Editing Cesar Department

{{Short description|Department of Colombia}}
{{Other uses|Cesar (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name                     = Cesar Department
| native_name              = Departamento del Cesar
| native_name_lang         = es<!-- ISO 639-2 code -->
| type                     = [[Departments of Colombia|Department]]
| image_skyline            = Negándose a Desaparecer.jpg
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = View of the [[Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta|Sierra Nevada]]
| image_map1               = Cesar Topographic 2.png
| map_caption1             = Topography of the department
| image_flag               = Flag of Cesar.svg
| flag_alt                 = 
| image_shield             = Coat_of_arms_of_Cesar_(Colombia).svg
| shield_alt               = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| anthem                   = [[wikisource:es:Himno del Cesar|Himno del Cesar]]
| image_map                = Cesar in Colombia (mainland).svg
| map_alt                  = 
| map_caption              = Cesar shown in green
| coordinates              = {{coord|10|29|N|73|15|W|region:CO_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|Colombia}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Regions of Colombia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Caribbean Region]]
| parts_type               = Largest city
| parts_style              = para
| p1                       = 
| established_title        = [[Republic of Colombia|Established]]
| established_date         = December 1967
| blank_name_sec1          = [[Provinces of Colombia|Provinces]]
| blank_info_sec1          = 
| blank1_name_sec1         = [[Municipalities of Colombia|Municipalities]]
| blank1_info_sec1         = 
| founder                  = 
| named_for                = 
| seat_type                = [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
| seat                     = [[Valledupar]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title             = [[List of Governors of the Department of Cesar|Governor]]
| leader_name              = Francis Ferdinand Ovalle Angarita (2016-2019)
| unit_pref                = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes           = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Departamento: Información general|publisher=Gobernación del Cesar|url=http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/cesar/index.php/es/opinformacdepto|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217001244/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/cesar/index.php/es/opinformacdepto|archive-date=17 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 22905
| area_rank                = [[List of Colombian Departments by area|22nd]]
| area_land_km2            = 
| area_water_km2           = 
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_note                = 
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 
| population_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=DANE |url=http://www.dane.gov.co/daneweb_V09/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=72 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113143414/http://www.dane.gov.co/daneweb_V09/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=72 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2009 |access-date=February 13, 2013 }}</ref>
| population_total         = 1,200,574
| population_as_of         = 2018
| population_rank          = [[List of Colombian Departments by population|16th]]
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_note          = 
| demographics_type1       = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes  = <ref>{{citation|title=Producto Interno Bruto por departamento |url=https://www.dane.gov.co/files/operaciones/PIB/departamental/anex-PIBDep-TotalDepartamento-2022pr.xlsx|website=www.dane.gov.co}}</ref>
|demographics1_title1     = Total
|demographics1_info1      = [[Colombian peso|COP]] 37,524 billion<br />([[US$]] 8.8 billion)
| timezone1                = [[UTC-05]]
| postal_code_type         = 
| postal_code              = 
| area_code_type           = 
| area_code                = 
| iso_code                 = [[ISO 3166-2:CO|CO-CES]]
| blank_name_sec2          = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)
| blank_info_sec2          = 0.729<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><br />{{color|#0c0|high}} · [[List of Colombian departments by Human Development Index|21st of 33]]
| website                  = [http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/ www.gobcesar.gov.co]
| footnotes                = 
| official_name            = Department of the Cesar
}}

