Why Arauca
Arauca, officially known as Villa de Santa Bárbara de Arauca, serves as the departmental capital of the Arauca Department in northeastern Colombia. Situated at coordinates 07° 05′ 25″ N and 70° 45′ 42″ W, this border municipality recorded a total population of 85,585 in the 2018 census. It is established along the banks of the Arauca River, which forms the boundary separating Colombia from neighbouring Venezuela.
The geography surrounding the settlement is characterized by notably flat terrain. Due to its low-lying landscape alongside the watercourse, the area experiences regular seasonal flooding from the adjacent Arauca River. Both the waterway and the town derive their designation from the indigenous Arauca people who historically inhabited the region.
The initial European exploration of the territory occurred in 1536 under the direction of German explorer Jorge de la Espira, also recorded as Georg von Speyer. Early Spanish travelers did not establish permanent settlements immediately, as their efforts were focused on searching for the legendary El Dorado. Subsequent colonization was led by Jesuit missionaries and land grantees who created early European outposts. On December 4, 1780, Juan Isidro Daboín officially established the town on the site of a small Guahibo indigenous village comprising approximately ten families.
Throughout its history, Arauca has fulfilled several administrative designations. It previously served as the capital of the historical Province of Casanare within New Granada. Under a revolutionary government formed on July 16, 1816, it functioned briefly as the national capital. Later administrative roles included becoming the capital of a specialized police district in 1911 and the seat of the national intendancy from 1955 until 1991, when it became the capital of the present-day department. In 1986, it was recognized as the country's oil capital.
The demographic composition of the municipality is predominantly White and Mestizo, representing 92.4 percent of the residents. Black inhabitants account for 5.9 percent of the population, while indigenous communities comprise 1.7 percent of the local populace.
Since its founding, livestock production and cattle ranching have formed the traditional foundation of the local economy. In recent decades, petroleum extraction from nearby oil sands initiated in 1984 has grown to generate the majority of municipal revenues. Cross-border trade and regional transit are facilitated by the Puente José Antonio Páez, a bridge spanning into Venezuela, along with the Route of the Liberators highway extending to Bogotá. Air transportation access to the municipality is provided through Santiago Pérez Airport.
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