Last modified: 2008-09-13 by dov gutterman
Keywords: choco | el carmen del atrato | carmen del atrato | atrato |
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image by Dov Gutterman, 30 July 2008
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El Carmen del Atrato (a.k.a Carmen del Atrato) is a
municipality in the Chocó Department. It was established on 21
June 1874.
El Carmen del Atrato flag is horizontal green over red and
charged with the municipal arms.
Source: municipal
web site.
Felipe Carrillo and Dov Gutterman, 30 July 2008
Translated from municipal
web site:
"Rectangular, made of two equal stripes with the following
colours:
- olive green in the upper part, which is the combination of blue
and yellow, the colours of the national flag;
- red in the lower part, which symbolizes love, heroism and
nobleness of the inhabitants of the municipality.
In the middle of the flag is placed the coat of arms of the
municipality."
There is also a long description of the coat of arms on the
municipal website. The shape of the shield reflects the physical
space of the municipality, the upper points of the shield
symbolize the aspiration to grow and to surpass difficulties,
while the lower, central point of the shield symbolizes the
direction towards a better future. The olive green colour is the
combination of blue and yellow, the colours of the national flag,
an symbolizes also the fertility of the localand.
The motto "Diversidad de culturas" (Cultural
diversity), written on a red scroll placed above the shield,
symbolize the different ethnies living in the municipality,
whichis a melting pot of blacks, natives and metis.
The sun, located in the upper part of the shield, below the
central point, represents the vital principle that enlightens us,
the existence of a superior being who protects us under an
infinite sky and provides vigor and abundance to our fields.
The white and black hands, located in the central part of the
shield, united and supporting the mountains and River Atrato,
represent the empowerment of our inhabitants for a better future
and the effort made by our ancestors to provide us with an
atmosphere and space suitable for peaceful development.
The mountains symbolize the cañon formed for millenaries by
River Atrato, the richness of our space, the working place of our
workers, the food supply for our families and the neighbouring
regions.
The coffee grains and copper nuggets, located in the upper part
of the point of the shield, respectively dexter and sinister,
emerging form the mountains and the river, represent the
agricultural and mining resources of the soil, the two main
sources of income.
Coffee is the main crop in Carmen del Atrato, with 315
smallholders growing caffee on a total area of 181 ha.
Coffee is sold both by the farmers' organization
"Organización Cafetera y Campesina de El Carmen de
Atrato", OCCCA (Coffee-producing and Farming Organization of
El Carmen del Atrato) and by individual farmers. The copper mine
of Carmen del Atrato is the main employer of the region, with
more than 100 miners.
Ivan Sache, 8 May 2008
choca.jpg)
image from municipal
web site