Manaure, La Guajira

Town in Caribbean, Colombia

Manaure

Town

Salt mines in Manaure, La Guajira

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Location of the town and municipality of Manaure in the Department of La Guajira.

Manaure

Coordinates: 11°46′45″N 72°26′58″W﻿ / ﻿11.77917°N 72.44944°W﻿ / 11.77917; -72.44944
Country|  Colombia
Region| Caribbean
Department| La Guajira
Founded| 1723
Government

• Mayor| Humberto Martinez Fajardo (C)[1]
Area

• Total| 1,971 km2 (761 sq mi)
Elevation

| 3 m (10 ft)
Population

(2019 est.[2])

• Total| 120,417
• Density| 61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Demonym| Manaurero
Time zone| UTC-5
Area code| 57 + 5
Climate| BWh
Website| Official website (in Spanish)

Manaure or Salinas de Manaure is a town and municipality located in the Colombian Department of La Guajira. Manaure's main economic activity is the exploitation of the vast amounts of salt in the area.

## Geography[edit]

The municipality of Manaure is located in northernmost part of South America, on the arid plains of the Guajira Peninsula, in the Colombian Caribbean region, bordering to the north with the Caribbean Sea to the east with the municipality of Uribia; to the south with the municipality of Maicao and to the west with the municipality of Riohacha.[3]

The municipality of Manaure is within the Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub with water streams determined by precipitations during the rainy seasons. The municipality seat of Manaure is crossed by the Limón Creek which flows into the Caribbean sea. The coastline has high concentration of salt, rocks and clay over predominantly flat plains, slightly undulated in some areas.[3]

### Climate[edit]

Manaure has a hot arid climate (Köppen BWh) owing to its extremely high evaporation rates, despite receiving over 375 millimetres or 15 inches of rain in an average year. The weather is hot and dry throughout the year, averaging between 28 °C (82 °F) and 38 °C (100 °F) throughout the year with constant northeastern trade winds meaning evaporation and humidity are high. The area has a rainy season from August to November averaging around three-quarters of the annual rainfall, and also a shorter season of light rains during the month of May, with very little rain occurring in the remainder of the year.[4]

Climate data for Manaure, La Guajira

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 32.3
(90.1)  | 32.4
(90.3)  | 32.6
(90.7)  | 32.7
(90.9)  | 33.4
(92.1)  | 34.6
(94.3)  | 35.0
(95.0)  | 34.7
(94.5)  | 33.8
(92.8)  | 33.0
(91.4)  | 32.6
(90.7)  | 32.5
(90.5)  | 33.3
(91.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 23.9
(75.0)  | 24.0
(75.2)  | 24.4
(75.9)  | 24.3
(75.7)  | 24.7
(76.5)  | 25.3
(77.5)  | 25.0
(77.0)  | 25.0
(77.0)  | 25.1
(77.2)  | 24.7
(76.5)  | 24.4
(75.9)  | 24.1
(75.4)  | 24.6
(76.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches)  | 3.7
(0.15)  | 2.9
(0.11)  | 6.1
(0.24)  | 19.1
(0.75)  | 39.9
(1.57)  | 14.1
(0.56)  | 11.4
(0.45)  | 33.6
(1.32)  | 58.4
(2.30)  | 114.1
(4.49)  | 68.1
(2.68)  | 22.2
(0.87)  | 393.6
(15.49)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 1  | 1  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 2  | 1  | 3  | 6  | 8  | 6  | 4  | 38
Average relative humidity (%)  | 74  | 74  | 75  | 74  | 73  | 69  | 67  | 71  | 73  | 76  | 74  | 75  | 73
Mean daily sunshine hours | 7.6  | 7.2  | 7.0  | 6.2  | 6.5  | 7.7  | 7.6  | 8.0  | 7.1  | 6.3  | 6.7  | 6.7  | 7.1
Source: Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales[5]

## History[edit]

Manaure salt lagoons

Chronicles from the Spanish explorer first detailed some indigenous in the area called Coanaos which traveled between the Cabo de la Vela and the region of Valledupar to exchange salt for gold. During the 19th century salt in the region was exploited at Honda Bay and Quebrada Bay on coasts of what is part of the municipality of Manaure which naturally formed lagoons. In 1777 the Spanish government ordered the administration of the Salinas.[6]

In 1824 the government declared the Salinas or salt mines as national patrimony of the nation establishing a regulatory price control. In 1932 the bank of the Republic was given authority over the administration and exploitation of salt mines in Zipaquirá, Nemocón and Sesquilé.[6]

Industrial exploitation and processing of salt in Manaure began in the 1920s when the government gave concessions to individual investors for the exploitation of the salt mine and until the 1940s the mode of collection went from artisan to industrial, when the Bank of the Republic took over the Manaure salt mines. By 1948 salt production in Manaure was between 20,000 and 30,000 tons a year. In 1970 the concession of Manaure salt mines was transferred to the IFI-Concesión Salinas which intensified the production to one million tons a year.[6]

