Barranquilla's name refers to the ravines that existed in the area near the western bank of the Magdalena River, where the city began to form. ​ During the Colony, the name barranca was common in riparian populations (Barrancabermeja, Barranca Nueva, Barranca Vieja). The diminutive is an alteration probably of Aragonese origin. ​ During the Colony, the place became known successively as Siege of the Indians of Camacho, Camach or Camacho (by the Indians Camash, inhabitants of the region upon the arrival of the Spaniards), Sabanitas de Camacho, the free site of San Nicolás de la Barranquilla, San Nicolás de Barranquilla (la) Barranquilla More than Tolentino, patron saint of Nicolás de Barros and de la Guerra, founder of the hacienda San Nicolás (which gave rise to the development of the area), Barrancas de Camacho, Barrancas de San Nicolás, Barranquilla de Camacho and Barranquilla de San Nicolás. ​

Appeals

Old Customs building.

• The Sand: named after the President of the Republic of New Granada Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera during his stay in the city in 1849. ​ ​
• Golden Portico of the Republic: in 1921, President Marco Fidel Suárez named Barranquilla when he opened the Customs Administration building in recognition of its economic importance since the late 19th century, its being the pioneer city in commercial aviation in Latin America (see Scadta), and that the city was the point of introducing new developments to the country such as telephone, as well as various sports and sports flow of immigrants. ​ ​
• Colombia Gold Gate: in 1946, at the opening of the 5th Central American and Caribbean Games, President Mariano Ospina Pérez issued one of the most commonly used appeals for Barranquilla. ​ ​
• Curramba, la Bella: reverse or round pronunciation of the Barranq short syllables. (q-rran-ba) that was used to shorten the city's name on telegrams read by canyon journalist Juan Eugenio Cañavera on Nueva Granada de Bogotá radio in the mid-20th century. ​ the appendix "la bella" was assigned to him by the journalist barranquillero Roger Araújo as a counterweight to the pejorative stain he had Curramba at first. Curramba is derived from popular or hypocortical "currambero" kindness.
• Open Arms City: named after thinker Agustín Nieto Caballero. ​
• America Lighthouse: Referred to by Enrique Ancízar, president of the Colombian Society of Agriculture. ​

Another popular or hypocortical origin, in disuse, is ñero, -a, apocope of comrade or ñerocoma. ​

Barranquilla flag.

• Flag. Barranquilla adopted the Cartagena flag, consisting of three concentric rectangles, red on the outside, yellow on the center and green on the inside, in whose center is a white star of eight points. ​ ​
• Shield. It was pointed out in the decree by which Manuel Rodríguez Torices, Governor of the Sovereign State of Cartagena de Indias, awarded the title of villa to Barranquilla as a prize for the participation of the patriotic barranquilleros in the defense of the independence Cartagena against the realistic Santa Marta in 1813.
• Anthem. The music and lyrics of Barranquilla's anthem were chosen through a competition called by the Society of Public Improvements and officially adopted as the city's anthem by the Municipal Council in an open hall on October 19, 1942. The lyrics are the work of the poet Amira de la Rosa (1942 contest) and the music of Simón Urbón ina (1928 competition). ​

Other Symbols

• Flower: Cay.
• Tree: purple oak, which blooms in the city during the first quarter of the year.
• Typical dish: plain rice ​

Colonial period

The first mention of the territory that Barranquilla occupies dates back to 1533, and was written by Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo and Valdés. In it he describes the journey of Pedro de Heredia, the founder of Cartagena, just weeks before founding that city, who claimed that this point was a quack for canoes of Indians from the Governorate of Santa Marta, who had two canoes full of dry shrimp that brought in merchandise, and went to the Magdalena River to trade with such merchandise, salt, and other things. ​

But the Camash Indians’ site (Castilian Camacho or Camach) is known as the first permanent human settlement in the place of the current Barranquilla. In 1549, the Judge of the Royal Audience of Santo Domingo, Miguel Díaz de Armendáriz, gave Camacho a task assigned to the captain of chivalry Domingo de Santa Cruz, who was awarded by the Spanish Crown for his military performance. This assignment disappeared in 1559, when she was in the hands of Ana Ximénez, widow of Santa Cruz, who had received her after the death of her husband. She was the victim of an outrage by Galapa's second envoy, Pedro de Barros I, who arbitrarily took all the mandated population of Camacho who was in a position to work and took her to his care.

Plate in the apple where Barranquilla began to be populated.

On June 28, 1625, Juan Casetas de Bayarte obtained a four-storied three-quarters league merchandise from Camacho. Between 1627 and 1637, Nicolás de Barros and de la Guerra, the great grandson of Pedro de Barros I, second commander of Galapa, founded the hacienda San Nicolás de Tolentino on the edge of the La Tablaza pipe. According to the historian Domingo Malabet Castañeda, the original area of the property was 24.78 square kilometers, but Pedro Vásquez Buezo sold him 16.52 square kilometers more to cover 41.30 square kilometers. In this hacienda, Nicolás de Barros saw the need to allow his free concerts to build their houses within the limits of it, so that they would develop their duties in the countryside and help support their families. Moreover, after Nicolás de Barros died, the hacienda began to house another genre of inhabitants, people who, for reasons of health, age, or because they had a relationship with the owner of the hacienda, were allowed to live in that room. There were also indigenous people from Malambo and Galapa. By 1681, the hacienda was considered a place, that is, a village, and with its surrounding areas it was known as Barrancas de San Nicolás. In 1720, the colonial government established the San Nicolás Barrancas Free Site under a pedrian mayor. Prior to 1700, Barranquilla's territory had been the Aguerra captaincy of the Tierradentro Party. In 1747, it was constituted as a parish and in 1772 it was erected in the same party's district, with a judge. ​

Barranquilla's origin thesis that Barranquilla had been founded by farmers from the population of Galapa who left their lands following the stories that sought to quell thirst in the waters of the Magdalena River, promoted by the publication of historian Domingo Malabet's historical digest in the newspaper El Promotor in 1876, and reproduced by Impress El Siglo in 1 911, whose sustenance is the oral tradition, was scientifically revalued by the work of geographer and historian José Agustín Blanco El Norte de Tierradentro and the origins of Barranquilla (1987). ​

Independence period

Casa Lacorazza, Plaza de San Nicolás.

In the time of Independence, the people of Barranquilla took sides with the pro-independence movement in Creole. In 1812, General Pierre Labatut attacked and defeated the realists who were in Sitioedad and Zionuevo. On April 7, 1813, the date that was institutionalized later on Barranquilla Day, the President-Governor of the Free and Independent State of Cartagena de Indias, Manuel Rodríguez Torices, grants the population the title of a villa with a legal corridor (ordinary mayor) and municipality (city hall), capital of the department of Barlovento or Tierradentro, in recognition of the value and patriotism This post is part of our special coverage Indigenous Rights. This post is part of our special coverage Indigenous Rights. In 1815, Joaquín Vallejo, a wealthy foreign trader, held a battalion with his own capital for three months. When Spanish forces, led by Colonel Valentín Capmany, approached Barranquilla, residents resisted but were defeated. On April 25, 1815, the population was attacked and taken over by the realistic troops, who also killed the battalion of Joaquín Vallejo. Barranquilla was the center of the Republicans' military operations from 1820 to 1821. ​ On October 10, 1821, the last Spanish stronghold of Cartagena de Indias was expelled at that time, the capital of the Sovereign State of Bolívar, to which Barranquilla belonged. That same year, the then villa had its first mayor, Agustín Del Valle, who served in his own residence, which was converted into an army barracks in 1879. By the Constitution of Cucuta, between 1821 and 1857, it had the status of a canton. On July 24, 1823, the naval battle of Lake Maracaibo took place, bringing the Spaniards from the territory of Grancolombia to a definitive halt. ​

Republican Period

Obelisco in homage to Juan B. Elbers.

19th century

Since there is no mineral or natural wealth in Barranquilla, during the Colonia the area was not attractive for the Spanish to justify a permanent presence. Its importance would come in the second half of the 19th century, promoted by the Liberator's delivery of the Commodate of Steam Navigation on the Magdalena River to the German businessman Juan Bernardo Elbers in 1823, at the beginning of Greater Colombia, an open route on November 10, 1825. ​ Barranquilla thus began an intense commercial exchange with the two major cities and towns in the interior of the country, as well as international markets, and became the main export port of coffee. ​

Beginning in 1831, two revolutions were forged in Barranquilla. One is headed by Captain Policarpo Martínez and Antonio Pantoja, Lorenzo Hernández, Crispín Luque, Esteban Márquez and Santos de la Hoz against the dictatorship of General Rafael Urdaneta; and the one led by General Ignacio Luque, who had won the first. ​

In 1840, Barranquilla traders and haulers tried to form an independent province called Cibeles, composed of the Cantons of Windward, and proclaimed Colonel Ramón Antiquity chief. The main objective was to obtain the authorization of the population of Sabanilla as an import port, an activity that was carried out only through Cartagena and Santa Marta. This revolution was quickly suppressed by troops from Cartagena. ​ In 1845, the city was one of the nine cantons that formed the province of Cartagena. ​

Salgar Castle.

On February 23, 1849, President Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera passed Law 1 of July 1842, which authorized Sabanilla Bay as a port for export trade, and a customs office was installed there at the current Salgar Castle, a condition for the entry into service of Sabanilla. The communication between Barranquilla and its new port was carried out through the Pineapple canal. ​ ​ In the early days of June 1849, the Asian Morbo cholera plague from Cartagena, where it had come from ships from Panama, was presented in the city. ​ By Law 20 March 1852, the congress of New Granada From the province of Cartagena, the cantons of Barranquilla, Soledad and Sabanalarga came to form the province of Sabanilla, with Barranquilla as the capital. ​ On 2 May 1854, General Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera arrived in the city and the inhabitants took control of the revolution of General José María Melo in Bogotá. ​ 7 October In 1857, Barranquilla received the status of a city from the Bolivar State Constituent Assembly, headed by its president, Manuel José Amaya, which allowed the first municipal council to be integrated; in the same year, the municipal council demarcated three areas: Lower Rio, Upper Rio, Upper Rio, and Downtown. ​ Barranquilla was then part of the Sabanilla department, one of the five that made up the Sovereign State of Bolívar, which had succeeded Cartagena province by law of June 15, 1857.

Montoya Station, starting point of the Barranquilla-Sabanilla railway line. Opened in 1871, built by the Railway and Pier Company.

In 1858, Barranquilla was designated as the capital of the municipal district. During the Confederation of Grenadines, the Conservative General Joaquín Posada Gutiérrez attacked and defeated the square defended by the Liberal Chief Vicente Palacio (6 November 1859). Subsequently, the city was recovered on 9 December by the liberal colonel Manuel Cabeza. ​ On 25 January 1861, General Juan José Nieto, President of the State of Bolívar, declared himself in Barranquilla in the exercise of executive power of the United States of Colombia. ​ Barranquilla became capital of the province of the same name by Article 1 of the Law of 26 December 1, 201. 862, according to which the Sovereign State of Bolívar was divided into twelve provinces.

At the beginning of the United States of Colombia, Barranquilla's growing commercial importance promoted the construction, between 1869 and 1871, of the Bolivar Railway, the first railway line of the current Colombia, between Barranquilla and Sabanilla (Salgar), where customs were operating. This railway line, opened on 1 January 1871, marked the end of the use of the Piña canal as a freight route between Barranquilla and Sabanilla port. ​ Due to the shallow water, it was necessary to extend the railway line to Puerto Cupino, where the Cuban engineer Francisco Javier Cisneros built one of the fastest piers The world at one time (the third after Southend and Southport, both in England.) ​ ​ In 1872, the trapiche epidemic, whose symptoms were similar to those of cholera, occurred. ​ In 1876, customs were transferred to Barranquilla in the face of the unconscionable smuggling that was coming into Salgar's customs. ​

Source: ​

In the last decades of the 19th century Barranquilla experienced a series of advances represented in the founding of the Aqueduct Company in 1877, the commissioning of the tram by mules in 1884, the installation of the first telephones in Colombia on 1 September 1885, ​ and the founding that same year of the first private telephone service company in Colombia, the Colombo-Antillana Telephone Company, by the American William Ladd. ​ At that time the city becomes economically important because of its commercial boom and its strategic geographical position, becoming the first maritime and river terminal in Colombia. ​

On January 6, 1885, revolutionary forces commanded by General Ricardo Gaitán Obeso occupied the city for being committed to the handover of military authorities. ​ On February 11, 2012, General Vicente Carlos Urueta attacked the square defended by General Nicolás Jimeno Collante. General Urueta was already successful, General Gaitán Obeso showed up and with more troops defeated General Urueta. ​

At the end of the 19th century, established in 1886 by the Republic of Colombia, Barranquilla was formed into one of thirty-four new departments, consisting of the provinces of Barranquilla and Sabanalarga, with the capital of the same. ​ During this time, the city is consolidated as one of the main ports of Colombia, and is still on the path of progress with events such as the putting on the trolley to service steam in 1890 and with the construction of the Puerto Colombia pier in 1893, which served as a maritime terminal to Barranquilla until 1936. ​ the goods were moved by rail to Barranquilla and then by river to the interior of the country.

