Melgar

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Melgar, Tolima

Melgar (Spanish pronunciation: [melˈɣar]) is a Colombian town in the Department of Tolima, 98 km (61 mi) southwest of Bogotá and 1 hour north of Ibagué, the capital city of Tolima.

Melgar is located in the Sumapaz River Valley and borders the Department of Cundinamarca and Sumapaz River to the north, town of Icononzo to the east, the towns of Cunday at the south and Carmen de Apicala to the west.

The town is home to a major military base called Tolemaida Air Base.

Melgar is a very popular weekend destination for Bogota residents. Temperature ranges between 28–35° Celsius (82–95 °F). It is known in Colombia as the "City of the Swimming Pools" or the "Sea of Swimming Pools" because of its more than 5,000 swimming pools. It is a major inland resort, which the people of Bogotá visit on weekends to flee the capital's cold weather for the warm climate of the valley.

History

The first settlement was called "Cualamana", later change to "Villa de Nuestra Señora de Altagracia. In 1601 its name was changed to "La Candelaria", given by Captain Juan Lopez de Herrera. It was the site of an ancient Amerindian village that belonged to the Panches.