The Wayuu began to claim the area as their ancestral land and historical owners of Manaure. In 1991 the government recognized the claim by the Wayuu and agreed to reorganize production and work conditions under a mixed economy, in which the indigenous would have 25% of the stocks in the company. The accords were not met and the Wayuus sued the government in 1994. The court ordered the creation of Sociedad Salinas de Manaure, SAMA based on the original agreement and linked to the then Ministry of Development. The Wayuu would have 25%, but once again the agreements were not met due to legal problems. In 2002 Law 773 of the same year reestablished the creation of the SAMA, distributing earnings among the Ministry of Development (51%) the indigenous Association "Sumain Ichi" (25%) and the municipality of Manaure (25%).[6]

## References[edit]

1. ^ (in Spanish) Colombian Registry of the Civil State: 2007 election results[permanent dead link]
2. ^ "Estimaciones de Población 1985 - 2005 y Proyecciones de Población 2005 - 2020 Total Municipal por Área (estimate)". DANE. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
3. ^ a b (in Spanish) Manaure: Geography Archived 2012-07-12 at archive.today
4. ^ (in Spanish) Manaure: Climate Archived 2012-07-12 at archive.today
5. ^ "Data". www.ideam.gov.co. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
6. ^ a b c d (in Spanish) Bank of the Republic: ASPECTOS HISTORICOS Y SOCIOECONOMICOS DE LAS SALINAS DE MANAURE Archived 2007-06-26 at the Wayback Machine by Maríía Aguilera Díaz (Riohacha, 14 de octubre de 2004)

## External links[edit]

* (in Spanish)Manaure official website

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities in La Guajira Department

* Albania
* Barrancas
* Dibulla
* Distracción
* El Molino
* Fonseca
* Hatonuevo
* La Jagua del Pilar
* Maicao
* Manaure
* Riohacha
* San Juan del Cesar
* Uribia
* Urumita
* Villanueva

* v
* t
* e

Treasures of Colombia

* Archaeological sites
* Colombia magia salvaje
* National monuments
* National parks
* World Heritage sites

Heritage of humanity

|  Bolívar|

* Cartagena
* Mompox

|

National heritage

|  Antioquia|

* Puente de Occidente

|

Atlántico|

* Complejo Cultural de la Antigua Aduana

Boyacá|

* Estación de Chiquinquirá
* Tunja
* Vargas Swamp Lancers
* Villa de Leyva

Caldas|

* Palacio de la Gobernación de Caldas
* Salamina

Cauca|

* Popayán
* Tierradentro

Cundinamarca|

* Plaza Bolívar
* Casa de Moneda de Colombia
* Estación de la Sabana
* Museo del Oro
* Museo Nacional
* San Francisco Church
* San Francisco Palace
* Santa Clara Church and Museum
* Santamaría Bullring
* Teatro Colón

Huila|

* San Agustín

Quindío|

* Parque del Café

Santander|

* San Juan de Girón

Valle del Cauca|

* San Francisco Church

Architectural, artistic and archaeological treasures

|  Antioquia|

* Botero Collection
* Haciendas cafeteras

|

Boyacá|

* Ráquira

Caldas|

* Haciendas cafeteras
* Manizales Cathedral

Cundinamarca|

* Haciendas cafeteras
* Monserrate Sanctuary
* Quinta de Bolívar
* Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá

Magdalena|

* Ciudad Perdida
* Haciendas cafeteras
* Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino

Nariño|

* Las Lajas Shrine

Norte de Santander|

* Haciendas cafeteras

Quindío|

* Haciendas cafeteras

Risaralda|

* Haciendas cafeteras

Santander|

* Barichara
* Haciendas cafeteras

Tolima|

* Haciendas cafeteras

Valle del Cauca|

* La Ermita Church
* Hacienda El Paraíso
* Haciendas cafeteras

National natural parks and treasures

|  Amazonas|

* Amacayacu
* Amazon River
* Angostura del Caquetá
* Araracuara Canyon
* La Chorrera
* Putumayo River
* Raudal de Jirijirimo

|

Antioquia|

* Los Katíos
* Piedra del Peñol

Arauca|

* Sierra Nevada del Cocuy

Bolívar|

* Rosario Islands

Boyacá|

* Lake Iguaque
* Páramo de Ocetá
* Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
* Siscuinsí Lake
* Lake Tota

Caldas|

* Los Nevados

Caquetá|

* Angostura del Caquetá
* Araracuara Canyon
* Caño Paujil
* Chiribiquete
* Claro River
* Mirití River

