Iquira
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Íquira | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
| San Francisco de Íquira | |
.svg) Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: City of Light of Huila | |
 Location of the municipality and town of Íquira in the Huila Department of Colombia | |
| Country |  Colombia |
| Department | Huila Department |
| Subregion | Northern |
| Founded | 12 December 1694 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rubén Darío Castro Andrade (2024–2027) |
| Area | |
| 532 km2 (205 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,400 m (4,600 ft) |
| Population (2025) | |
| 10,179 | |
| • Density | 19.1/km2 (49.6/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 2,763 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) |
| Website | iquira-huila.gov.co |
Íquira (from Quechua Ikir = “cut land” and Kira = “frogs”, meaning “Land of Frogs”), and in the ancient Paez language Yavilco (“high mountains” or “place of observation”), is a municipality in the Huila Department, Colombia. According to the 2018 census, it has a population of 9,248 inhabitants.[1]
It was founded by Francisco Martínez de Ospina in 1694.[2]
The municipality covers an area of 532 km² and its municipal center lies at an altitude of about 1,400 metres above sea level.[3]
Much of the local economy revolves around agricultural production, with coffee monoculture predominating. Extensive cattle ranching is also important. There are also plantations of cocoa, cassava, plantain and maize. The secondary economic sector is limited mainly to artisanal processing of dairy products and other traditional foods.[4]
The municipality is known as the “City of Light of Huila” because the first hydroelectric plant in the department was built there.
The name Íquira derives from the Quechua words ikir meaning “cut land” and kira meaning “frogs”, hence the interpretation “Land of Frogs”. According to the chronicles of Fray Pedro Simón, the name was given by Yanacona people who arrived during the expedition of Sebastián de Belalcázar.