20th century

In the context of the restructuring of the State undertaken as President of the Republic by General Rafael Reyes, the National Constituent and Legislative Assembly, through Act No. 17 of 11 April 1905, established the department of Atlántico consisting of the provinces of Barranquilla and Sabanalarga of the department of Bolívar, with Barranquilla as its capital. In 1908, however, the Atlantic department was abolished and the Barranquilla department was established by Act No. 1 of the same year. With the fall of General Reyes in 1909, Barranquilla's department was abolished through Law 65 of that year, with Barranquilla moving back to the Bolivar department. Finally, the National Constituent Assembly of 1910 passed Law 21 of July 14, by which the Atlantic department was finally established with Barranquilla again as capital. ​

In accordance with the city's progress and economic boom, the Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce was established on 28 June 1905, and the bill recognizing the opening of Bocas de Ceniza as a national necessity was brought before the Congress of the Republic on 7 September 1909. In June 1909, "El Barranquillazo", an attempted coup by supporters of General Ramón González Valencia against General Jorge Holguín, who, as a nominee, was the president of the republic after the resignation of the incumbent, General Rafael Reyes. ​ On December 29, 1912, the second flight of an airplane took place in Barranquilla in Colombia, it was carried out by the Canadian pilot George Schmitt (who had held the first one on 9 December in Santa Marta). ​ ​ On 10 December 1919, the first successful commercial airline in the Americas and the second in the world, Scadta, was created years later in Avianca. ​ In June 1919, the pilot William Knox Martin and the industrial one. Mario Santo Domingo inaugurated the airmail in Colombia with a flight between Barranquilla and Puerto Colombia, where Santo Domingo delivered the courier. ​

Paseo de Colón, center of commerce and business in Barranquilla from the beginning of the 20th century to 1937, when the statue of Colón was changed to that of Bolívar. At the far end of the building, you can see the missing Palma.

By virtue of its status as a seaport and river that connected with the interior of the country and abroad, the city had become, from the second half of the 19th century to the early decades of the 20th century, one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in Colombia and at the entry of foreign immigrants such as Syrians, Palestinians, Lebanese, French, German, Jewish, American, Italian, Chinese and Japanese, among others, those who settle in the city, energize the industry and contribute to making it a modern city. In this context, the customs office of Salgar is moved to Barranquilla and the Barranquilla Customs Administration building was built between 1919 and 1921 by Jamaican architect Leslie Arbouin. Thanks to the economic dynamism, the entrepreneurial strength of the city, as well as its status as an entry point to the country of thousands of immigrants and multiple advances such as aviation, the city receives the title of Golden Portico of the Republic from President Marco Fidel Suárez. On January 12, 1919, in the midst of a turmoil on the Caribbean Coast against Bogotá centralism, the Costeña League is organized in Barranquilla. ​ In 1920, "Archeologists reveal that the capital of the Atlantic is located on a vast necropolis of prehistoric times." ​

On June 8, 1924, while handing out flyers for the work of Bocas de Ceniza, Junker Tolima A-16, piloted by German aviator Helmuth Von Krohn, plunged to earth. In the accident, the six passengers on board were killed, among them Ernesto Cortissoz, President of the Scadta. ​

In 1925, Barranquilla's public companies are the first to be founded in the country. ​ The initial coverage of the aqueduct built in 1929 was 11,500 houses out of 14,000 totals in 1931, and in 1938, 10 In Bogotá, 80 per cent had access to safe drinking water, while in Bogotá the coverage of the aqueduct was 59 per cent, in Medellin 57.3 per cent, in Cali 74.8 per cent, in Cartagena 21.4 per cent and in Santa Marta 36.2 per cent. ​ In 1922 7, the electrical power service provided by the Barranquilla Electric Power Company met the needs of 10,300 houses, equivalent to 74 per cent of the total. ​

On 4 February 1925, Scadta acquired the Atlantic superaircraft and Bolívar to cover the first international flights, which take place in August of the same year between Barranquilla and Key West, Florida, with stopovers in Central America, Mexico and Cuba. ​ One year later, construction of the Intendency to the river began, due to the increase in services linked to the Magnificent River Dalena. ​

In an era of advances for the city, the country's first private commercial radio station (Colombia's first radio station was the state-owned HJN of Bogotá) was founded. ​ Elías Pellet Buitrago starts commercial radio in Colombia with the first broadcast of La Voz de Barranquilla on December 8, 1929. ​ 3, the Senate of the Republic approves the contract for the opening of Bocas de Ceniza, works that were completed in 1936, the Barranquilla Maritime Terminal inaugurated by President Alfonso López Pumarejo on December 22 of the same year, as part of a period of construction undertaken by the central government with the intention of establishing an infrastructure that would allow the country and the main centers to enter international markets. In 1935, the city's sport was boosted by the construction of the municipal football stadium to host the III National Games. However, on April 10, 1931, "in a riot against hunger and unemployment, the people of Barranquilla destroy the Colombia Theater." ​

During the first half of the 20th century, Barranquilla has become the city with the highest population and urban growth in Colombia. The city expanded to neighboring municipalities, a situation that led to the creation of the Barranquilla Metropolitan Area in 1981. From the late 1950s to the 1980s, the city has been in a socio-economic decline due to the failure of the political class and the bankruptcy of sectors of industrial activity. In 1958 the first free zone of Colombia was created. ​

On 18 August 1993, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, through Legislative Act No. 01 of 17 August 1993, constituted Barranquilla as Special, Industrial and Port District.

221st Century

A megalopolis is projected between Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta. Expansion of Barranquilla on the road to Puerto Colombia.

Act No. 768 of 2002 provided for the establishment of the Metropolitan Area of the Caribbean Littoral, consisting of the special districts of Barranquilla, Cartagena de Indias and Santa Marta and the municipalities and territorial entities that are part of their metropolitan areas, laying the foundations for a regional megalopolis with the aim of "formulating, adopting and advancing plans for the harmonious and integrated development of the territory that falls under the jurisdiction of the State; rationalize the provision of services by the constituent entities and possibly assume the common provision of services; carry out works of metropolitan interest and advance projects of common interest". ​

In the twenty-first century, the city's leadership has set the goal of Barranquilla's return to its level of strategic capital. Among the strategies defined are the integration of the city with the Magdalena River through projects such as the Rio Avenue, the river basin, the urbanization of the island of La Loma, the deep-sea port and the Port Corridor. Elsa Noguera's administration (2012-2015) started the construction of rain sewerage on the streets most affected by the formation of streams when it rains, marking a milestone in the urban dynamics of Barranquilla. They also highlight the construction of the new Pumarejo bridge, the modernization and expansion of Ernesto Cortissoz airport, the expansion of Circunvalación Avenue, the operationalization of the Events Center and the Caribbean Cultural Park, the implementation of the Transmetro mass public transport system and the restoration of the historic center through the restoration of buildings and the renovation and construction of new public squares and parks. On the occasion of the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, the construction and renovation of sports venues was carried out, as well as the provision of complementary infrastructure for the Games.

Satellite view of Barranquilla. The last section of the Magdalena River is visible.

Location

Barranquilla is located in the north-eastern corner of the Atlantic department, on the western bank of the Magdalena River, 7.5 km from its mouth in the Caribbean Sea. It has an area of 154 square kilometers equivalent to 4.5% of the surface of the Atlantic department. ​ Geographical coordinates are established by reference to the zero point of the city located in Plaza de la Paz.

Geographic Coordinates

Latitude: 10th 59' 16" N Length: 74Th 47' 20" W UTM Coordinates: N523063.582; O1214636.110; area: 18; scale factor: 0.9996

Politically, Barranquilla borders the east with the department of Magdalena (through the Magdalena River), the north with the municipality of Puerto Colombia and the Caribbean Sea (the site of the Mallorquin swamp, western tajamar and Puerto Mocho), the west with the municipalities of Puerto Colombia, Galapa and Tubara, and the south with the municipality of Soledad.
​

North West: Puerto Colombia	North: Ciénaga de Mallorquín Caribbean Sea	North East: Magdalena River Salamanca Island
West: Puerto Colombia Tube Galapa		East: Magdalena River Salamanca Island
South West: Galapa	South: Solitude	South East: Solitude Magdalena River

Altitude

The urban area is built on a slightly sloped plane whose extreme heights, according to the Augustín Codazzi Geographic Institute, are 4 meters east and 98 meters west. Other sources point to accidental heights in the hills, up to 120 meters outside the city. ​ According to Google Earth, the height of the city ranges from 0 meters in the western tajamar to a maximum of 142 meters in the La Summit neighborhood.

Geology

The geological composition of the region is of the Upper Tertiary period (Miocene and Pliocene) in the western hills or hills and of the Quaternary (Pleistocene and Holocene) in the most flat parts, such as the sole of the river. According to the Augustine Codazzi Geographic Institute, the Quaternary Materials are of alluvial, lake, fluviolacustre, marine and wind origin. They generally occupy shores, dykes, terraces, valleys, narrow valleys, small alluvial fan, buckets, pit-fringes, swamps, beaches and hills. The Terciario (Miocene and Pliocene) materials are in the western hills, and are presented as varied slopes. ​

Climate

Annual precipitation in the city.

Barranquilla's climate is dry or tropical tropical tropical tropical type, i.e., it corresponds to dry vegetation and low temperatures. ​ Köppen's climatic classification, it is associated with Aw or tropical savannah climate.

The average temperature is 27.4 °C. From November to early April, coinciding with Northern Winter, North Eastern trade winds blow, mitigating in part the intense heat. Towards the end of June, South-East trade winds blast, producing the veranillo of San Juan. This is why a December-like environment exists at that time.

Barranquilla's precipitation regime is governed by two periods: a dry one, from December to April, and a rainy one, from April to early December. In April or May, the "first" rains begin. By the end of June, most of July and sometimes in August, it tends to decrease the rain, becoming a dry known as the veranillo of San Juan. Average annual precipitation is 821 mm. The distribution of dry and rainy seasons is in the illustration.

Average Barranquilla climate parameters
Month	Jan.	Feb.	Sea.	Apr.	May.	Jun.	July.	Aug.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Temp. max. Aps. (°C)	38.2	37.6	37.8	39.5	39.3	39.8	39.2	39.0	38.4	18.6	38.4	39.5	39.8
Temp. max. mean (°C)	31.4	31.7	32.2	32.9	33.3	33.1	32.8	33.1	32.6	32.2	12.1	31.6	32.4
Temp. mean (°C)	26.4	26.7	27.1	27.5	28.1	28.2	28.7	28.1	27.6	27.2	27.4	26.7	27.5
Temp. min. mean (°C)	23.4	23.7	24.1	24.6	24.8	24.8	24.6	24.5	24.2	23.9	24.1	23.8	24.2
Temp. min. Aps. (°C)	18.0	18.0	18.8	18.8	18.0	20.5	19.4	20.9	20.0	20.8	18.5	19.5	18.0
Total precipitation (mm)	6.0	0.3	1.4	25.4	115.0	85.7	77.8	110.0	150.3	162.6	68.9	20.9	824.3
Days of precipitation (≥ 1 mm)	0	0	0	4	9	9	7	10	13	15	8	2	77
Sun Hours	283	245	241	211	187	194	217	208	166	167	191	252	2,562
Relative humidity (%)	58	77	77	58	80	80	80	81	82	84	82	79	80
Source: Institute of Meteorological Hydrology and ​ Environmental Studies

Barranquilla weather table
Temperature (°C)
Month	Ene	Feb	Sea	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Ago	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Minimum Average	23.3	24.4	24.7	24.4	25.8	25.6	24.4	24.4	24.0	24.8	20.0	17.7
Average	26.6	26.6	26.9	27.5	28.1	28.1	28.0	28.0	27.8	27.4	27.4	27.0
Maximum average	31.3	31.4	31.9	32.7	33.3	33.9	33.7	33.1	32.8	32.3	32.0	31.5
Precipitation, sunshine and relative humidity
Month	Ene	Feb	Sea	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Ago	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average precipitation (mm)	5	3	3	25	91	104	70	102	143	178	79	24
Rainy Days	0	0	0	3	9	9	7	10	13	14	9	2
Relative humidity (%)	58	77	77	58	80	81	80	81	83	84	83	80
Solar Brightness (Hours/Month)	282	245	240	207	188	195	215	207	164	166	191	253
Data measured in: Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport IDEAM ​			Average annual		Temperature			Precipitation				Brightness Solar
					Min	Med	Max	Total	Rain	Humidity
					°C	°C	°C	mm	Days	%		hours
					24.0	27.4	32.3	821	76	80		213

Hydrography

Surface waters

• Maritime: from the left stripe of the western tajamar at the mouth of the Magdalena River to the borders with Puerto Colombia.

• Fluvial: Magdalena River; river pipes: Above, Tramposos, La Ahuyama, of the Market, C and La Tablaza or Companies; the streams of the neighborhoods of the Country, Rebolo, Santo Domingo, Las Americas and the Forest; El Lindero, El Platanal, El Salado, El Salado, El Salado 2, Don Juan, Hospital, La Paz, Bolívar, Felicidad, Coltobacco, Siape, of the streets 48, 64, 76, 79, 82, 84, 92, of the races 8, 15, 19, 21, 51, 53, 54, 5, 5, 55 8, 65 and 71; ​ lake waters such as the swamps of Mallorquin and San Nicolás. ​

Groundwater

The north of Barranquilla, from the 11th latitude north, corresponds to a region "with the potential for good rainwater infiltrations", while the southern part appears as "low infiltration, poor soil and with the potential for rain flooding". ​

Flora

• Roble purado, emblematic tree of Barranquilla. Santander Park.

• Dinner, the flower symbol of Barranquilla.

According to the Augustine Codazzi Geographic Institute, Barranquilla is composed of tropical dry forest vegetation (bms-T), which includes species such as cactaceae, mangroves, penca tuna, cardon, trupillo or cují, dividing, uvito and acacia varieties such as red and forage. In the watery beans of the Magdalena River, there are taruya, enea, bijao, buchón de agua, palma de corozo, caracolí, higuerón, olla monkey. ​ In the urban center there are common trees such as purple oak, matarmice, guayacán, foreign matarmice, the hooligan, the almond, the common pine varieties of ceiba, such as bonga, white and majagua, rubber tree, balso, cartagenic coca, ioti, Indian rubber, cartagenic rubber, African tulip, ear-song, bell, olive, coralibe, melina, pivijay, San Joaquin, oak yellow, parrot's beak, sausage, mahogany, clemon, camajoru, Maria's stick, clover, uvita mocosa, coconut, laurel, guásimo, pisquín, caraqueño, totumo, gold rainfall, mora grapes, nim, jabonth and varieties palms like royal and robellini.