Casanare|

* Sierra Nevada del Cocuy

Cauca|

* Gorgona Island
* Lagunas de la Magdalena y de Santiago
* Nevado del Huila
* Puracé Volcano

Cesar|

* Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Chocó|

* Cabo Marzo
* Ensenada de Utría
* Los Katíos

Cundinamarca|

* Chingaza
* Lake Guatavita
* Rocas de Suesca

Guainía|

* Atabapo River
* Cerros de Mavecure

La Guajira|

* Alta Guajira
* Cabo de la Vela
* Los Flamencos Sanctuary
* Salinas de Manaure
* Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Guaviare|

* Cerro Pintado
* Chiribiquete
* Ciudades de Piedra
* Inírida River Raudales

Huila|

* Claro River
* Estrecho del Magdalena
* Lagunas de la Magdalena y de Santiago
* Nevado del Huila
* Tatacoa Desert

Magdalena|

* Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta
* Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Meta|

* Caño Cristales
* Chingaza

Nariño|

* Cumbal Volcano
* Galeras Volcano
* Laguna de la Cocha
* Laguna Verde del Azufral
* Putumayo River
* Sanquianga

Norte de Santander|

* Los Estoraques

Putumayo|

* Cascada del Indio
* La Paya
* Putumayo River

Quindío|

* Cocora Valley
* Los Nevados

Risaralda|

* Los Nevados

San Andrés y Providencia|

* Providencia Island

Santander|

* Chicamocha Canyon
* El Gallineral

Tolima|

* Cerro Bravo
* Nevado del Huila
* Los Nevados

Valle del Cauca|

* Farallones de Cali
* Malpelo Island

Vaupés|

* Apaporis River Tunnel
* Raudal de Jirijirimo
* Raudal de Yuruparí

Vichada|

* El Tuparro

Source: Wills, Fernando; et al. (2001). Nuestro patrimonio – 100 tesoros de Colombia [Our heritage – 100 treasures of Colombia] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. pp. 1–311. ISBN 958-8089-16-6.

* v
* t
* e

Mining in Colombia

Gold|

* Acandí
* El Bagre
* La Ye
* Barbacoas
* Buriticá
* Buriticá
* Cáceres
* Cajamarca
* La Colosa
* Caramanta
* Caramanta
* El Carmen de Atrato
* El Roble
* Cisneros
* Cisneros
* Condoto
* Guapi
* Jericó
* Quebradona
* Lloró
* Magüí
* Marmato
* Marmato
* Nechí
* Quibdó
* Quinchía
* Quinchía
* Remedios
* Segovia-Remedios
* Río Quito
* San Roque
* Gramalote
* Santa Bárbara
* Santa Rosa de Osos
* San Ramón
* Segovia
* Segovia-Remedios
* Simití
* Tadó
* Timbiquí
* Tumaco
* Unión Panamericana
* Venecia
* La Mina
* Zaragoza
* El Limón

Silver|

* Amalfi
* El Bagre
* Buriticá
* Cáceres
* El Carmen de Atrato
* El Roble
* Cisneros
* Cisneros
* Jericó
* Nuevo Chaquiro
* Líbano
* Marmato
* Marmato
* Nechí
* Puerto Berrío
* Remedios
* Segovia
* Zaragoza

Platinum|

* Atrato
* El Cantón de San Pablo
* Cértegui
* Condoto
* Istmina
* Marmato
* Marmato
* Medio Atrato
* Nóvita
* Quibdó
* Río Quito
* Tadó
* Unión Panamericana

Nickel|

* Medellín
* Morro Pelón
* Montelíbano
* Cerro Matoso
* Planeta Rica
* Uré

Coltan|

* Inírida
* Vaupés
* Vichada

Emeralds|

* Muzo
* Briceño
* Coper
* Maripí
* La Pita
* Muzo
* Muzo
* Otanche
* Pauna
* Quípama
* Las Pavas
* San Pablo de Borbur
* Coscuez
* Yacopí

* Chivor
* Chivor
* Chivor
* Gachalá
* Guateque
* Macanal
* Somondoco
* Ubalá

Coal|

* Agustín Codazzi
* Barrancas
* Cerrejón
* Becerril
* Chiriguaná
* Cucunubá
* Cúcuta
* Guachetá
* Hatonuevo
* La Jagua de Ibirico
* El Paso
* La Francia
* Puerto Libertador
* Samacá
* Sardinata

Salt|

* Zipaquirá
* Zipaquirá mine
* Nemocón
* Nemocón mine
* Manaure
* Restrepo
* Upín
* Santa Catalina
* Sesquilé

Sources|

* Gold • Silver • Platinum • Nickel • Coltan • Emeralds • Coal • Salt

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11°46′45″N 72°26′58″W﻿ / ﻿11.7792°N 72.4494°W﻿ / 11.7792; -72.4494
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