'''Cesar Department''' ({{langx|es|Departamento del Cesar|links=no}}), or simply '''Cesar''', ({{IPA|es|seˈsaɾ}}) is a [[departments of Colombia|department]] of [[Colombia]] located in the north of the country in the [[Caribbean Region of Colombia|Caribbean region]], bordering to the north with the [[Department of La Guajira]], to the west with the [[Department of Magdalena]] and [[Department of Bolivar]], to the south with [[Department of Santander]], to the east with the [[Department of North Santander]], and further to the east with the country of [[Venezuela]] ([[Zulia State]]). The department capital city is [[Valledupar]].<ref name="Objectivos">{{Cite web|title=Estado de avance de los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio en el departamento de Cesar y en la ciudad de Valledupar, (Progress on the Millennium Development Goals in the Cesar department and the city of Valledupar)|date=January 2012|language=es|publisher=PNUD Colombia – Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina|url=http://www.valledupar.gov.co/index.php/j-stuff/odm-valledupar/valledupar-hacia-los-odm/lb-cesar-odm-pdf/detail}}{{dead link|date=June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The region was first inhabited by indigenous peoples known as Euparis in the Valley of Upar and Guatapuris in the Valley of the Cesar river, among these were the Orejones pertaining to the Toupeh, Acanayutos pertaining to the [[Motilon people|Motilon]] and Alcoholades pertaining to the [[Chimila people|Chimila]]. The first European to explore the area was Spanish Captain Peter Vadillo, but German [[Ambrosio Alfínger|Ambrose Alfinger]] savagely conquered the region in 1532.<ref name="ACGI-2003">{{Cite web|title=History of Cesar|publisher=Agustin Codazzi Geographic Institute|language=es|url=http://www.finagro.com.co/colombia/departamento.asp?IDDepartamento=09&Tema=13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031024044528/http://www.finagro.com.co/colombia/departamento.asp?IDDepartamento=09&Tema=13|archive-date=24 October 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref>

From 1996 to 2006 paramilitary groups committed gross human rights violations affecting tens of thousands of victims in the Cesar mining region.

==Etymology==

The "Cesar" name is an adaptation from the [[Chimila language|Chimila]] indigenous word ''Chet-tzar'' or ''Zazare'' ("calm water") into Spanish, in reference to the [[Cesar River]]. The valley that its basin covers is also named after the river and extends through most of the department. The department of Cesar was created in 1967 by decree and the name officially adopted.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/musica/musabo/pag09-17.htm |title=LABLAA - Luis Galvis: Don Gonzalo |access-date=2008-04-09 |language=es |archive-date=2009-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914064455/http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/musica/musabo/pag09-17.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Geography ==

{{Main|Geography of Cesar Department}}

[[File:Cesar river.png|thumb|200px|The [[Cesar River]] basin in the department of Cesar.]]

The department of Cesar is located in northern Colombia bordering to the north with the [[department of La Guajira]], to the east with the [[Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela]], to the west with the [[department of Magdalena]], to the southwest with the [[Department of Bolivar]] and to the south with the departments of [[Department of North Santander|North Santander]] and [[Department of Santander|Santander]] covering a total area of 22,905&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=autogenerated4>[http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf {{in lang|es}} Government of the Department of Cesar: The Territory] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023213340/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf|date=October 23, 2007 }}</ref>

The majority of the Department is flat in 57% of the total area and 43% mountainous mainly in the Serranía del Perijá and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain ranges.<ref name=autogenerated4 />

===Ecoregions===

The Department of Cesar contains five [[Ecoregion]]s; the [[Serranía del Perijá]] mountain range, the valley of the [[Cesar River]], the [[Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta]] mountain range, the valley of the [[Magdalena River]] and the [[Cienaga de Zapatosa]] [[marsh]]es complex.<ref name=autogenerated4 />

[[File:Serrania del Perija - Cerro Pintao.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cerro Pintao and the Serranía del Perijá.]]

====Serranía del Perijá mountain range====

The ''[[Serranía del Perijá]]'' mountain range covers most of the eastern side of the Department of Cesar between its border with Venezuela and the [[Department of North Santander]], approximately 300&nbsp;km in length penetrating into the [[Department of La Guajira]] to the north and covering 27% of the total area of Cesar. The Serranía del Perijá covers, partially or totally the area of 17 municipalities in the Department of Cesar; Aguachica, Codazzi, Becerril, Chimichagua, Chiriguana, Curumani, Gonzalez, La Gloria, La Jagua de Ibirico, Los Robles La Paz, Manaure, Pailitas, Pelaya, Rio de Oro, San Alberto, San Diego and San Martin. There are also the indigenous reserves pertaining to the [[Yukpa]]s people; Iroka, Socorpa and Menkue-Misaya-La Pista; and to the Wiwas people; Caño Padilla, El Rosario-Bella Vista-Yucatán and Campoalegre.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf {{in lang|es}} Government of the Department of Cesar: Serrania del Perija] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327182501/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf |date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref>

