Cali

Santiago de Cali, commonly known as Cali, is a major urban and economic hub in southwest Colombia.

It serves as the capital of the Valle del Cauca department. As of 2023, the city had an estimated population of 2,280,522 residents. This makes Cali the third most populous city in Colombia. It is also the second-largest city in the country by land area. The city is a vital economic engine for the southern region of the nation.

The geography of Cali is defined by its position within a valley. The city sits in the Cauca Valley, situated west of the Cauca River.

To the east, the river marks a natural boundary. To the west, the city is bordered by the mountains of the Western Cordillera. The Farallones de Cali are the closest mountain peaks to the urban area.

To the north and south, the landscape opens into extended plains. West of the mountains lies the port city of Buenaventura on the Pacific coast. The city is also served by the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport, which is Colombia's third-largest airport by passenger volume.

The history of the region began long before Spanish arrival. Indigenous tribes inhabited the area, including groups that spoke Cariban languages. The Gorrones lived between the Cauca River and the Western Cordillera. The Calima culture also left a mark on the region.

The name "Cali" likely comes from these local Amerindians. Other groups, such as the Jamundíes, offered strong resistance to invaders. They used poisonous darts and arrows to fight Spanish soldiers. Eventually, the Spanish gained control over the central valley.

Spanish explorer Sebastián de Belalcázar founded the city on 25 July 1536. He initially established the settlement a few kilometers north of its current location. This original site was near the modern towns of Vijes and Riofrío. In 1537, Captain Miguel Muñoz moved the city to its present location. During this period, the chaplain Brother Santos de Añasco celebrated a mass at the site. This location is where the Church La Merced stands today.

For much of the colonial period, Cali was a small town. In 1793, the population was only 6,548 people. Much of the land consisted of haciendas, which were large cattle farms and plantations. These farms grew sugar cane and other food crops. Many modern neighborhoods, such as Meléndez and Chipichape, grew from these former haciendas.

Cali played a significant role in the struggle for Colombian independence. On 3 July 1810, the city established its own local junta. This uprising happened 17 days before the national movement in Bogotá. The city formed the Confederated cities of the Cauca Valley for mutual defense. In 1811, the revolutionary army won a victory at the Battle of Bajo Palacé. This battle was the first in the Colombian independence wars. Later, the leader Simón Bolívar arrived in the city in 1822. The region provided many soldiers to help liberate the nations in the south.

In the modern era, Cali has become a center for international sports. The city hosted the Pan American Games in 1971. This event helped earn Cali the title of "Sports Capital of Colombia."

Since then, Cali has hosted many global competitions. These include the 1992 World Wrestling Championships and the 2013 World Games. It also hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 2014. Most recently, it held the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships.

The city's athletic infrastructure includes the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero.

Today, Cali is a diverse and growing metropolitan area. The skyline features prominent structures like the Cali Tower. This building is 42 stories tall and is the third-largest in the Republic of Colombia.

The city also manages a large mass transit system called the MIO.

While the city faces modern challenges, it remains a central point for trade and culture. It connects the interior of the country to the Pacific coast. The combination of its valley location and economic strength defines its role in Colombia.