Among the fruit trees stands the mango, the nisbut, the mamon, the guava, the beach grape, the cherry, the anon, the tamarind, the plum, the marañon, the guanabana, the lemon and the lemongrass.

Fauna

• Iguana is a common species in the urban center of Barranquilla.

• Screw.

Several native species can be found in the urban center, the periphery and the ecosystems of the water system (River Magdalena, Mallorquin swamp, streams such as those of El Country and La Victoria neighborhoods). Some of the animal species that can be found in the city are birds such as the chichacold, the cowboy, the tierrelita, the cook, the mulatto maría, the muchuelo and the parrot; fish such as lisa and lebranche (Mallorcan swamp); insects such as butterflies, bugs, flies, mosquitoes, jeans, cockroaches and compasses; mammals such as domestic dogs and cats, monkeys and rodents such as squirrel; reptiles such as iguanas, culebras, morrocoyes and wolves. Horses (horses and donkeys) and cattle, pigs and goats are raised in some sectors such as the market and the periphery.

Ecology and natural resources

Barranquilla has ecosystems such as the Magdalena River, the Mallorcan swamp and the eastern pipes. The completion of the construction work of the Bocas de Ceniza Tajamares in 1936 brought with it the deterioration of the Mallorquin swamp, which was originally a four-pit system, as well as the detriment of the beaches around Puerto Colombia.

Arroyo de La Victoria, one of the few environmental reserves in Barranquilla, and proposed site for a botanical garden. ​

Around the stream of the La Victoria district, where a botanical garden has been planned, is a communal and recreational green area for public use with an area of approximately 7 hectares, located in the southeastern part of the city. Its ecological importance is that it is, next to the stream of the Country, one of the two remaining natural reserves within the urban perimeter. The abundant vegetation and springs of crystal clear water have allowed a habitat favorable to the few native plant and animal species found inside the city. ​

To the north of Barranquilla, bordering Puerto Colombia, open-pit limestone mines are found, a raw material for the manufacture of cement and used as construction material.

Barranquilla has 4 urban forests that house 15,714 trees: Campo Alegre, 5497 purple oaks; Hogar Caribe sector, 3000 of 17 different species; Southwestern EDAR, 4892 of 12 different species, and Caribbean City, 2325 of 11 different species. ​ ​

In 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation highlighted Barranquilla as one of the most Arabized cities in the world. ​

Massive urbanization in the city is driven by the District Infrastructure Agency (ADI), with the "Sembra Barranquilla" program, initiated in 2018 by Mayor Alejandro Char and aiming to sow 250,000 trees in the city.

In January 2020, Mayor Jaime Pumarejo proposed to turn Barranquilla into a city with the Mallorcan swamp flag project, which includes environmental recovery of the body of water, eco-park with ecological footpaths, palaphytic viewers, and an area dedicated to water sports and cycling. ​ ​

Environmental pollution

Air quality

According to the orientation of Barranquilla's air flows, air pollutants move north and north-east, and in times of mild and moderate winds they become more evenly distributed over the city. As for suspended particles, the most polluting industrial processes in the city are ammonium sulfate, cement, gypsum and paper pulp.

Sources of air pollution in Barranquilla.

The emission of gases produced by automotive traffic is more critical in the central district, where a significant commercial activity is taking place. The main source of air pollution is vehicles with 34% and then the industry with 18%. The pollutants emitted by the vehicles are: carbon monoxide (89.12%), sulfur dioxide (0.23%), hydrocarbons (6.46%), nitrogen oxides (3.82%) and particles (0.37%). In order to help remedy this problem, several State and private sector companies have supported a project to convert liquid fuel vehicles to natural gas. In addition, more than 12 natural gas service stations are installed in the city and the conversion of vehicles to natural gas has been undertaken. Barranquilla is the fourth largest city in the country to discharge pollutants into the atmosphere. ​

According to research carried out by the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies of Colombia (Ideam), Barranquilla has monthly concentrations of particulate matter of smaller size than 160 micrograms per cubic meter, when the maximum of international standards allows 70. The causes of this problem are the low quality of gasoline and diesel used by the city's automoters, as well. they have concentrations of 5000 ppm (sulfur parts per million) and 4500 ppm, respectively, when there are countries whose rates do not exceed 50. ​

Water pollution

All surface water of the Barranquilla water system, the Magdalena River, the Mallorquin swamp, the eastern pipes and the streams are subjected to water pollution as waste unprocessed waste water landfills and solid waste by private individuals. The environmental impact, mainly on the Mallorcan swamp, has been reduced with the construction of oxidation ponds and the Waste Water Debugger Station (EDAR) by Triple A. ​

Noise

The maximum permitted noise limit is 64 decibels for the residential area, 70 for the commercial area and 75 for the industrial zone. In the center of Barranquilla, the noise generated by automotive traffic and commercial activity in peak hours can reach levels above 90 decibels, becoming a risk factor for the health of the population. ​

District Mayor.

Branches of public power

Executive branch

The District Mayor, elected every four years, is pronounced by decrees and serves as the legal, judicial and extrajudicial representative of the district. Local mayors are appointed by the District Mayor of calves, who are represented by the corresponding Local Administrative Boards in Public Assemblies convened by the bourgmestre. ​ Local mayors are responsible for coordinating the administrative action of the district government in each locality together with the elected mayors, who are members of the Local Administrative Boards of the localities where the city is divided.

The Atlantic Governorate is headed by entities based in the city such as the University of the Atlantic, the Departmental Library and the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Atlantic (environmental management and parks). Through its headquarters in Barranquilla it carries out functions such as issuing passports. It participates in projects such as the revitalization of the historic center of Barranquilla, the Caribbean Events Center, the Caribbean Cultural Park, the Pilot Library of the Caribbean and the Atlantic Historical Archive, located in the Old Customs Cultural Complex, administered by the Government by an Agreement of Contribution with Luis Eduardo Nieto Arteta Corporation. ​

Administratively, Barranquilla's mayor is made up of the Central District Administration (entities that report directly to the mayor) and decentralized entities. Decree No. 941 of 2016 established the organizational structure of the Central District Administration as follows: ​ Office of the Mayor, Secretariats of Office (17), Offices (43) and Managers (4). ​ Decentralized entities (6) are mixed-economy enterprises and administrative technical departments that are responsible for advising the mayor, controlling urban and administrative aspects The district administration's external monitoring and oversight bodies are the district control authority and the district authority. ​

Assembly of the Atlantic Department.

Legislative branch

He is represented on the Barranquilla Council, which issues agreements and consists of twenty-one councilors elected by popular vote for four years. ​

Judicial branch

Barranquilla's Judicial District consists of the Barranquilla High Court of the Judicial District, Barranquilla Judicial Circuit, Soledad Judicial Circuit and Sabanalarga Judicial Circuit. The Tribunal is itself composed of the Civil-Family Chamber (six judges), the Labor Chamber (five judges) and the Criminal Chamber (three judges). The Barranquilla Judicial Circuit consists of the Barranquilla civil, family, labor and penal courts, and the promiscuous Galapa, Juan de Acosta-Tubrá, Piojó and Puerto Colombia ​ ​

Administrative Division

Map of localities	Urban-rural map
Localities: 1. Riomar 2. North - Historical Center 3. South West 4. Metropolitan 5. South East.	Corrections: 1. The Beach (Eduardo Santos) 2. Juan Mina.

According to Law 768 of 2002, ​ Barranquilla district is divided politically and administratively into five localities: Riomar, North-Historical Center, South West, Metropolitan, and South East. ​ each locality is co-managed by the elected mayors and local mayors (one per locality) appointed by the district mayor. This election is regulated by the District Administration. In turn, localities are subdivided into neighborhoods. There are 188 neighborhoods and about 7,611 blocks in the city ​ ​

Legislative Act 01 of 1993 established that the Barranquilla district also covers the territorial understanding of the Las Flores neighborhood, the La Playa district (formerly part of the municipality of Puerto Colombia), and the western Tajamar of Bocas de Ceniza in the Magdalena River, sector of the Mallorquin swamp. The territorial body also includes Juan Mina's county. ​

Metropolitan Area

The Barranquilla Metropolitan Area is an urban conglomerate located in the northeastern corner of the Atlantic department. ​ its main center is the Barranquilla district and the peripheral municipalities Soledad, Galapa, Puerto Colombia and Malambo. ​ was created by Decree Law 3104 of 14 December 1979, in its Article 16, and put into operation by Ordinance 11 December 1981. ​ its operation is governed by Act No. 128 of 1994 (Organic Law on Metropolitan Areas). ​ It is headed by the Metropolitan Board, which is chaired by the Mayor of Metropolitano, who is the mayor of Barranquilla district. In addition, the Board is composed of the Governor of the Atlantic Department, the Mayors of the peripheral municipalities, the representative of the Barranquilla Council and a representative of the councils of the associated municipalities. The director of the entity is the Secretary of the Metropolitan Board. ​

Municipalities	Extension km²	Population (hab)	Density (room/km²)	Altitude msnm	Distance Barranquilla (km)	Metropolitan Area Map
Barranquilla	154	1,274,250	8,274	4	0
Solitude	67	665,021	9,925	5	3
Malambo	108	139,566	1,292	10	12
Puerto Colombia	93	53,649	577	0	13
Galapa	98	67,021	684	83	8
Total	520	2,199,507	4,230	—	—
Source: 2005 DANE Census ​ ​ - Official Web Municipalities ​ ​ ​

Defense

Barranquilla is home to the First Division of the Colombian National Army, made up in part of the Second Mechanized Brigade, which consists of Battalion 4 Mechanized Infantry, Battalion 2 Military Police and Battalion 2 Service Support, among others. ​

In the municipality of Malambo is located the Air Combat Command No. 3 (Cacom 3) of the Colombian Air Force, whose mission is to guarantee constitutional order and exercise national sovereignty through ​ air operations and whose jurisdiction covers the northern continental zone of Colombia, the island area of the San Andrés and Providencia archipelago and the Colombian territorial waters in the Caribbean Sea. ​

State institutions

Attorney General of the Nation.

In Barranquilla, the Colombian State has regional headquarters, which aim to develop the programs and strategies defined by the national guidelines:

Office of the Attorney-General, Office of the Attorney-General, Office of the Comptroller-General of the Nation, Administrative Department of Security, National Learning Service, National Registry Office of the Civil State, National Police, National Army, Office of the Ombudsman, Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, Colombian Institute of Educational Credit and Technical Studies Abroad, National Department of Statistics, Directorate of Taxes and Customs National, Banco de la República, Colombian Air Force), Colombian National Army, Agustín Codazzi Geographic Institute, among others.

Graph of demographic evolution of Barranquilla between 1777 and 2013

Population according to DANE

According to the 2018 DANE census, adjusted to June 30, 2020, Barranquilla's population is 1,274,250 people and 1,199,507 in its metropolitan area, ​ making it the most populous city on the Caribbean Coast Colombian, and the fourth nation after Bogotá, Medellin and Cali.

According to Article 102 of Law 142 of 1994, the different neighborhoods of the city are classified according to the six socioeconomic strata for residential buildings in Colombia. ​ ​ Strators 1 and 2 correspond to the Southeast, South-West, North-West and North-East sectors. Scores 3 and 4 to the south-central, the center and the north, and strata 5 and 6 to the north.

Approximately 1,273,646 people live in the district headquarters and 604 in rural areas. Population density is 8,274 inhabitants per square kilometer. 47.5% of the population is male and the remaining 52.5% is female. Approximately 57.9 per cent of households have four or fewer persons.

20.7 per cent of people aged 17 and over in Barranquilla live in free union. 26.7 per cent of the population of the city was born in another municipality and 0.4 per cent in another country. 5.3% of Barranquilla's population has some permanent limitations. ​

61.5 per cent of people live at home, 32.4 per cent in apartment and 6.2 per cent in room or other housing solution. Among the causes of change of residence, 63.3 per cent of the population of Barranquilla who changed their residence in the last five years did so for family reasons. 9.2% for difficulty in getting work; 13.3 per cent for other reason and 2.0 per cent for threat to his life. ​

Population by sex	Type of dwelling	Population by place of birth

Ethnic composition

13.2% of the population resident in Barranquilla is recognized as Rizal, Palenquero, Black, Mulato, Afro-Colombian or Afro-descendant; 0.1 per cent as indigenous, and 0.2 per cent as Roma. ​ the ethnic composition of the city is completed by the mestiza and Caucasian races, as well as small semitic communities (Middle Eastern Jews and Arabs). ​ ​ ​

Birth and mortality

In 2007, 29,900 births were registered in Barranquilla, ​ compared to 32,108 in 2006. Deaths in 2007 were 4,310, ​ showing a decrease from 5,938 in 20 06. Barranquillary men have a life expectancy at birth of 72.07 years, and women aged 77.71 years, similar to the national average (74.0). ​

The infant mortality rate is 17.7 per thousand children born, below the country average (26) and much lower than the world rate (54). The District Mayor's Opportunities for All Development Plan aims to bring it down to 15 per cent, and in children under five years of age to 20.7 per cent to 18 per cent. ​

Citizen Security

Murder cases in Barranquilla (2007).

In 2012, 349 homicides were reported in Barranquilla, 22 more than in 2011, an increase of 6.73%. ​ In 2007, 348 homicides were reported against 391 in 2006, a decrease of 11%.