Approximately 70% of the mountain range preserves unique flora and fauna and some 20 rivers are born in the mountain range among other minor streams, flowing into the Department of Cesar and feeding the Magdalena and Cesar river basins and the Cienaga de Zapatosa marshes. The Colombian government declared it a National Forest Reserve.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

====Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range====

[[File:Valledupar.jpg|thumb|200px|The '''Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta''' as seen from [[Valledupar]].]]

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range is an isolated mountain range located in the northwestern region of the Department of Cesar. The mountain range is shared with by Department of La Guajira, which covers the northern area, the Department of Magdalena to the western side and the Department of Cesar which covers the southern face, covering a total area of 16,615&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (1'661,500 ha) of which 380,000 ha pertain to the Department of Cesar. The Cesar River and the western side of its basin is born on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, including the [[Guatapuri River|Guatapuri]], Badillo, [[Ariguani River|Ariguani]], Cesarito, Los Clavos, Garupal and Rio Seco rivers. The mountains are within the boundaries of the municipalities of Pueblo Bello, Valledupar, El Copey and Bosconia.<ref>[http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf {{in lang|es}} Government of the Department of Cesar: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327182501/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf |date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref>

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta was declared by [[UNESCO]] as a Biosphere Reserve on October 29, 1993.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/147/ {{in lang|es}} UNESCO: Buritaca 200 - Ciudad Perdida - Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta]</ref>

====Valley of the Cesar river====

====Valley of the Magdalena river====

====Cienaga de Zapatosa marshes====
[[Ciénaga de Zapatosa]]

===Climate===
Climate in the Department of Cesar presents variations in climate depending on altitude, as well as rainfall precipitations. Mountain climate in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía del Perijá become cooler with higher altitude, reaching freezing low temperatures on the snowy peaks. Lowlands average a temperature throughout the year of {{convert|28|°C|1|disp=or}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Climate of the Department of Cesar|publisher=Agustin Codazzi Geographic Institute|language=es|url=http://www.finagro.com.co/colombia/departamento.asp?IDDepartamento=09&Tema=06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031024043532/http://www.finagro.com.co/colombia/departamento.asp?IDDepartamento=09&Tema=06|archive-date=24 October 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref> These lower lands present a hot and drier climate, with annual precipitation less than {{convert|1,300|mm|in|0|disp=or}} a year. The mountainous regions are characterized by low temperatures with snow on high altitude peaks and precipitation reaching more than {{convert|2,000|mm|in|0|disp=or}} a year.

