GUADUAS

guaduas, a town of the department of cundinamarca, colombia, 53 m. n.w. of bogota on the old road between that city and the magdalena river port of honda. pop. (1900, estimate) 9000, chiefly indians or of mixed blood. it stands in a narrow and picturesque valley formed by spurs of the eastern cordillera, and on a small stream bearing the same name, which is that of the south american bamboo (_guaduas_), found in great abundance along its banks. sugar-cane and coffee are cultivated in the vicinity, and fruits of various kinds are produced in great abundance. the elevation of the town is 3353 ft. above the sea, and it has a remarkably uniform temperature throughout the whole year. guaduas has a pretty church facing upon its _plaza_, and an old monastery now used for secular purposes. the importance of the town sprang from its position on the old _camino real_ between bogota and honda, an importance that has passed away with the completion of the railway from girardot to the bogota plateau. guaduas was founded in 1614.