In Colombia, during 2007 the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants of Barranquilla (22) is only higher than those of Cali (57), Bucaramanga (32) and Medellin (30). Over the last six years (2002-2007), however, the number of homicides has been declining, the lowest in 2007, with a peak of 483 murders in 2003. The hit-and-run (42.24%), the squabbles (31.61%) and the hit-end aco (14.94%) are the main forms of homicide in the city. Historically, the days when the most homicides occur are Saturday and Sunday, but in 2007 a uniform distribution (approximately 15%) is observed every day. The weapons most used in homicides are firearms (85.23 per cent) and white weapons (9.23 per cent). In 2007, Barranquilla and Cali recorded the highest percentage of homicides with firearms in Colombia. Most homicides are concentrated in the center and south of the city. Another criminal modality in Barranquilla that also presented a growing behavior over the last two years is theft: to commercial entities (713 in 2007, 630 in 2006, mainly in the north and center), to residences (528 in 2007, 467 in 2006, mainly in the north), to financial institutions (20 in 2006, 21 in 2007, mainly in the north) and people (2692 in 2007, 2146 in 2006, mainly in the center, north and south). Chartering increased from 159 cases in 2006 to 127 in 2007. ​ ​

Programs developed by the Atlantic Police to improve security are: Community Mobile, Youth Civic Police, DARE and Make Peace. The Citizen Support Network consists of the Security Schools, Security Fronts, Road Information Community Networks, the Network of Informants and Cooperatives, the Support and Communications Network and Reward Monday. ​ As for community management, the Manzana Police on Bike has been implemented, which seeks to increase police presence on the streets and neighborhoods. The Police of Manzana on Bike consists of 1 officer, 3 non-commissioned officers, 8 patrolmen and 60 high school assistants. ​ The National Police emergency telephone system is operational in the city, which through the 123 toll-free telephone number of the Automatic Dispatch Center handles and directs any emergency regarding citizen security and civil protection. In addition to the National Police, the Civil Defense, the Fire Corps and the Red Cross are collaborating in maintaining public security.

Educational levels reached by the inhabitants of Barranquilla (2005).

Education in the city is regulated by the Ministry of Education, a unit of the district mayor. ​ The city offers the free national education system at its primary and secondary levels. At a higher level, Barranquilla stands out as the main regional university center on the Caribbean Coast; technical and technological training is also available. Between the 1960s and 1990s, the city served as a recipient of the underserved student population of other regions of the Costa and some of the rest of the country, who were unable to pursue higher education due to lack of institutions in their places of origin. This situation tends to decrease at the beginning of the twenty-first century due to the educational coverage that has been achieved in these regions.

Some of the personalities that have contributed most to the educational development of the city have been Manuel María Salgado, pioneer of secondary education in Barranquilla, founder of the Barranquilla Institute in 1849; German educator Karl Meisel, founder of the Ribón College in 1881, who became a Barranquilla College in 1908 (initially called the Atlantic College and then Barranquilla Industrial College), at the behest of then-Atlantic Governor José Francisco Insignares; Julio Enrique Blanco, founder of the Universidad del Atlántico; Ramón Renowitzky, Secretary of Education in the mid-20th century; and Turkish educator and translator Alberto Assa.

Educational Levels

According to the census conducted by the DANE in 2005, 66.5 per cent of the population aged 3-5 years attend a formal educational establishment; 89.2 per cent of the population aged 6-10 years and 83.7 per cent of the population aged 11-17 years. 27.5% of the population resident in Barranquilla has reached the basic primary level and 35.7% secondary; 12.8% have reached the professional level and 1.4% have completed studies of specialization, master's or doctorate. The resident population without any educational level is 6.2 per cent. 94.1% of the population aged 5 years and over in Barranquilla knows how to read and write. ​

University

Graduate building of the University of the North.

In Barranquilla, universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate levels of education (specializations, masters and doctorates). They also undertake outreach (community support work) and research in science and technology. The main universities are:

State

• University of the Atlantic.

Private

Universidad del Norte (institutionally accredited by the Ministry of National Education and first in Colombia to have programs with the accreditation of ABET), ​ Universidad de la Costa CUC, ​ Universidad Autónoma del Caribe, ​ Universidad Libre, ​ Universidad Simón Bolívar, ​ Universidad Metropolitana, ​ Fundación Antonio Nariño, Fundación Universitaria San Martín, ³ Corporación Politecnico Costa Atlantitica,・Corporación Educativa del Litoral.

At the undergraduate level, among the courses offered by the different universities are the Engineering (Systems, Civil, Mechanical, Mechanical, Materials, Electronics, Industrial, Chemical, Electric and Environmental), the Health Sciences (Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Bacteriology, Nutrition, Optometry, Dentistry, Social Work, Occupy Therapy National, Phonoaudiology, Surgical Instrumentation and Microbiology), Economic and Administrative Sciences (Business Administration, International Business Administration, Economy, Accounting, Finance, International Business), Basic Sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology), Education Sciences (Social, Natural, Physical Education, Pre-School, Mathematics, Spanish, Aliens), Human Sciences (Philosophy, History, Sociology, Psychology, Social Communication, International Relations), Fine Arts (Music, Plastic Arts, Dramatic Arts, Architecture), and Legal Sciences (Law, Political Science), among others.

In the field of postgraduate studies, only the University of the North has four doctorates: ​ in Social Sciences, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Psychology; and the University of the Atlantic offers a PhD in Education Sciences. ​ The University of the North offers a significant number of master's degrees in various fields of knowledge such as Engineering, Health Sciences, Education, Environmental, Basic, Administration, etc. ​ Other universities offering some master's degree studies are the Atlantic, Simón Bolívar and the Autonomous Caribbean. The biggest offer is in specializations, all universities offer them in the different areas that make up their undergraduate degree.

Secondary and technological

Megacolegio Olga Emiliani.

The city also has public and private high-academic secondary schools, several of which obtain the "Very Higher" level of state tests performed by the Icfes annually, ​ such as the Experimental Institute of the Atlantic, the German College, the Marymount School, the Karl C. Parrish, the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation and the International British College.

The State National Learning Service contributes to the technical and technological training of Colombians. In Barranquilla there are four SENA centers: the Trade and Services Center, the Industrial and Aviation Center, the Colombo-German National Center and the Center for Agro-ecological and Agro-industrial Development Cedagro. ​ Since 2009, the city has a headquarters of the Instituto Tecnológico de Soledad Atlántico (ITSA), which offers races for cycles, techniques and technology such as electromechanical, electrical, electronic, telecommunications, computer, industrial processes, agro-industrial production, foreign trade and international business, business processes, business management, electrical installations, electrical technology, environmental management and audit, tourism operation and tourism management. The ITSA will house 9,600 underprivileged students from strata 1 and 2. ​

Educational expansion

In 2008, a plan to reduce the school quota deficit was launched with the construction of educational parks in stratum one Las Americas, Lipaya, 7th April and Rebolo through the figure of housing integration. These parks will have community services such as a library, an event hall, computer rooms, sports courts and classrooms. ​ In 2011, four modern mega-schools with a total capacity of 5760 students were delivered: one with a capacity of 2800 students in the Las Cayenas neighborhood, the "Germán Vargas Castillo", ​ one in the Ciudad de Julio and another in Lipaya, ​ the last two with a capacity of 1440 students each. In February 2009, the "Barefoot Feet" mega-school of the resort of La Playa, built by singer Shakira Mebarak and endowed by the District, and the 7th of April Education Park, with capacity for 1,800 students and built with resources that the community contributed through the General Benefit ​ Program. The investment plan of the mega-schools is also underway at the Metropolitano stadium, which has already started classes, and three at the Valorization Program, one that will build the Argos cement company, one that will build the Monommero Venezolanos S.A. chemicals company, and two the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation. ​

Science and research

Faculty of Fine Arts, University of the Atlantic.

Science and research are mainly carried out at universities at the request of the state policies defined by the National System of Science and Technology, the National System of Innovation and Science. The University of the Atlantic is the institution with the most research groups recognized by Colciencias and registered in the International Network of Information and Knowledge Sources for Science, Technology and Innovation Management, Red ScienTI Colciencias: 51 groups recognized by Colciencias of 130 registered. He is followed by the University of the North with 34 recognized of 42 registered, the Simón Bolívar University with 26 recognized of 45 registered, the Autonomous University of the Caribbean with 77 registered and 14 recognized groups, and the Barranquilla Free Sectional University with 32 registered and 12 recognized. The universities carry out scientific and research activities in various fields such as medicine, chemistry, geophysics, biology, physics, microbiology, law, history, philosophy, Caribbean culture, telecommunications and the various branches of engineering. ​ ​ ​

Among the city's public libraries are the Departmental Library, the Caribbean Pilot and Julio Hoenigsberg. Mention should be made of the libraries of the universities of the Atlantic and North and those of the Comfamiliar and Combarranquilla compensation boxes.

Economic indicators
Category	Data
GDP: (2006)	$4,605 million COP $ 10 858 185 million
GDP per capita: (2006)	$2,209 COP $ 4,945,029
Unemployment rate: (2013)	8.0% ​
Annual inflation: (2010)	3.38% ​
Monthly inflation: (2010)	0.28%
Country Risk: (2009)	38.85 points ​
Data taken from Barranquilla ​ Chamber of Commerce - Source: DANE.

Establishments by activity (2005).

Bank of the Republic.

Because of its importance in the national economy, Barranquilla became a Special, Industrial and Port District in 1993. The city is located in the main tourist region of Colombia, among the main attraction poles, Cartagena de Indias in the south-west and Santa Marta in the north-east.

Barranquilla is an industrial and commercial center, economic activity is mainly concentrated in industry, trade, finance, services and fisheries. Among the industrial products, vegetable fats and oils, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, footwear, bus carriages, dairy products, cold meats, beverages, soaps, construction materials, furniture, plastics, cement, metal parts, garments and boats, among others, are produced.

According to the results of the Industrial Density Index by department according to four Cities (IDI) 2000-2006 of the DANE, Barranquilla is in fourth place with a coefficient of 1,4338 establishments per km², below Itagüí, Sabaneta and Medellin. ​ The main industrial corridors are Via 40, Circle cunvalación, 30th Street (Airport Highway) and Barranquillita. Recently, several industrial parks have been put into service, such as Metroparque, Industrial del Caribe, Industrial Riomar, Industrial, Commercial and Port (PIPCA), Industrial del Norte, Industrial La Trinidad, in addition to the already existing Marisol and Almaviva.

According to the 2005 census, 12.0 per cent of establishments are in the industry; 45.2% to trade; 41.3% for services and 1.4% for other activities. 5.7% of households in Barranquilla have economic activity in their homes. 84.8 per cent of the occupied rural dwellings, with people present on the day of the census, were engaged in agricultural and livestock activities. 93.5 per cent of the establishments occupied between 1 and 10 jobs in the month preceding the census. Percentage of occupied rural dwellings, with persons present on the day of the census, with agricultural activity: agricultural 92.9%, livestock 89.3%, fish 3.6%. Most homes have two or three types of activities simultaneously. In establishments with the largest number (0 to 10 jobs), Trade (47.4%) is the most frequent activity and in the group of 10 to 50 people the main activity is Services (52.4%). Of the total number of crops associated with rural housing, 50 per cent are single transitory, 35.7 per cent are associated transitory, 14.3 per cent are single permanent and 0.0 per cent are associated permanent. ​

Percentage of houses with economic activity in Barranquilla (2005).

The importance of the Great Caribbean Ferry Central for food collection and distribution throughout the region should be emphasized. ​

The city has a complete infrastructure of free zones. The Barranquilla Free Zone is the oldest and longest in the country; it has some 90 companies installed. ​ Since 2007, three new free zones with all international specifications have been under construction, the first in Galapa, 11 km and 20 minutes from the port area, the second in Barranquillita and the third in the neighboring town of Juan Mina, called La Cayena ​ ​.

Maritime and river terminals are engines of industrial and commercial development in the Caribbean region. Barranquilla's port area covers two main routes, the Magdalena River, which links it to the interior of the country (which is not the advantage of the other ports on the Caribbean Coast), and the Caribbean Sea, where millions of tons are traded with Europe and Asia.

The growing demand for coal has created the need for a deep-water port, which was granted to the Bocas Port Society in Ash. The initial investment of the Superport, as it is known locally, is estimated at between $400 million and $600 million, and construction is expected to start in January 2014. ​

In October 2008, the Colombian Stock Exchange opened a center of attention at the University of the North in Barranquilla. ​ ​ ​

Employment

Barranquilla is the city with the lowest unemployment rate in Colombia. This is pointed out by El DANE in its report on the Global Participation, Occupation and Unemployment Rate. National total and total 13 cities and metropolitan areas. February (2019 - 2018).[1]

On March 15, 2012, the city achieved an unemployment rate of 7.8%. This figure is below the total average (12.4%) of the 13 cities and metropolitan areas included in the Colombian study. ​

Bocas from Ash.

In Barranquilla there is a year-round business and commercial tourism and, especially during the Carnival and end of the year, it receives a greater influx of visitors. As far as hotel is concerned, the city has an infrastructure mainly focused on the executive market and the Carnival season. They can be obtained from inns and residences to five-star hotels of recognized national and international chains. The best hotels are located in the north of the city, close to business areas and shopping centers, which offer all kinds of facilities for events, conventions, congresses, among others. Another hotel sector is the Center, which is more oriented towards smaller budgets. The main tourist sites include:

Bocas de Ash

A place of particular importance for the city are the Bocas de Asiza, as the mouth of the Magdalena River in the Caribbean Sea is known. Its importance lies in the fact that it constitutes access to the port area of Barranquilla. In the Las Flores district, river walks are organized on irons between Pumarejo Bridge and Bocas de Asiza. You can also take private boat or boat trips around the river and its arms, enjoy the restaurants in the area and tour the nearby swamps. A city compensation box organizes a daily tourist train ride on the railway line of the western tajamar until just before its final stretch, which is impossible to travel due to its deteriorating state and the danger it poses.

Magdalena River Great Malecon

A public space open on the banks of the Magdalena River stretching 5 km from the Puerta de Oro events center to the island of Loma. The pedestrian promenade at the height of the event center was inaugurated in July 2017. Divided into four functional units, the entire project includes restaurant areas, greenery, pedestrian paths, benches, lighting, bike lanes, amphitheater, among other architectural, urbanistic and recreational elements. It runs parallel to the extension of Rio Avenue. ​ ​ ​ ​

Window to World

Multi-colored architectural ensemble located on Circunvalación Avenue near its intersection with Route 40.

Port of Colombia

Built in 1893 by The Barranquilla Railway & Pier Company under the direction of Cuban engineer Francisco Javier Cisneros, Puerto Colombia's dock was once one of the longest in the world. It brought progress and hundreds of immigrants into the country in the late 19th century and early 20th. In 2008 it was partially shut down due to its progressive ruinous state. On March 7, 2009, it collapsed the final 200 meters of its structure due to strong breezes, forcing its complete closure and the evacuation of the inhabitants of the area. Despite being declared a National Monument in 1998, it has never been restored. Because of its state, the local government is making efforts to rebuild it. ​

Barranquilla Zoo

Flamingos at the zoo.

The Barranquilla ​ zoo is a complex of fauna and flora that hosts native animal species and other continents, emphasizing Colombian wildlife and protecting endangered species. More than 500 animals of about 140 species can be seen among mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and primates.

Light source in Villa Country.

The North

The most modern and infrastructure-endowed sector, with the best neighborhoods, parks, hotels and shopping malls. It is also one of the axes of Barranquilla's cultural and financial life. It presents new developments in infrastructure and urban architectural projects.

Spa

The tourist attractions of the neighboring towns can be reached by land for up to an hour. In the north-west of the department there are several seaside resorts on the Caribbean Sea such as Pradomar, Salgar, Sabanilla, Puerto Colombia, Santa Verónica, Caño Dulce, Playa Mendoza, Puerto Velero, Turipaná and Puerto Mocho, as well as the El Rincón swamp (better known as Lake Cisne), where you can practice water sports, camping, fishing and excursions. Barranquilla is just over an hour from the spas of Cartagena and Santa Marta, important national tourist centers.

Surrounding

Paragliding is practiced in Cupino Hill, municipality of Puerto Colombia. In Usiacurí you can visit the house of the poet Julio Flórez and purchase handicrafts. Water sports and related recreational activities can also be practiced in Luruaco and Repelón, respectively. Other towns in the department of Atlántico include livestock fairs (Sabanalarga), cultural, gastronomic, folk and musical festivals such as the Egg Arepa Festival in Luruaco, the Ciruela Festival in Campeche, the Guandul Festival in Sibuque, the Pastel Festival in Megua Capital, Carnivals and others.

Business Activity

View Barranquilla Shopping Malls
The main commercial sectors are the Center and the north of the city, and since the mid-2000s, investments have been made in malls in the south.

Party and fun

Areas and entertainment corridors and restaurants include:

• Carrera 8. Located in the south of the city between 30th and Murillo Streets, it is an area of 1.2 miles of clubs and bars.
• 98th Street. Axis of an exclusive sector and expansion of the north of the city. Between the 51B and 56 races, there are shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and residential buildings.
• Street 84. Located in the north of the city between races 43 and 59, it became fashionable between 1989 and 1990 as a place to celebrate during the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers; it was then called "rumba street."
• Carrera 53. Between 76th and 85th Streets, at the level of El Country and Alto Prado neighborhoods, Washington Park is the epicenter, around which there are restaurants, bars and clubs.
• Race 52. Gourmet area between 76th and 79th Streets.
• Race 51B. Restaurants, bars, shopping centers and hotels, between 76th Street and Circunvalar Avenue.
• Race 46. Between Streets 82 and 96.
• 93rd Street. Between races 43 and 51B.
• Street 82. Between races 43 and 55.
• 79th Street. Between races 51 and 55.
• Calle Murillo. A vast area that starts in the center and ends in the south of the city, near the Roberto Meléndez Metropolitano stadium.

Since 2007, a Pink Zone has been planned in the Miramar sector in the north of the city. Other areas of entertainment include race 52 (restaurants), race 21 (on Murillo Street), the central boulevard park of the Simón Bolívar neighborhood and the Centro.

Other

Salsa statisticians, artisanal fair of Romelio Martínez stadium on the corner of 72nd Street with Olaya Herrera Avenue, typical food restaurants, museums, night clubs, squares, parks, monuments, Carnival House, sports stages, architectural buildings of patrimonial character, churches, cultural events, among others.

The building of the former Intendency River was restored in 2014 and houses the District Secretariat of Culture and Tourism.

Throughout the year, an interesting cultural activity is taking place in the city, the most representative of which is the Barranquilla Carnival, one of the most celebrated popular festivals in Colombia. It is held annually during the four days prior to Ash Wednesday - Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Carnival Tuesday - usually in February or early March. In 2001 it was declared "Cultural Heritage of the Nation" by the National Congress of Colombia and in 2003 "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by Unesco.

In the city they have seats of various folk demonstrations such as dances, dances, songs, games, legends, tales and superstitions, among others, many of which reach their peak during Carnival.

Barranquilla is home to various cultural events such as art exhibitions, literary workshops, philosophical conversations, theater pieces, poetry days, dances, exhibitions, concerts and festivals, such as the Festival of Orchestra in the framework of Carnival and Barranquijazz. Since 1957, the Month Concert has been held, a space for the dissemination of classical music.

The culture is promoted by the Barranquilla District Institute of Culture and Tourism, ​ attached to the Mayor's Office, and entities such as the Barranquilla Museum of Modern Art, the Cayena Cultural Center of the University of the North, the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of the Atlantic, the Cultural Center of Comfamiliar, the Barranquilla Carnival Foundation, the Bank of the Republic, the Alliance Colombo-French, Colombo-American Cultural Center, the Luis Eduardo Nieto Arteta Corporation, which manages the Cultural Complex of Old Customs, consisting of the Pilot Library of the Caribbean, the Pilot Children's Library of the Caribbean, the Atlantic Historical Archive and the Hans Federico Neuman Music Documentation Center; universities and colleges, among other cultural associations.

Theaters

Amira de la Rosa theater.

Amira de la Rosa theater

Located in a strategic and traditional sector of the city where the El Prado, Montecristo and Abajo neighborhoods meet, besides scenarios such as the Fighting Palace, the Carnival House, the Carnival Museum, the Olympic pool and several universities, the Amira de la Rosa theater has been playing a function of cultural dissemination as a space for concerts, exhibitions, exhibitions, exhibitions, meetings, among others ... Closed in 2016 for maintenance. ​

Museums

• Romantic Museum. Located in a republican mansion in the district of El Prado where objects representative of the city's history are shown. From costumes on the Carnival queens to a replica of the old Abello chameleon, to the typewriter with which Gabriel García Márquez wrote his first novel, La Hojarasca. There are also letters from the Liberator Simón Bolívar, photographs, records, collections of archival newspapers, among other elements that identify the history of the city.
• Museum of the Caribbean. The main axis of the Caribbean Cultural Park, focuses on the history and idiosyncrasies of the Caribbean region of Colombia.
• Anthropological and Ethnological Museum. Located in the building of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of the Atlantic. It features a comprehensive collection of pieces from indigenous cultures that inhabited the region. It also provides a bar, reading room and exhibitions.
• Museum of Modern Art. Operating since 1996, it has collected a selection of works by artists from the second half of the 20th century. Its collection, which for reasons of space remains in reserve, is presented to the public through temporary exhibitions and includes works by renowned authors such as Fernando Botero, Alejandro Obregón, Enrique Grau or Luis Caballero. Its new headquarters is being built in the Caribbean Cultural Park, in the second phase of that project. ​ ​
• Aeronautical Museum. Located at the ARC Naval Non-commissioned Officers' School, founded in 1989 in homage to the Barranquilla's commercial aviation momentum in the early 20th century.
• Museum of the Atlantic. Located in the former headquarters of the Atlantic Governorate, building declared a national monument by the Ministry of Culture. It has 3,200 square meters and also serves as a parallel headquarters for the municipalities of the Atlantic. ​
• Carnival Museum. Located in the 54th Race with 49B Street, Lower Race. He takes a tour of the history of the party from its origins, its music and its tradition.

Caribbean Cultural Park.

• Caribbean Cultural Park. Cultural complex, unique of regional nature in Colombia. Designed as part of the restoration of the historic center of the city, it promotes the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the Colombian Caribbean. It is composed in its first stage of the Museum of the Caribbean, the Pilot Children's Library of the Caribbean, the Macondo Library of Mediateca (specialized in the work of Gabriel García Márquez), a Documentation Center, a Multi-Event Hall and a public square with open-air theater. In its second stage, it will be complemented by the Barranquilla Museum of Modern Art and the Cinemateca of the Caribbean. ​

Aduana-Elbers Cultural Park. Locomotive Square.

• Old Customs. Set of republican buildings restored during the 1990s that house the Pilot Library of the Caribbean, the Historical Archive of the Atlantic, the Hans Federico Neuman Musical Documentation Center, Montoya Station, the Aduana-Elbers Cultural Park (dedicated to the memory of Juan Bernardo Elbers, pioneer of navigation along the Magdalena River), Place de la Locomotora The new Barranquilla Symbology of Alejandro Obregón, carried out in 1956 for Banco Popular, which donated it to the Atlantic Governorate in 1994 for its restoration.

Pilot Library of the Caribbean.

Libraries

Some of Barranquilla's libraries and information centers include the Departmental Public Library Meira Delmar (1945), the Pilot Library of the Caribbean, the Historical Archive of the Atlantic Department, the libraries of the universities of the North, and of the Atlantic, those of the Comfamiliar and Combarranquilla compensation boxes and the public libraries Julio Hoenisberg and Popular of the La Paz neighborhood. ​ newspaper El Heraldo. ​

Convention Center

The Caribbean Events Center is a multi-purpose complex located on the western edge of the Magdalena River, consisting of trade fair grounds, convention center, business and business buildings, hotel, playground, restaurants, bars and tourist harbor.

Other

La Cueva Restaurant-Bar. The cultural activity of the Barranquilla Group is known and can be elaborated on aspects of the history and culture of the barranquilleras of the mid-20th century. ​

The Carnival House.

Caribbean Cinematheque. ​

Barranquilla planetarium. ​

Folk music

Homage to the cumbia in Seven Bocas.

The cumbia is the most representative musical rhythm and dance, deeply rooted in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Other musical rhythms include jalao, puya, doodle, cumbión, chandé, porro, gaita, bullerengue, merecumbé, valenato and birdfish. In addition to cumbia, other dances are traditional dances such as Garabato, Congo, Mapalé and Son de Negro; the dances of relationship, such as the Cayman, the Coyongos, the Goleros, the Pilanderas and the Paloteo; and special dances (Diablos, del Gusano, the Farotas). Among the most representative comparisons are the Marimondas, Monocucos and Toritos, which, as well as the musical rhythms and different dances, reach their highest expression during the Carnival of Barranquilla. ​

Dialect

In Barranquilla, a variant of Spanish from Costa Rica is spoken with specific and defined local features. The barranquillero dialect extends to the municipalities of its metropolitan area and surrounding areas, but a dialect with different characteristics is already used in Sabanalarga. ​

In its phonetics, it is characterized, like all Spanish in America, by brains. It also introduces the yeism. In addition, it presents the fall of the d intervocallic of particles, for example, "salado" is pronounced [sa'la.o]. The end of the syllable is aspired as "coast" (['koh.ta]) or "searched" ([buh'ko]). We also present the total loss of the s in absolute final position and the end of infinitives: "things" is pronounced [lah 'kosa] and "walking" [ka.mi'na]. Another characteristic of Spanish spoken in the city is the nasalization of vowels that precede m and n ("campaign" [kãm'pa.ɲ a] and "anda" [ãn.da]). The end is to ensure: song [kan'sjoŋ]. The jota is performed as a soft aspiration ([h]), sometimes almost disappears, completely different from the joint to watch the jack ([x]) in Spain. ​

In no way does the gemination of the consonants (e.g. d, t, p, or・g・b) occur after and suppression of liquidr and l: ['kad.do] per broth, ['at.to] overlooked, a Spanish phenomenon in the departments of Bolívar, Sucre and Córdoba, and of the Atlantic from Sabanalarga. ​ ​

Except for localisms and phonetic variants that arise as a normal consequence of the expansion of every language, and thanks to the morphosintaxis practically identical to that of Spanish from the other Spanish-speaking countries, the visitor from other latitudes whose mother tongue is Spanish will find little or no difficulty in communicating with the barranquillero.

Events

In addition to Barranquilla's carnival and its related activities, some of the city's cultural events include:

• Barranquijazz. Music event that brings together international jazz figures. It is celebrated in September in the theater Amira de la Rosa among other stages.
• Arts Carnival. A cultural event that has been taking place days before Carnival since 2007, involving intellectuals, writers, filmmakers, musicians and artists of national and international renown.
• Taste Barranquilla. International gastronomic event held annually since 2008. ​
• Toy Fair. Permanent market of toys during the month of December in the park of the Universal Cemetery.
• International Festival of Quotas The Caribbean Counts. The annual international humor and storytelling event in August, organized by the Luneta 50 Foundation.
• International Short Film Festival Film to the Street. Annual event held by the Fundación Cine a la Calle (Street Film Foundation), where the highlights of the short film are presented at national and international level. ​ ​
• PoeMaRío. International poetry festival. It is held annually between July and September in various parts of the city.

Gastronomy

Guandou soup with salted meat.

