Deepening in the Magdalena river influence with historical growth of Honda (Colombia). An atypical case of urban morphology study in Latin America

Abstract

The municipality of Honda (Tolima—Colombia) is located at the convergence of the rivers Magdalena, Gualí River and Quebradaseca. Its geographical location constitutes a key structuring node for regional development in the Colombian historical context. Since its origins, prehispanic Honda has been configured in an atypical way to the other Latin American cities then traced over with the imprint of the Spanish checkerboard. The goal of the study is to recognize the relevance of the Magdalena River, its tributaries and the geomorphological conditions of the place as relevant elements in its urban transformation closely related to the environment. Primary sources as historical archive, literature and planimetry referring to settlement and colonization processes are investigated, which is then contrasted with current cartography and satellite images that provide new graphic and theoretical material. City of Honda heritage, declared as an asset of national interest by culture law for its preservation, still requires to building its history about city implications with the nature-culture linkages of land-water landscape.

Keywords

• honda
• magdalena river
• historic center
• urban conservation