Pueblo Bello is the only municipality that is completely within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. The municipality borders to the north with the Department of Magdalena; to the east and south with the municipality of Valledupar and to the southwest with the municipality of El Copey. The municipality of Pueblo Bello is also part a Forest Reserve, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park and the indigenous reserve. The municipality is crossed by two rivers; the Ariguaní River and the Ariguanicito River.[3]
Climate
Pueblo Bello presents an average temperature throughout the year between 16°C and 22°C predominantly characterized by mountain climate.[3]
History
The region was first inhabited by the Arhuaco and Chimila Maconganas. Upon the arrival of the Spanish, during the Spanish colonization of the Americas, the first European explorers to arrive were men under the orders of Lope de Orozco and had named it Valle de Taironaca (Valley of Taironaca).[4]
The village was founded by Captain Antonio Florez in c. 1590 with the name Dulce Nombre de Jesus but due to constant attacks from the Chimilas the town was moved nearer to Valledupar. The old village was named; Pueblo Viejo (named changed to Pueblo Bello in the 20th Century) and the new town; Nueva Valencia.[4]
Pueblo Bello was a corregimiento of Valledupar until 1997 when it was elevated to municipality by Ordinance 037 of December 10, 1997; later Decree 000239 of May 6, 1998 the Ordinance was recognized and enforced.[3]
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