The typical city dish is lisa rice, served with cassava bun. Characteristic of the local cuisine are also guandú sausage with salted meat; the butyfarra; the clean, unclean, unclean, corncobs of angelito; coastal cheese; fried as varieties of arepas, such as egg, carimañolas, empanadas, pies, patacón, fritters of black beans and tender corn and quibbe; the rice of black frijol, noodles, chipichipi and cucayan; beverages such as raspao, boli, panela water, corozo, tamarindo, zapote and nispero juices; sweets such as joy, sandwiches, crockery, cooked foods and Easter sweets; wrapped like cake and hayaca; fishes such as bocachico en cabrito or frito, mojarra and lebranche; shrimp and oyster cocktails; rib, tail, bone, scoundrel, triphasic (with beef, chicken and pork), mondongo and creole chicken sausages; and the chicharron. ​ ​ ​

The city's gastronomic offer is significant, and its restaurants can be enjoyed from Creole cuisine to various international cuisines, such as the Syrian-Lebanese (due to the presence of descendants of Middle Eastern immigrants), the Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian, Peruvian, French, Italian, Spanish, seafood, fast, vegetarian, fusion cuisine, roast, among others.

Religion

Metropolitan Cathedral María Reina.

Among the religious demonstrations in Barranquilla is Christianity, Catholicism being the most professed current, rooted since the Spanish colonial era. They also have Protestants, Jews, Muslims, and as well as Buddhist, Masonic, Rosacrucist, and Gnostic communities.

The official patron of the city is Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, whose church was declared pro-cathedral when the Holy See created the Diocese of Barranquilla in 1932. In 1982, the Holy See enshrines the Maria Queen temple as the new Metropolitan Cathedral of Barranquilla. St. Roque de Montpellier is considered the popular patron. ​ Barranquilla has been home to the Archdiocese since 1969, which comprises the entire Atlantic department and is made up of 119 pastoral or parish units, distributed in the district, municipalities and some districts of the department. It is also the metropolitan Episcopal seat of the Ecclesiastical Province, which is also composed of the suffragettes of Santa Marta, Valledupar, Riohacha and El Banco. ​ ​

General aspect of Saint Nicholas Square in 2012.

Historic Center

An aspect of the center of Barranquilla (2008).

The historic center is between Races 35 and 46 and Streets 30 and 46, and includes parts of the neighborhoods of San Roque and Abajo. ​ it is part of the North-Historical Center and Central District, which is also made up of the sectors of Barranquillita and El Boliche. The administrative powers of the city and the department are located in the historic center. Its axis is the promenade of Bolívar, an avenue that was restored and expanded between 2003 and 2008. In this sector the city was born and around it, the socio-economic activities of the city developed almost exclusively until the 1980s, when the deterioration of the Center caused the shift of formal trade and banking to the north of the city. Despite the neglect, the Center remains the core of the city and its most economically important sector. It concentrates intensive commercial activity in synergy with the surrounding public market. Moreover, it is home to numerous buildings of the Republican period and the Modern Movement of immense historical and architectural value, and was declared a National Cultural Interest Good by the Ministry of Culture by resolution 1614 of 1999. ​ Since the 1990s, the historic center of Barranquilla has been in the process of recovery, which has been consolidated in 200 8 with the Ministry of Culture's call for the "Public Competition of the Architectural Project for the Design of Different Urban Sectors for the Recovery of Public Space of the Historical Center of Barranquilla". ​ At the level of the local administration, the development of the center of Barranquilla is promoted by the Promotora del Desarrollo of the Central District of Barranquilla S.A. (Promocentro), a decentralized entity attached to the District Mayor. ​

Paseo de Bolívar

Bolívar Walk.

Bolívar's promenade, the centerpiece of Barranquilla, is the most important avenue in the city, around which the city emerged, was created and expanded. Until the end of the 19th century it was called Ancha street, when in 1886 Mayor Antonio Abello built a camelon, becoming known as Abello camelon. At the beginning of the 20th century, Christopher Columbus's statue was located on the far north, so he changed his name on Columbus's promenade. In 1937, a square was built at the far north and the statue of Columbus was placed in place of the equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar, a gift of Andrés Obregón in 1919, since then known as Paseo de Bolívar. ​

Since the early 2000s, there has been a debate between the national authorities and the local leadership as to whether the building of the former Caja Agraria, located behind the square, has to be demolished (so far it enjoys patrimonial status) to make way for the extension of the Bolívar promenade to Olaya Herrera Avenue (Race 46) and its intersection with Boyacá Avenue (30300) and Route 40. Paseo de Bolívar is the axis of the recovery of the historic center of Barranquilla. ​

Public Space

Stationary sales in downtown Barranquilla. ​

Land use, particularly public space, and urban planning are regulated by the Territorial Management Plan, which is developed by the Mayor through the District Planning Secretariat and approved or revised by the District Council.

Barranquilla has an acute deficiency of public spaces and arborization, reflected in an average of 0.083 m² of squares and green areas per capita. The area of the city that has the largest occupation of public space is the Center, where there are 9160 registered informal stationary vendors. ​ ​

Seats

Plaza de la Paz.

Among the city's squares are:

• Saint Nicholas Square: located in front of the church of Saint Nicholas, it was the epicenter of the cultural, commercial and religious life of Barranquilla in the early 20th century.
• Plaza de la Paz San Juan Pablo II: built in 1986 in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral to receive Pope John Paul II. A site of massive social, political and cultural demonstrations. Removed in 2013, extended in 2018.
• Plaza de Bolívar: located at the northern end of the promenade of the same name, it is the epicenter of the city and the spearhead of the recovery of the historic center. Rebuilt in 2003.
• Plaza de San Roque: annexed to the church of the same name, opened in 2015.
• Plaza de San José: framed by the church of the same name, the old school of San José and the Departmental Library. Opened in 2016.
• Hospital Square: next to Barranquilla Hospital. Opened in 2016.
• Plaza del Río Grande de la Magdalena: annexed to the restored Intendency Influvial, on the edge of the Tramposos. Opened on October 10, 2014. ​ ​
• Plaza de la Cruz Vieja: possible site of start of the population of Barranquilla, located in the 44th race with 32nd Street. Opened in 2013. ​

Other places include the Boliche and the old Ujueta square, both at the Mercado; San Mateo Square, in the historic center; Esthercita Forero square (Race 43 on 74th Street, built in 2003, has a statue of the composer); Mario Santo Domingo Square, a public space that is part of the Cultural Park of the Caribbean, of which it was its first work inaugurated (2008); and Plaza de la Locomotora (2002), which is part of the Old Customs Cultural Complex, exhibits a locomotive from the time when goods were moved by train between Barranquilla and its alternate port located in the town of Puerto Colombia.

Parks

View List of Barranquilla Parks

Mechanical Attractions in Venezuelan Park.

Some of the city's parks include:

• Tomas Surí Salcedo Park: named in honor of the Minister of Finance who led the construction of Bocas de Ceniza tajamares and the Customs Administration building, built in 1921. Located in the strategic area of 72nd Street with Olaya Herrera Avenue, it offers mechanical games and hosts the Elías Chegwin basketball stadium. It is the annual stage of the Sweet Festival during the Easter season. Built in 1945, renovated in 1978 and 2013. ​
• Metropolitan Park: located between the southern side of Roberto Meléndez Metropolitano stadium and the velodrome, in the south of the city; it also occupies an ear from the bridge of Murillo avenue on Circunvalación avenue. Built for the 2001 Copa América, in 2006 Shakira's sculpture was located there.
• Santander Park: dedicated to the memory of Francisco de Paula Santander in the district of El Prado.
• Founders Park: a former central boulevard in the district of El Prado, it houses various monuments such as the eagle in honor of the pioneers of the plane who lost their lives in the accident in 1924 when they were flying the construction of Bocas de Asiza.
• Ernesto McCausland Park: located on the 17th street roundabout with race 9 and its surroundings (entrance to Barranquilla on Pumarejo bridge), it houses the megabandera of Barranquilla and the bust of Pacho Galán. The design was designed by architect Adolfo Schlegel, with an area of 15,000 m² and cost 600 million pesos. Inaugurated on November 28, 2012. ​ ​
• Parque Venezuela Mágico: located in the north of the city, it is one of the best equipped in children's games and mechanical attractions, since it is home to the Fantasiland private amusement park. It also has basketball courts, exercise machines and a jogging track.

Monuments

Flag Monument.

See List of Barranquilla Monuments.

Barranquilla pays homage to local and national heroes and personalities of sister nations, as well as national dates, sport, art, culture, historical events and religiosity. Among the city's monuments are:

• Equestrian statue of the Liberator Simón Bolívar (1919), in the square of his name, epicenter of the city.
• Marble statue of Carrara de Cristóbal Colón, giveaway from the Italian colony in 1892 on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the Discovery of America, ​ on the boulevard of the 50th race.
• Statue of Liberty in the Independence Park, gifts from the Syrian colony in 1910 on the occasion of the centenary of the Independence of Colombia.
• Statue of General Francisco de Paula Santander (1922) in the park of the same name.
• Flag Monument (1932) in the Once park of November.
• Window to the World (2018). Glass, steel and aluminum structure built by Tecnoglass company.

Road nomenclature

A jaw that shows an address.

Barranquilla has a road path in which the roads are braided perpendicular to form apples. since 1940 an alphanumeric nomenclature has been used which replaced vernacular names. The roads that progress parallel to the Magdalena River from east to west and start at the Maritime Terminal are called "streets". For their part, the "races" (formerly known as alleys), advance perpendicular to the Magdalena River, from south to north, from Circunvalación Avenue, in the sector of the Metropolitano stadium. To the south of this sports scene, the "South" appendix is added to the races.

If the building is located on a street, your address will start from "Street", otherwise "Race", follow the number of that street or race and then separate by abbreviation No or symbol #, the corresponding race or street separated by a script of the building number (usually the approximate number of meters from the property to the corner). For example, 47B Street # 21-10; Race 5 South # 50-04.

Architecture

Barranquilla's architectural history is written almost as recently as the 20th century. There are no buildings in the city during the colonial period or in the first decades of the independent and developing nation, but the profusion of styles that flourished from the end of the 19th century give the city a cosmopolitan and sui generis atmosphere in Colombia. This architectural splendor, a must-see for Colombian architectural scholars, is a port city and entry point to the country, for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, of progress and immigrants from the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia, many of whom settled in Barranquilla and imported the architectural styles that are appreciated in the city ​.

Among the architectural styles are some as dissimilar as neo-classical and Art Deco, as well as displays of neo-colonial, modernist, contemporary, eclectic, Mudéjar, late Spanish Baroque (also known as Californian style), Mozarab and Caribbean (from the Netherlands Antilles) architecture. In some modernist constructions the influence of international architects such as Oscar Niemeyer, Le Corbusier (who was in Barranquilla in the late 1940s), Leopold Rother, Mies Van der Rohe and Richard Neutra, among others is noticeable. ​

Republican Period

Republican mansion (neoclassical style) in El Prado neighborhood.

Bad so-called "style," the Republican is the period of the history of Colombian architecture from 1819, the year of the definitive independence of the country, and around 1930, which brings together different styles in the city such as neoclassical, late Spanish Baroque, and the neo-Mediterranean.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the neo-classical buildings were especially welcomed in Barranquilla. Among the most outstanding examples are the Instituto La Salle, Villa Heraldo, the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Atlantic (former residence of writer Álvaro Cepeda Samudio), the residence of Ezequiel Rosado, the Funeraria Jardines del Memorial, the restored Customs building, the former Commercial Bank of Barranquilla, the former Banco Dugand and La Perla, among others, El Prado district and in the historic center. Other Republican buildings are the Hotel El Prado (New Mediterranean style), the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of the Atlantic and the Intendency of the River. ​ ​

The Transition (1930-1945)

Garcia Building. Art Deco.

Stage of Colombian architecture prior to the Modern Movement in which styles other than the Republicans were sought, such as art nouveau and art déco. ​

Many Art Deco-style buildings, typical of the 1930s, such as the Romelio Martínez stadium (1935), the Departmental Library (1945), the Rex theater (1935), the missing Metro theater (1946, old Apollo), the building of the Brewery Eagle (1942), the Kico Building (1948), the Shaare Sedek Synagogue (1946-1947), the Agricultural Exhibition Building (1936, later converted into Industrial School), the Eckardt Building (1939), the former residence by Cuban architect Manuel Carrerá, in the district of Bellavista, the García building (1938-1943), the Teatro Colón (1946), the old building of Avianca (1934); the last four, designed by Carrerá. ​ ​ ​

The Romelio Martínez stadium was recognized in 1995 as a National Monument by the Ministry of Culture, being the first Art Deco building in Barranquilla to obtain this declaration. ​

Modern Movement (1945-1970)

National Buildings (right) and Rodrigo Lara Bonilla (most recent).

Modern architecture is characterized by being free of the ornaments of the Republican period's buildings, and by the tendency towards rationalist concrete. Examples of modern architecture in the city include the National Building, home of the judicial branch, designed by the German architect Leopold Rother in 1945 and completed in 1953; the María Reina Cathedral (started in 1955) and the old building of the Caja de Crédito Agrario (1961-1965), located at the northern end of Bolívar's promenade and designed by architect Fernando Martínez Sanabria. In addition, the buildings of the Seine, the Atlantic Assembly, the former Telecom (1965, now the seat of the courts, with the sculpture Telecondor of Alejandro Obregón on the access square), the Atlantic Governorate and the Mayor on Paseo de Bolívar, the former building of the Bank of the Republic. ​ ​

Most recent architecture (1970-1985)

Executive Center I.