{{Weather box|width = auto
|location = Valledupar
|single line = Yes
|metric first = yes
|temperature colour = pastel
|Jan high C = 34.7
|Feb high C = 35.6
|Mar high C = 35.9
|Apr high C = 35.6
|May high C = 34.0
|Jun high C = 34.2
|Jul high C = 35.4
|Aug high C = 35.1
|Sep high C = 33.8
|Oct high C = 32.6
|Nov high C = 33.2
|Dec high C = 33.6
|Jan high F = 94.5
|Feb high F = 96.1
|Mar high F = 96.6
|Apr high F = 96.1
|May high F = 93.2
|Jun high F = 93.6
|Jul high F = 95.7
|Aug high F = 95.2
|Sep high F = 92.8
|Oct high F = 90.7
|Nov high F = 91.8
|Dec high F = 92.5
|year high C = 35.1
|year high F = 93.6
|Jan low C = 22.4
|Feb low C = 23.1
|Mar low C = 23.6
|Apr low C = 24.1
|May low C = 24.1
|Jun low C = 24.0
|Jul low C = 24.2
|Aug low C = 24.0
|Sep low C = 23.5
|Oct low C = 23.6
|Nov low C = 23.1
|Dec low C = 22.8
|Jan low F = 72.3
|Feb low F = 73.6
|Mar low F = 74.5
|Apr low F = 75.4
|May low F = 75.4
|Jun low F = 75.2
|Jul low F = 75.6
|Aug low F = 75.2
|Sep low F = 74.3
|Oct low F = 74.5
|Nov low F = 73.6
|Dec low F = 73.0
|year low C = 23.6
|year low F = 74.3
|Jan rain mm = 12
|Feb rain mm = 10
|Mar rain mm = 26
|Apr rain mm = 71
|May rain mm = 154
|Jun rain mm = 82
|Jul rain mm = 63
|Aug rain mm = 116
|Sep rain mm = 122
|Oct rain mm = 199
|Nov rain mm = 89
|Dec rain mm = 28
|rain colour = green
|source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name=WorldWeather>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldweather.org/057/c00889.htm= |title=Worldweather: Valledupar, Colombia |publisher=Weatherbase |year=2008 |access-date=2008-04-08 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>*Climatological information is based on monthly averages for the 30-year period 1971-2000. The averaging period for climatological information and the definition of "Mean Number of Precipitation/Rain Days" quoted in this web site may be different for different countries. Care should be taken when city climatologies are compared.</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

== History ==
{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote = Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Reloj de Población|url=http://www.dane.gov.co/reloj/|website=DANE|publisher=Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadísitica|access-date=6 July 2017|archive-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116020433/http://www.dane.gov.co/reloj/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|1973 | 340657
|1985 | 699428
|1993 | 827219
|2005 | 903279
|2018 | 1200574
}}

===Pre-Colombian===

The region was first inhabited by indigenous peoples known as Euparíes in the Valley of Upar and Guatapuríes in the Valley of the Cesar River, among these were the Orejones pertaining to the Tupe, Acanayutos pertaining to the [[Motilon people|Motilon]] and Alcoholados pertaining to the [[Chimila people|Chimila]].

Spanish chronicles describe the tribes as being part of a federation of tribes led by a single chief ([[Cacique]]), with the village of ''Eupari'' as the largest and central to the other villages. These tribes are believed to be related to the [[Mesoamerica]]n culture, the [[Kalina people|Caribs]] and [[Arawaks]], directly associated to the [[Muisca people|Muisca]] culture in the Colombian eastern branch of the [[Andes]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Castro Trespalacios|1979|p=22}}</ref>

Archeological findings has shown that the indigenous in the area worked with stones and wood, including a [[boomerang]] shaped weapon found in a cemetery at [[Los Robles La Paz]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Castro Trespalacios|1979|p=23}}</ref>

===Spanish conquest and colonization===

The first European to explore the area was Spanish Captain Pedro de Vadillo, but German [[Ambrosio Alfínger]] savagely conquered the region in 1531.<ref name="ACGI-2003" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Castro Trespalacios|1979|p=21}}</ref> In 1550 the village of Valle de Upar was founded by [[Hernando de Santana]] and [[Juan de Castellanos]].<<ref name=autogenerated3>[http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/ayudadetareas/geografia/geo70.htm LABLAA: Department of Cesar; History]</ref>

===Republican era===

In 1813, María de la Concepción Loperena proclaimed the independence of Valledupar and donated 300 horses to [[Simón Bolívar]]. In 1829 Valledupar became a [[Canton (country subdivision)|Cantón]] of the [[Province of Santa Marta]]. By Law 15 of 1850, Valledupar was segregated from Santa Marta becoming the Province of Valledupar. In 1857 became a province of the State of Magdalena and by Law of December 29, 1864, became the Department of Valledupar pertaining to State of Magdalena. On December 21, 1967, the Department of Cesar was created officially.<ref name="ACGI-2003" />

