The flag of Amazonas, Colombia, is made up of three horizontal stripes of different heights of green, mustard yellow and white, respectively. It has a black trim that serves as a transition between the 3 colors.
The department of Amazonas forms, along with the rest of the 32 departments, the Republic of Colombia.
It is located in the extreme south of the country and the entirety of its territory is part of the Amazon jungle. The department's motto is “Between all of us we can”.
History
The department of Amazonas was one of the last to conform. Its foundation was made under the name of Comisaría, on November 17, 1928.
Just on July 4, 1991, it ceased to be part of the so-called national territories of the country, to become the current department.
The flag of the Amazon is the main official symbol of the department. It was officially adopted on August 21, 1974.
The design features of the flag were established by the commissary government. This was headed by the special commissioner César Moreno Salazar and the Secretary of Government José Salazar Ramírez.
Meaning
The flag has the total measurements of 2.10 meters long by 1.30 meters high. The top color is green and it is 90 cm high.
The 8 cm mustard yellow follows and finally the bottom one is the 32 cm white. The black trim that unifies the three colors protrudes half an inch.
Silhouettes
Three silhouettes are distinguished on the flag:
1- Indigenous warrior
The first is that of an indigenous warrior sitting on his heels in an upward archery position.
It is located in the upper left part of the flag, above the green stripe. The silhouette measures 29 cm long by 23 cm high.
The department of Amazonas is one of the areas of the country where the presence of indigenous indigenous peoples has been most conserved.
They inhabit 19 ethnic groups belonging to eight linguistic families. Among these are the Huitoto, Tikunas, Cocamas and Yaguas.
That is why the indigenous people are represented on the department's flag.
2- Jaguar
The second silhouette represents a jaguar that appears to jump in the direction of the Indian's arrow.
It is also located in the green strip, but in the upper right part of the flag. Measures 37 cm long by 15 cm high.
The jaguar has been an important symbol for indigenous cultures. It is the biggest predator in the Amazon rainforest.
Its presence is considered a determining factor for the balance of the ecosystems where it lives.
In this territory its importance is evident in the traditions, narratives and representations that indigenous peoples have created around its figure.
The jaguar is linked to shamanic rituals, in which the sorcerer or shaman transforms into a jaguar to access the powers that nature gives him.
3- Five-pointed star
The third silhouette is a five-pointed star that represents the city of Leticia, capital of the department.
It is located just below the jaguar, on the yellow stripe. Measures 20 cm long by 15 cm high.
References
- Soulé, ME, Mackey, BG, Recher, HF, Williams, E., Woinarski, CZ, Driscoll, D., & Dennist, WC and conservation status of the jaguar in Colombia.
- Amazonas Department. (sf). Obtained from In Colombia: encolombia.com
- Department of Amazonas symbols. (sf). Obtained from Todo Colombia: todacolombia.com
- Amazonas (Colombia). (sf). Retrieved from Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- Flag of Amazonas (Colombia). (sf). Retrieved from Wikipedia: wikipedia.org