The period when the UPAC system resulted in the commercialization of architecture to the detriment of spatial and aesthetic quality. The search for safer environments has resulted in the proliferation of housing packages and closed shopping centers. The Post-Modern Movement appears briefly trying to highlight the historical styles left aside by the Modern Movement. During this period, the recovery of the architectural heritage and the protection of urban buildings and complexes such as the Center becomes important. Among the most representative buildings of this period are Executive Center I (known for its stylized form as "Miss Universe"), the Sunflower Building, the towers of the banks Popular, Bogotá and Bancolombia, and the Rodrigo Lara Bonilla building. ​

Current architecture

Several skyscrapers were built in the 2010s. In the 1990s, the return to styles such as neoclassical or neo-Mediterranean in buildings such as the Metrotel (neoclassical) headquarters, the Carrefour Prado (neo-Mediterranean) shopping center and the Prado Office Center (neo-Mediterranean) office building, responded to the interest of building buildings that harmonize with the representative architecture of the El Prado neighborhood, where they are located. ​

Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Religious temples

The city has religious temples that speak of its multicultural nature and exhibit different architectural styles. The most important ones are: the Cathedral of Maria Reina, of tardomoderna architecture; the church of San Nicolás de Tolentino, patron of Barranquilla, in an eclectic style; the church of San Roque (a popular patron of the city and one of the few neo-Gothic churches in Colombia); the Church of the Immaculate Conception; the church of Our Lady of Perpetuo Socorro; the church of San José; Our Lady of Carmen church; the church of the Sacred Heart; Our Lady of the Rosary church; the church of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá; the church of Nuestra Señora de la Torcoroma; the Church of San Francisco; the church of the Sagrada Familia. The chapel of Liceo de Cervantes, the church of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre and the synagogue Bet-El stand out for its avant-garde design.

Roberto Meléndez Metropolitan Stadium.

Sports activity in Barranquilla is governed and promoted at the government level by the Department of Recreation and Sports of the District Mayor. ​ Since the beginning of the 20th century, football, baseball and boxing have been practiced mainly in the city. Various disciplines are also practiced, such as basketball, athletics, swimming, chess, cycling, skating, tennis, golf, shooting, microsoccer, karate, taekwondo, paragliding, biking, karting, automotive, sport fishing, squash, surfing, halterofie lia, softball and bowls.

Barranquilla has hosted the Colombia national football team during the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Italy, the United States 1994, France 1998, Germany 2006, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018. In addition, the city has hosted:

• V Central American and Caribbean Games in 1946.
• IV Bolivarian Games in 1961.
• XIV National Games in 1992.
• 2001 Copa América Group A Inauguration and Games.
• 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games (subheadquarters).
• 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup opening and five games (four games by Group E and one of the eighth finals). ​
• XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games in 2018. ​

Scenarios

The city has a sports infrastructure that has allowed it to host events of national, regional and world importance, such as the V Central American and Caribbean Games in 1946 and 2018, the 1961 Bolivarian Games, World Cup 2001 and the U-20 World Cup in 2011. The main sporting stages of Barrano keel is:

• Metropolitano Stadium. Inaugurated on 11 May 1986, with a capacity of 46,692 viewers. It has a football pitch, athletic racing track, semi-background, long jump, triple jump, high, with garrocha and launch of wild boar, disco and hammer. He has hosted the Colombian national football team during the World Cup qualifiers of 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2020.
• Estadio Municipal Romelio Martínez. Built in 1935 for the III National Olympic Games; capacity for 20,000 people. Remodeled between 2016 and 2018 for the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games.
• Modern Stadium. First stadium for football practice built in Colombia. Expanded and remodeled between 2017 and 2018 for the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games.
• Baseball stadium. A stage for baseball practice that began construction in 2017 at the site of the Tomás Arrieta stadium, demolished in 2016 as part of the adaptation of the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games. ​
• Elías Chegwin Coliseum. Built for the 1946 Central American Games and named Suri Salcedo stadium. Remodeled in 1992 for the 14th National Games. Remodeled between 2016 and 2018 for the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games. It has a capacity of 3000 viewers; ​ is certified by the International Basketball Federation. The basketball court is made of wood and has digital boards. ​ it is named after a scorpion basketball player from the 1930s, the first Colombian to play university level in the United States in 1938, at the University of Huron, South Dakota, where he graduated as a sociologist ​
• Velódromo Metropolitano Rafael Vásquez. Built in 1992 for the 14th National Games.

Olympic Swimming Pool.

• Aquatic Complex. Successor to the Olympic pool that was a replica of the Berlin one, remodeled between 2011 and 2013, ​ ​ ​ and demolished in 2017 as part of the adaptation of the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games. It has three swimming pools: racing, diving and warming disciplines for swimming, water polo, synchronized swimming and diving. ​ ​ ​
• Pathinotrophe. Located in the Villa Santos neighborhood, it was built for the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. ​ ​ ​ ​
• Rafael Naranjo Pertuz Patinódromo. In addition to the skating rink, the inside of the oval is a roller hockey field. ​ Located in the Forests del Norte park, built in 1992.
• District Tennis Stadium. Built for the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games. Opened on November 9, 2017. ​ ​ ​
• Athletics stadium. A stage adjacent to the Metropolitano stadium, built between 2017 and 2018 to host the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games athletics competitions. ​ ​ ​

Maderamen of the Fighting Palace.

• Fighting Palace. Built between 2017 and 2018 at the site of the Humberto Perea covered coliseum, demolished in 2016 as part of the adaptation of the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games. ​ ​
• BMX Track. Located on 93rd Street, Race 75. Built in 2018 for the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games, inaugurated on 6 July 2018. Approximately 2000 spectators. ​ ​
• Soccer stadium. Located in the park, Forests del Norte, Race 53, 94th Street.

The city also has a hunting and shooting club, tennis courts in various parks (Macías, Forests of the North), a kartrodrome on the way to Juan Mina, golf courses (private social clubs), a biking court, a bowling alley, the "Chelo de Castro" coliseum of the University of the Atlantic, "The Founders" of the University of the North and several schools, the polysports of the neighborhoods of Lipaya, La Magdalena and San Felipe, among others.

Metropolitan Sports Unit

In 2011, the Metropolitan Sports Unit was built, a sports and recreational complex of 53 314 m², adjacent to the Metropolitano stadium. Removed in 2018, a field was used for field hockey at the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games. Has: ​

• 2 synthetic microsoccer fields.
• Hockey field in synthetic frame.
• Microsoccer field 8.
• 2 tennis courts.
• Beach volleyball court.
• Multiple court.
• Bio-health fitness center.
• 4 table tennis tables.
• Cycling for skating and cycling.
• Outdoor theater.
• Children's playground.
• 5,951 m² of green areas with irrigation.
• Walking paths.

In the area of staffing, the unit has dressing rooms with bathrooms, administrative offices, conference room, first aid nursing, parking lot, square for recreational and cultural activities. ​

Devices

Football

The city has hosted several teams that have performed in Colombian professional football. Junior competes in the First Division and Barranquilla FC (Junior subsidiary) in the Second Division. Other teams that played the first division of Colombian professional football based in Barranquilla were Juventud Junior (founded in 1929, in 1936 he acquires the name Junior de Barranquilla), Deportivo Barranquilla (1949), Sporting (1950-53, 1988-91), Libertad (Freedom) 1956), Unicosta (1997-98) and Uniautonomous F.C. (2014-15) ​ Since 2017, the Junior Female represents the city in the Women's Professional League.

Baseball

The Caymans and Giants compete in the Colombian Professional Baseball League. Since the first edition of the Colombian professional tournament in 1948, other teams based in Barranquilla have included Filtta, Armco, Cerveza Águila, Hit, Willard, Vanytor, Olimpica, Café Universal, Vaqueros y Eléctricos.

Basketball

The Titanes team has been participating in the Professional Basketball League at the Elías Chegwin coliseum since 2018. ​ Barranquilla has the team Caimanes, champion of the Colombian professional tournament in 1995, 1997 and 1998. ​

Futsal

The Independent Barranquilla Futsal team plays in the Liga Argos de Football professional room. Until 2012, he had the FSC Sharks team at the professional microfootball tournament.

Events

• International athletic race in San Silvestre district of Chiquinquirá. It was founded by Rafael Guzmán and has been held every 31 December since 1971. ​ ​
• World Youth Tennis Circuit. Since 1984, Barranquilla has hosted a CMJT stop, held annually on the Country Club courts in January.
• Barranquilla Carnival Cup Bowls Tournament. It is held annually during carnivals.

Transport

Terrestrial

Traffic in the city and its metropolitan area is regulated from 2009 by the Secretariat for Mobility. ​ ​

Public

In 2001, the district administration started the development of TransMetro, ​ metropolitan mass transport system. The system operates with articulated buses that run on exclusive lanes and stop at fixed stops. The work started in 2007, its inauguration in the pedagogical stage was on April 7, 2010, epemérides 197 de Barranquilla, and it has been operating commercially and operationally since July 10, 2010.

Taxis drive a minimum fare of up to 2 miles away. For races that cover distances greater than the minimum, the fare is negotiated directly with the driver and can reach up to COP 30 000 (USD 10) depending on the distance covered. Races to the airport or the Transportation Terminal have surcharges, as well as night races from 8:00 p.m., and services on holidays and Sundays. These prices are contained in a table that the driver must have located in a visible place of the car. Taxi service can also be hired per hour. A number of private companies provide a taxi service in the city, which can also be ordered by telephone for security purposes.

The city has a network of bus routes and bushes, whose fares vary depending on the model (age) and amenities such as air conditioning. These prices are visible on the vehicle windshield. Bus transport is the most widely used by the population.

Starting in 2018, a comprehensive public transport system for the metropolitan area is planned to enter into operation. The system will consist of buses from all public transport companies operating in the city and its metropolitan area. The system will be integrated into Transmetro and named RITMO (Integrated Transport Metropolitan Network). ​

In the municipality of Soledad, in the south of the city, you will find the Barranquilla Metropolitan Transport Terminal, ​ from which you travel by land to the main national destinations and to Venezuela.

Since 2009, the city has had a peak and a ​ taxi license, and in 2011 it ruled for private vehicles for a few months. ​ ​

Road infrastructure

According to the Barranquilla Territorial Planning Plan, the city's roads are divided into:

• Main: made up of interregional roads, arteries and semi-arteries.
• Secondary: formed by the collecting pathways.
• Premises: made up of pedestrian, service, veredales and cycle-routes. ​

Barranquilla is one hour from the intersection of two Colombian road arteries in Ciénaga: the Troncal del Magdalena, which links it to Bogotá, and the Troncal del Caribe, which to the east connects it with Santa Marta, Riohacha, Maicao to later link with the Venezuelan road network, and to the southwest links Barranquilla to Cartagena and then links with the Troncal of the West, thus communicating it with Sincelejo, Montería and Medelo line.

Interregional roads ​

Start of the Paralela Highway to the Sea.

• Troncal of the Caribbean. Extension of the Circumvalación road through 19th Street (Simón Bolívar street) and Race 9. In Barranquilla, the Troncal del Caribe is bifurcated on the Paralela Highway to the Sea and on the Cordiality Road.
  • Paralela Highway to the Sea. Tranche 90A01, 113 km. It communicates to Barranquilla with the coastal tourist area of the Atlántico department and Cartagena de Indias. It is the extension of Olaya Herrera Avenue (Race 46) from 96th Street.
  • Avenida de La Cordialidad. Tranche 06, 120 km. 56th Street to race 14th Street, 47th Street northward. From the crossing with the Circumvalación, it leads to the municipalities of Baranoa, Sabanalarga and Luruaco before entering the department of Bolívar and ending up in Cartagena de Indias.
• Cotton Road. Prolongation of the 38th Career or Avenida de los Estudiantes, starting at Avenida Pumarejo, which connects with the district of Juan Mina and other municipalities of the department of Atlántico such as Tubrá, Juan de Acosta and Piojó.
• Avenida Alberto Pumarejo Vengoechea (better known as "Circunvalar" or "Circumvalación"). ​ strategic commercial and industrial route that surrounds the city in the west and works with 30th Street and 40th Street, thus closing the road ring. Joins the national roads: Motorway to the Sea, Cordiality, Eastern Road and road to Santa Marta. Its extension to two three-lane roadways each has advanced since 2004.
• Old road to Puerto Colombia. Prolongation of race 51B from crossing with Circunvalación or Avenida Pumarejo.
• Western Troncal or Eastern Road (National Route 25). Tranche 16. Communicates with different municipalities in the eastern Atlantic department and central Bolívar.

National Routes in Barranquilla

Path	Cities	Description
	Cartagena - Barranquilla - Santa Marta	This road, part of Turbo, Antioquia, runs along the Caribbean coast and ends in Paraguachón, Guajira. Section 90A01 Barranquilla-Cartagena (Via the Sea): 113 km. Section 06 Barranquilla-Cartagena (Via de la Cordialidad): 75 miles. Section 07 Barranquilla-Santa Marta: 91 km. ​
	Barranquilla - Squid (section 16)	Length: 50 miles. ​

Road artery ​

Barranquilla's artery and semiartery roads.

• Avenida Murillo or 45th Street. Strategic road that crosses the city from south to north on its central part.
• Boyacá Avenue, 30th Street or Cow Street. Road covering the South-East sector; from race 21 to the south it becomes the highway to the airport and then the Eastern road to the department of Bolívar.
• Route 40. Avenue that borders the eastern sector of the city adjacent to the Magdalena River, surrounded by various industries, companies and wineries.
• Avenida Vinte de Julio or Race 43. Commercial artery that runs through the city from east to west.
• Olaya Herrera Avenue or race 46. Cross the city from east to west. Part of Barranquillita and, from its crossing with Pumarejo avenue, it becomes the old road to Puerto Colombia.
• Student's Avenue or career 38. Road that runs through the city in its central part, from east to west, starting from Barranquilla Harbor. It communicates with Juan Mina village and becomes the Algodon road.
• Road of Cordiality or 47th Street. On its route it becomes 56th Street and race 6, extension on 39th Street, until race 30th, continuing on 38th Street until race 50th.
• 17th Street or Calle de la Soledad. Old road that connects with the neighboring municipality of Soledad.
• Races 50-51B, 54.
• Port corridor or 6. Strategic path starting at the Pumarejo bridge exit, runs parallel to the Auyama pipe and joins with 6th Street until its intersection with race 46.

Semi-artery pathways

Streets 6 in Barranquillita, 54, 58, 70, 70C, 72, 76, 79, 82, 84; races 1st (avenue de las Torres), 4, 8, 9G (south-west), 13 (south-west), 14 (south-east), 27 (west), 53 (extension from 98th street), 58; avenida del Río. ​

Collecting tracks

Races 21, 30 in the east, 44, 45, 53 (from its inception to 98th Street) and 64; 50th, 51B, 98th and 87th Streets in the South West. ​

Statistics

According to Moovit's report in July 2017, the average time people spend on public transportation in Barranquilla, say from and to work, on a day of the week, is 77 minutes, while 17% of people spend more than two hours every day. The average time people wait at a stop or station is 15 minutes, while 20% of people expect more than 20 minutes each day. The average distance that people usually travel in one trip is 5.9 km, while 5% travel more than 12 km in one direction. ​

Air

Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport Control Tower.

Barranquilla Airterminal is Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, located 7 km from the city, in the neighboring municipality of Soledad. In 2007, it was declared "open skies" by Civil Aeronautics to promote tourism and projection of the city. In 2008, 497,204 passengers were mobilized through Ernesto Cortissoz, 15,359 operations were carried out and 13,136 tons were transported in goods, making it the fifth airport in terms of passenger numbers and the third in terms of cargo. ​

In early 2009, the Ministry of Transport announced the construction of a mega-airport to serve Barranquilla and Cartagena, which would go into operation in 2015. The new facilities would be located on a par with the two cities, near the highway to the sea. Their construction would have been due to the fact that Rafael Núñez de Cartagena airport had become insufficient for the airport traffic that it handles and the impossibility of its expansion, as well as promoting the consolidation of the megalopolis Barranquilla-Cartagena. Ernesto Cortissoz airport is said to have been left for military operations. In that regard, since May 2009, the construction of the Caribbean Airbase attached to Ernesto Cortissoz airport and attached to the National Navy began in order to optimize maritime interdiction against drug trafficking by supporting the work of the Marine Corps in rural areas and the Caribbean Joint Command. ​ ​ However, on 12 January 2009 11 the national government determined that the project was not economically, financially, environmentally or technically feasible. ​

In January 2016, it was announced that a new airport would be built for Barranquilla, but soon after it was announced that the current one would be modernized, from 18,000 to 30,000 square meters. ​ the design of the work is under the responsibility of architect Aníbal Moreno and will be ready in 2019. ​ The National Government will be 345,543 million pesos in order to convert the air terminal into the logistics platform of northern Colombia towards Central America and the Caribbean. ​

Maritime and river

Final tranche of the western tajamar in Bocas de Ash.

Barranquilla's port area is about 22 linear kilometers above the western edge of the Magdalena River, from its mouth in the Caribbean Sea to Pumarejo Bridge. Port traffic is regulated by the Captaincy of Puerto de Barranquilla, attached to the General Maritime Directorate, which is responsible for the direction, coordination and control of maritime activities such as arrivals, harps, boat situation, security, licensing, advertising, etc. ​ Access to the port area is via the Bocas waterway of Ash, which requires dredging the sediments to ensure the entry and arrival of the vessels. For the removal of the bar and to ensure navigability of the canal, the Bocas de Ash saddles were built in 1936; in the 1990s, a directional dam was built and, for sediment control, the port society Puerto de Barranquilla acquired the "La Arenosa" draga, which operates under contract with the government, guaranteeing the operational status of the navigable channel, an area of the city's private and public terminals.

Public ports

Puerto de Barranquilla Port Society.

• Barranquilla Regional Port Society. Located on the western bank of the Magdalena River. It has the largest port facilities in Colombia, uses about 200 ha integrated into the service of the country's foreign trade. It is a multi-purpose port with container, bulk, coal and general cargo capacity. It has been granted the maritime and river terminal since 13 December 1993, following the adoption of the 1st or Port Act of 1991, which determines that the administration of all national ports that were under the responsibility of ColPorts will be carried out by the private sector. ​ In August 2017 it took over the operation of Bitco and Barranquilla Container Terminal, exclusive container terminal located at kilometer 18 of the western edge of the Magdalena River, Barranquillita sector. bitco started operations in january 2014 of the Bitco alliance, subsidiary of the Port Society of Santa Marta and SSA Marine, the world's largest private operator of container terminals and trains. It features Panamax portico cranes. ​

• Northern Port Society. It uses the Argos Cement Pier for the export of coke and mineral charcoal. ​ ​

• Palermo Sociedad Portuaria. Located on the eastern edge of the Magdalena River. Geographically it belongs to the department of Magdalena, but it is administratively part of the port area of Barranquilla and not of Santa Marta. It provides multi-purpose port and logistics services such as a maritime and river terminal. ​ ​

• Other public terminals: La Loma Port Society, Caribbean Port Society, Bocas de Ceniza Port Society, La Flores Port Society, Mallorcan Port Society, La Inmaculada Port Society, Pescamar Port Society, Michellmar Port Society, Atlantic Coal Port Society, River Port Port, Steckerl Port Society, Frigán Port Society. ​

Main private terminals: Colombo-Venezolanos Monomers, Sredni Real Estate, Argos Cement, Pizano, Northern Steel, Vopak, Aquamar Pier, Quintal, Siduport. ​

Telecom towers. In the foreground, the tank of Las Delicias.

The city has a telecommunications infrastructure that highlights the fiber optic undersea cable that starts off the coast of the municipality of Puerto Colombia towards the United States, connecting Colombia with the world's major communication centers. Since 2008, Barranquilla has run the Sur América 1 cable (Sam1), operated by the company Movistar Colombia, ​ which will increase Colombia's broadband Internet access capacity by 50 percent, which projects Barranquilla as a new free-to-use zone. ​

Telephony

Local, national and international fixed public telephone services are available in the city, provided by the companies Metrotel, Claro Colombia, ETB and Movistar Colombia, which also offer broadband Internet services and dedicated business channels, services also offered by UNE.

In the area of mobile telephony, Barranquilla has state-of-the-art services such as GSM, 3.5G and PCS, provided by the Movistar, Claro, Tigo, Virgin Mobile and Uff operators.

Television

Since 1986, the Colombian Caribbean coast has had the regional television channel Telecaribe, which has its headquarters in Barranquilla. In mid-2014, it became the first regional channel in Colombia to broadcast high-definition (HD) content through Digital Terrestrial Television. In addition, Barranquilla has an open-air channel of the 23 ​ Channel of the Autonomous University of the Caribbean and the five national television channels (RCN, Caracol, Canal Uno, Signal Colombia and Canal Institutional), available both on its Analog signal and on Digital Terrestrial Television on the DVB-T2 standard. Also, the national university channel ZOOM TV ​ with broadcast for the whole. country. The main cable television operators are Claro Colombia, Movistar Colombia and UNE.

Radio

In Barranquilla they broadcast various radio stations on AM and FM, both local and national, which keep the public informed and offer a varied musical programming.

Press

Local and national newspapers are circulating in the city, all of them morning-after: El Heraldo, La Libertad, Al día (from the publishing house of El Heraldo), Qthere, and national newspapers El Tiempo, with a special exchange for the Caribbean Region, and El Espectador. DNA has been circulating since September 2008 (free national newspaper of the publishing house El Tiempo). ​

University Hospital Carl E.S.E-HQ.

Health in Colombia is governed by the legislation in force (Law 100 of 1993) and is regulated by the Ministry of Social Protection. ​ At the local level, it is run by two state institutions, the Ministry of Health, which reports to the District Mayor and, since December 13, 2012, MiRed IPS took over the operation of the public network of ​ hospitals. During the first administration of Alejandro Char (2008-2011), a new model of health care was implemented consisting of 32 PASO (Ambulatory Health Care Point), first level care centers, and 5 Camino (Comprehensive Medical Care Center), which provide medium and high complexity care. ​

Other institutions include the Colombian Red Cross, ​ the Colombian Civil Defense, which is responsible for emergencies, calamities and natural disasters, ​ and the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), ​ responsible for the comprehensive protection of the family and children.

The district has 4 hospitals (General de Barranquilla, Nazareth, La Manga and Camino Adelita de Char), 6 maternal and child units, 19 health centers and 28 health posts. In each town there is a health center or a health post. These institutions can provide first- and second-level care services, with the exception of the Pediatric Hospital, which provides third-level partial care services.

In addition, the city has private clinics that serve high levels of complexity (3 and 4) and multiple medical specialties, such as the clinics of the Caribbean, the Prado, La Asunción, General del Norte, Reina Catalina, among others.

Since 2008, a special free zone of health services with national and foreign capital has been established, which will include a first-level clinic. ​ will be located between the 56 and 51B races, in the area of the university corridor, in Puerto Colombia.

Insurance from Los Andes.

Some of the city's main public hospital centers include:

• Barranquilla General Hospital (Second level, inaugurated January 20, 1876).
• Hospital Adelita de char de Barranquilla (Third Partial Level).
• Nazareth Hospital (First Level).
• La Manga Hospital (First Level).
• Maternal and child units: Santa María, La Playa, La Chinita, Las Flores, La Alboraya, Juan Mina (First Level)
• Health centers and posts (First Level).
• Metropolitan University Hospital.
• University Hospital Carl E.S.E (Fourth Level or High Complexity and Mental Health and Rehabilitation). ​
• University of the North Hospital. ​
• Baby Jesus Hospital. ​
• Social Security Hospital.
• South Western Hospital.

Public Services

Coverage of public services in housing (2005).

In the area of public service coverage, 98.8 per cent of the houses in Barranquilla have electricity, 98.3 per cent have sewerage, 99.5 per cent have aqueduct, 89.3 per cent have natural gas and 63.5 per cent have telephone connections. ​ Public services are wholly in the hands of the private company.

According to the report Basic Indicators Information and Communication Technologies of the DANE, Barranquilla and its metropolitan area are the third largest urban conglomerate with the lowest percentage of households with computers (18.1%). ​

Electrical power

The city is home to two thermoelectric plants: Termobarranquilla S.A. (Tebsa) ​ and Thermoelectric Las Flores. ​ Thermoflores is made up of three units of electric power generation: Flowers One, Two and Three, with an installed capacity of 160, 112 and 175 megawatts respectively. Tebsa has an installed capacity of 870 megawatts, which is planned to expand to 910 megawatts. Under normal conditions, it generates more than 10% of the national demand and can supply electricity to most of the Colombian Caribbean Coast. ​ Electricaribe is responsible for the supply of electrical energy to the city and its metropolitan area.

Water

La Triple A, a mixed economy company, is responsible for water, sewage and toilet services. Barranquilla supplies water from the Magdalena River, extracting an average flow of about 6,5 m³/s, with a consumption flow of approximately 4 m³/s. The estimated per capita consumption is about 227.3 L/hab. Barranquilla's aqueduct collects the waters of the Magdalena River by means of two independent systems of collection and pumping of raw water. The first one, called the low pressure pumping system # 1, supplies three treatment plants, and the low pressure pumping system # 2 that supplies two treatment plants. The catchment is carried out through a dock common to the two systems, a channel that derives from the dock and directs its waters to the catchment system # 1. The water purification system in Barranquilla consists of five treatment plants located all on the same site, with respective capacities of nominal production capacity of 1,2; 0.5; 1.8; 1,0 and 3,0 m³/s ​

Sewerage

The city's sewerage system is underground and unique. Drainage networks drive wastewater in parallel with the drinking water network to the water bodies without receiving any treatment. According to Barranquilla's topography, sewerage is divided into three zones: East, South-West and North-West. The Oriental pours its sewage into the Magdalena River through the pipes; the other two belong to the basin of the León and Arroyo Grande streams, through which the water drains towards the bodies of water near the Mallorquin swamp. The Southwestern area pours its wastewater into the León stream after being treated by the Sewater Debugger Station (EDAR) in the El Pueblito neighborhood. This plant is estimated to treat 20% of the city's wastewater. ​ ​

Siege

Public toilets are performed using mechanical sweeping equipment, with anti-dust filters and powerful aspiration. In hard-to-access places like boulevards and public stairways, direct labor is used with work and manual tools. It also implements the rollover, which combines direct labor with high-pressure water for places that require high levels of cleanliness such as squares and parks. In the public market, sidewalk or track washing service is provided after sweeping operations. For the collection of waste from large producers (non-residential users) that produce a volume of more than 1 cubic meter of waste per month, 11 macroroutes using compaction equipment are implemented.

The final disposal of solid waste is carried out in the Los Pocitos environmental park, located at kilometer 11 between Barranquilla and Tubrá, which handles about 1,200 tons of garbage and covers a total area of 135 ha, of which 75 are used for disposal of garbage. Another 30 are designed for an eco-park with paths that can be used for ecological walking. Los Pocitos replaced El Henequén, a sanitary landfill of type containment that operated until March 31, 2009. Los Pocitos' life is estimated at thirty years and cost 22 billion Colombian pesos. ​ ​ ​

Former Telecom building in the Civic Center, now seat of the courts.

Natural gas

The natural gas distribution service has been operated by Gases del Caribe company since 1987. ​ The transport of natural gas to large fuel consumers, i.e. those who consume more than 100 thousand cubic feet per day (0.1 MPCD), such as the city's thermoelectric plants, the gas distributor mentioned above, and the cement, petrochemical and mining industries Promineras are provided by migás, ​

Telecommunications

As for local telephony, the service is provided by Claro Colombia, Movistar Colombia and Metrotel. These companies also offer telecommunications and Internet services (broadband, dedicated channels), as well as the companies that provide long-distance telephony service, Movistar Colombia, UNE and ETB, in addition to Promitel and Claro Colombia. The subscription TV service is provided by local and national companies like GlobalTv, Claro Colombia, Movistar Colombia, UNE and DIRECTV (the latter two with satellite television). Mobile phone service is provided by the companies Claro Colombia and Movistar (850 MHz, GSM technology), and Tigo (1900 MHz, PCS + NGN technology).

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