===Modern era===
From 1996 to 2006 paramilitary groups committed gross human rights violations affecting tens of thousands of victims in the Cesar mining region. Prodeco, a subsidiary of [[Glencore]], and the US [[Drummond Company]] collaborated with the paramilitaries<ref name="pax">{{Cite book |last=Moor |first=Marianne |date=June 2014 |title=The dark side of coal paramilitary violence in the mining region of Cesar, Colombia |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1176254365 |access-date=2022-04-28 |oclc=1176254365}}</ref> in order to continue coal mining.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deutsche Welle |date=2014-07-09 |title=Blutige Kohle aus Kolumbien  |url=https://www.dw.com/de/blutige-kohle-aus-kolumbien/a-17767356 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=DW.COM |language=de-DE}}</ref>

==Politics==
=== Governors ===
{{Main|List of governors of Cesar Department}}

=== Administrative divisions ===

==== Municipalities ====
{{See also|Municipalities of Colombia}}

The Department of Cesar is formed by 25 municipalities, some 171 corregimientos, 990 veredas and 10 indigenous reserves.<ref>[http://www.derechoshumanos.gov.co/observatorio/departamentos/2007/cesar.pdf Government of Colombia: Human Rights in the Department of Cesar; municipalities] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529031256/http://www.derechoshumanos.gov.co/observatorio/departamentos/2007/cesar.pdf |date=May 29, 2008 }}</ref>

For administrative reasons the Department of Cesar is subdivided into 4 strategic regions{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}}:

* the [[Northern Subregion, Cesar|Northern Subregion]] covering the municipalities of Valledupar, Codazzi, Pueblo Bello, La Paz, Manaure and San Diego;
* the [[Northwestern Subregion, Cesar|Northwestern Subregion]] covering the municipalities of Bosconia, El Copey, El Paso and Astrea;
* the [[Central Subregion, Cesar|Central Subregion]] covering the municipalities of Curumani, Becerril, Chiriguana, La Jagua de Ibirico, Chimichagua, Tamalameque and Pailitas; and
* the [[Southern Subregion, Cesar|Southern Subregion]] covering the municipalities of Aguachica, Gamarra, Gonzalez, La Gloria, Pelaya, Rio de Oro, San Alberto and San Martin.<ref name=autogenerated4 />

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Municipalities
! Map
|-
|
# [[File:Flag of Aguachica (Cesar).svg|22px]] [[Aguachica]]
# [[File:Flag of Astrea (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Astrea, Cesar|Astrea]]
# [[File:Flag of Becerril (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Becerril]]
# [[File:Flag of Bosconia (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Bosconia]]
# [[File:Flag of Chimichagua (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Chimichagua]]
# [[File:Flag of Chiriguaná (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Chiriguaná]]
# [[File:Flag of Agustín Codazzi (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Agustín Codazzi, Cesar|Codazzi]]
# [[File:Flag of Curumaní (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Curumaní]]
# [[File:Flag of El Copey (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[El Copey]]
# [[File:Flag of El Paso (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[El Paso, Cesar|El Paso]]
# [[File:Flag of Gamarra (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Gamarra, Cesar|Gamarra]]
# [[File:Flag of González (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[González, Cesar|González]]
# [[File:Flag of La Gloria (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[La Gloria, Cesar|La Gloria]]
# [[File:Flag of La Jagua de Ibirico (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[La Jagua de Ibirico, Cesar|La Jagua de Ibirico]]
# [[File:Flag of Manaure, Cesar.png|border|22px]] [[Manaure, Cesar|Manaure]]
# [[File:Flag of Pailitas (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Pailitas]]
# [[File:Flag of Pelaya (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Pelaya]]
# [[File:Flag of Pueblobello (Cesar).svg|22px]] [[Pueblo Bello]]
# [[File:Flag of Río de Oro (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Río de Oro, Cesar|Rio de Oro]]
# [[File:Flag of La Paz Robles (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Los Robles La Paz]]
# [[File:Flag of San Alberto (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[San Alberto, Cesar|San Alberto]]
# [[File:Flag of San Diego (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[San Diego, Cesar|San Diego]]
# [[File:Flag of San Martin (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[San Martín, Cesar|San Martín]]
# [[File:Flag of Tamalameque (Cesar).svg|border|22px]] [[Tamalameque]]
# [[File:Flag of Valledupar.svg|border|22px]] [[Valledupar]]
|[[File:Municipalitiesofcesardepartment.png|300px|Municipalities in the '''Cesar Department''']]
|}

== Economy ==

[[File:Lagloria.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ciénaga de la Zapatosa marsh by [[La Gloria, Cesar|La Gloria]], southern Cesar Department]]

The economy of the César Department is sustained by the agricultural sector, secondly by a services industry following with commercial industry and mining. [[Ranching|Cattle raising]] is exploited extensively (using large farms), and for this reason large portions of forests have been chopped off to create [[corral]]s. In [[agriculture]], [[plantations]] of [[cotton]], [[rice]], [[sugar cane]], [[oil palm]], [[cassava]] and [[Plantain (cooking)|plantain]]. Services are centered on commerce and the industry is represented by [[oil|oil products]], [[fat]]s and [[milk]] derived products. As one of the biggest [[water resources]] areas of [[Colombia]], if not America, part of the [[Magdalena River]] crosses the Department and helps create the [[Cienaga de Zapatosa]] (Zapatosa [[Marsh]]) along with the Cesar river. It has a great potential to develop a [[fishing industry]] also.

The area between [[La Loma, Cesar|La Loma]] and [[La Jagua de Ibirico, Cesar|La Jagua de Ibirico]] is the major coal-producing region of Colombia.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mining-atlas.com/operation/La-Loma-Coal-Mine.php | title=Mining Atlas - Explore the World of Mining }}</ref>

==Flag==
The flag of the department consists of a white horizontal band between two green ones. The meaning ascribed to the green is that it symbolizes the fertile vegetation of the department, and to the white, that it stands for the hope of peace.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071010052020/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/infonoticia.asp?idnot=5 Gobernación del Cesar: Significado de la Bandera]</ref>

== Notes ==

{{Reflist|2}}

==References==

*{{Citation|last1=Dangon Ovalle|first1= Jaime|title=El Cesar, Hijo del Amor|place=Valledupar|publisher= Departamento del Cesar|date=November 1987}}.
*{{Citation|last=Gutierrez Hinojosa|first= Tomas Dario|title=Valledupar Musica de una Historia|location=Bogotá|publisher=Editorial Grijalbo LTDA|year=2000|isbn=958-639-175-2}}
*{{Citation|last=Araujonoguera|first=Consuelo|title=Trilogia Vallenata|location=Colombia|publisher=Proyecto Editorial Babilonia|year=2002|isbn=958-33-3360-3}}
*{{Citation|last=Castro Trespalacios|first=Pedro|title=Culturas Aborigenes Cesarences e Independencia de Valle de Upar|location=Bogotá|publisher=Casa de la Cultura de Valledupar|year=1979}}

== External links ==

* ''Cesar 30 Años de Progreso'' - Gobernacion del Cesar (1997) booklet
* {{Official website|URL=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006093950/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/vercategoria.asp?IdCat=1|Cesar Department official website}}
* [http://www.ingeominas.gov.co/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_view/gid,281/ INGEOMINAS: Geography of the Department of Cesar]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080529031256/http://www.dnp.gov.co/archivos/documentos/MP_En_Que_Vamos/Perfil_Pobreza_Cesar.pdf Poverty in the Department of Cesar]
* [http://www.calorines.com/formacionpbi/Documentos/0606%2520DyD-Desplazamiento%2520forzado%2520interno.doc Forced displacement in the Department of Cesar]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Cesar Department}}
{{Departments of the North of Colombia}}
{{Departments of Colombia}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Cesar Department| ]]
[[Category:Departments of Colombia]]
[[Category:Caribbean region of Colombia]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1967]]