaporis).