# Cali

> capital of the Colombian department of Valle del Cauca

**Wikidata**: [Q51103](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51103)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cali)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cali

## Summary

Cali (officially Santiago de Cali) is the capital of the Valle del Cauca Department in southwestern Colombia, situated at coordinates 3.44°N, 76.519722222222°W at an elevation of 1,018 meters above sea level. Founded in 1536 by Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar, Cali is the third-largest city in Colombia with a population of approximately 2.5 million residents and serves as a major cultural, economic, and sporting hub, renowned globally as the "Capital Mundial de la Salsa" (World Capital of Salsa). The city functions as the administrative center of Valle del Cauca and hosts the offices of the mayor and city council.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name:** Santiago de Cali
- **Type:** Municipality of Colombia, city, big city
- **Country:** Colombia
- **Capital Of:** Valle del Cauca Department (since April 10, 1910)
- **Founded:** 1536 by Sebastián de Belalcázar
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 3.44°, Longitude -76.519722222222°
- **Elevation:** 1,018 meters above sea level
- **Area:** 564 square kilometers
- **Population:** 2,471,474 (2018 census); 3,200,653 (2012 census)
- **Timezone:** UTC−05:00
- **Demonym:** Caleño (masculine), Caleña (feminine), Calegno (masculine singular)
- **Postal Codes:** 760000 – 760050
- **Local Dialing Code:** 2
- **UN/LOCODE:** COCLO
- **DANE Code:** 76001
- **Website:** https://www.cali.gov.co/ (Spanish language)
- **Government:** Office of the mayor of Cali; legislative body is the city council of Cali

## FAQs

**What is Cali known for culturally?**

Cali is internationally recognized as the "Capital Mundial de la Salsa" (World Capital of Salsa) and hosts major salsa festivals. It is also nicknamed "La Sucursal del Cielo" (The Branch of Heaven), "La Sultana del Valle" (The Sultana of the Valley), and was named "Capital Americana del Deporte 2019" (American Capital of Sport 2019).

**What historical administrative regions did Cali belong to?**

Cali was historically part of the Republic of New Granada (1831–1858), Cauca State (1857–1886), and the United States of Colombia (1863–1886), before becoming part of modern-day Colombia.

**What are Cali's major identifiers across databases?**

Cali has a VIAF ID of 128994944, GND ID of 4094870-5, GeoNames ID of 3687926, Freebase ID of /m/01pssf, OpenStreetMap Relation ID of 1320707, Library of Congress Authority ID n79104290, and is listed in numerous international databases including WorldCat, MusicBrainz, and iNaturalist.

**What cities are twinned with Cali?**

Cali has twinning relationships with Stockholm, Palos de la Frontera, Prague, Orlando, New York City, Miami, Amsterdam, Athens, Montreal, Vancouver, Monte Carlo, Medellín, Brighton, Caracas, Quito, Guayaquil, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Rio de Janeiro, Manila, Florence, Santiago de Compostela, Maracaibo, Honolulu (since November 19, 2012), and La Ceiba.

**What languages is Cali's Wikipedia available in?**

Cali has Wikipedia articles in 111 languages, including Afrikaans, Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese, among many others.

**What bodies of water are located near Cali?**

Cali is located next to the Cali River.

## Why It Matters

Cali holds significant importance as the principal city of southwestern Colombia and the administrative heart of Valle del Cauca, one of the country's most economically productive departments. The city's cultural influence extends far beyond its borders, particularly through its association with salsa music and dance, which has made it a global destination for dance enthusiasts and tourists. This cultural identity has been leveraged to promote tourism and position Cali as a vibrant center for Latin American music and festivities.

Beyond culture, Cali serves as a critical economic hub with diverse industries including manufacturing, agriculture, commerce, and services. Its strategic location in the Valle del Cauca region, one of Colombia's most fertile agricultural zones, has contributed to its economic prominence. The city's sporting legacy, recognized through its designation as the American Capital of Sport 2019, further enhances its reputation, particularly through its association with professional football clubs Deportivo Cali and América de Cali.

Cali's historical significance dates back to the Spanish colonial period, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited Spanish settlements in South America. Its evolution from a colonial outpost to a modern metropolitan area reflects the broader development of Colombian society and provides valuable insights into the country's colonial and post-independence history.

## Notable For

- **World Capital of Salsa:** Globally recognized as the premier destination for salsa music and dance, hosting major festivals that attract international visitors
- **Third-Largest City in Colombia:** With a metropolitan population exceeding 3.2 million, Cali ranks among Colombia's most populous cities
- **Sports Capital:** Named American Capital of Sport 2019, home to iconic football clubs Deportivo Cali and América de Cali
- **Colonial Foundation:** Established in 1536 by Sebastián de Belalcázar, making it one of the oldest Spanish settlements in continuous existence in South America
- **Highland Location:** Situated at 1,018 meters above sea level in the Valle del Cauca, offering unique geographical characteristics
- **Twin Cities Network:** Maintains diplomatic and cultural ties with 24 cities worldwide, including major metropolitan areas across Europe, the Americas, and Asia
- **Multilingual Presence:** Wikipedia coverage in 111 languages demonstrates its international recognition and relevance

## Body

### History and Foundation

Cali was founded in 1536 by the Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar during his expedition through the Andean region of South America. The city was established as Santiago de Cali, with "Santiago" (Saint James) serving as its patron saint. This founding places Cali among the earliest European settlements in what would become Colombia, predating many other major Colombian cities.

Following its founding, Cali became part of various administrative structures during the colonial and post-independence periods. Under Spanish rule, the city was part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. After Colombian independence, Cali transitioned through several political configurations: the Republic of New Granada (1831–1858), Cauca State (1857–1886), and the United States of Colombia (1863–1886). In 1886, with the adoption of the Colombian Constitution of 1886, the modern department system was established, and Cali became part of Valle del Cauca Department.

The city became the capital of Valle del Cauca Department on April 10, 1910, consolidating its role as the primary urban center of the region. Prior to this, from August 5, 1908 to April 1, 1910, Cali served as the capital of a short-lived entity designated as Q20014485.

### Geography and Location

Cali is situated in southwestern Colombia within the Valle del Cauca Department, occupying an area of 564 square kilometers. The city's coordinates are 3.44° north latitude and 76.519722222222° west longitude. The elevation of 1,018 meters above sea level places the city on the western slope of the Andes mountain range, in a valley that gives the department its name.

The Cali River flows through or adjacent to the city, providing important geographical context. The city's location in the Valle del Cauca places it in one of Colombia's most fertile agricultural regions, characterized by warm temperatures and access to water resources from surrounding mountains.

The timezone for Cali is UTC−05:00, consistent with Colombian Standard Time. The local dialing code is 2, and postal codes range from 760000 to 760050.

### Demographics and Population

According to the 2018 census, Cali had a population of 2,471,474 residents. Earlier census data from 2012 recorded a population of 3,200,653, suggesting either metropolitan area expansion or different methodological approaches to population counting. The city's population makes it the third-largest in Colombia, after Bogotá and Medellín.

The demonym for residents of Cali is "Caleño" (masculine) and "Caleña" (feminine). An alternative historical form "Calegno" (masculine singular) is also documented. These terms are widely used throughout Colombia to refer to people from Cali.

### Administrative Structure

Cali functions as a municipality within the Valle del Cauca Department of Colombia. The executive authority is held by the mayor of Cali, while legislative functions are performed by the city council of Cali. The city is classified as a municipality of Colombia and is recognized as a city and big city in administrative classifications.

The DANE code for Cali is 76001, used for statistical and administrative purposes within Colombia's national administrative system. The UN/LOCODE for the city is COCLO, facilitating international trade and shipping logistics.

### International Connections and Identifiers

Cali maintains an extensive presence in international databases and identification systems:

The VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) ID is 128994944, providing international authority control for the city. The GND (Integrated Authority File) ID is 4094870-5 from the German National Library. The GeoNames ID is 3687926, and the Freebase ID is /m/01pssf. The OpenStreetMap Relation ID is 1320707, mapping the city's boundaries in the OpenStreetMap project.

The Library of Congress Authority ID is n79104290, while the WorldCat Entities ID is E39PBJtgXxQM9gGYMgWW634KBP. The iNaturalist Place ID is 29259, and the MusicBrainz Area ID is 13a88f48-8755-44d7-9323-771710279036.

Additional identifiers include the BBC Things ID (29bb116a-14c1-453c-aba2-bbed2d0c30ca), the Yale LUX ID (place/2112bc3d-131c-4fc1-984d-6520fbfbb4bc), the FactGrid Item ID (The Ladykillers), the RKD Thesaurus ID (3052), the Museum Digital Place ID (22221), the Omegawiki Defined Meaning (1217509), the Interlingual Index ID (i82781), the WordNet 3.1 Synset ID (08750996-n), the Online PWN Encyclopedia ID (3882761), the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID (cali-0), the Hrvatska Enciklopedija ID (10540), and the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID (former scheme: 0013573).

### Cultural Significance and Nicknames

Cali carries several notable nicknames that reflect its cultural identity and characteristics:

- **Capital Mundial de la Salsa** (World Capital of Salsa): This is the most internationally recognized nickname, reflecting the city's deep association with salsa music and dance. Cali hosts major salsa festivals and is a pilgrimage destination for salsa enthusiasts worldwide.
- **La Sucursal del Cielo** (The Branch of Heaven): A poetic nickname highlighting the city's pleasant climate and scenic beauty.
- **La Sultana del Valle** (The Sultana of the Valley): Reflecting its position as the premier city of the Valle del Cauca region.
- **Capital Americana del Deporte 2019** (American Capital of Sport 2019): Award recognizing the city's sporting achievements and infrastructure.

### Twin Cities and International Relations

Cali maintains sister city relationships with 24 cities around the world, demonstrating its commitment to international cultural and economic exchange:

European connections include Stockholm (Sweden), Palos de la Frontera (Spain), Prague (Czech Republic), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Athens (Greece), Monte Carlo (Monaco), Florence (Italy), and Santiago de Compostela (Spain).

North American ties include Orlando, New York City, Miami (all United States), and Montreal, Vancouver (Canada).

Latin American relationships encompass Medellín, Caracas (Venezuela), Quito (Ecuador), Guayaquil (Ecuador), Guadalajara (Mexico), Monterrey (Mexico), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and Maracaibo (Venezuela).

Additional connections include Brighton (United Kingdom), Manila (Philippines), La Ceiba (Honduras), and Honolulu (United States), with the Honolulu relationship beginning on November 19, 2012.

### Wikipedia and Digital Presence

Cali has an extensive presence across Wikipedia in 111 languages, indicating its global recognition and importance. The Wikipedia title is simply "Cali," and the city has a dedicated Commons category and gallery. The sitelink count is 114, indicating the number of Wikipedia language editions linking to the article.

The city has a Facebook Location ID (108069222560383), a Google Play Store ID ("Cali"), and is associated with the Quora topic "Cali-Colombia" and the GitHub topic "cali."

### Historical Administrative Context

Cali's relationship with surrounding territories has evolved throughout history. The city was historically located in Cauca State from June 15, 1857 to November 19, 1886. This historical context is important for understanding the administrative reorganization that led to the creation of the modern Valle del Cauca Department.

The city has also been associated with the historical entities of the United States of Colombia (May 8, 1863 to August 8, 1886) and the Republic of New Granada (December 17, 1831 to November 19, 1858).

### Additional Notable Facts

Cali's elevation of 1,018 meters places it in a subtropical highland climate zone, contributing to its generally mild weather. The city's position in the Valle del Cauca provides access to rich agricultural lands that have historically supported the region's economy through farming and cattle ranching.

The city is home to notable sports clubs, particularly Deportivo Cali and América de Cali, both of which have significant followings in Colombian football. The 2019 designation as American Capital of Sport recognized these sporting traditions and the city's investments in sports infrastructure.

Cali's native label pronunciation audio is available in Spanish, with the audio file hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The city also has a Dutch spoken text audio file available, demonstrating its multilingual digital presence.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://www.municipio.co.ve/municipio-maracaibo.html)
3. [Source](https://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-132434/RES12-311,%20CD1.PDF)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. [Source](https://visor.codigopostal.gov.co/472/visor/#)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. MusicBrainz
8. [Source](http://www.dane.gov.co/files/investigaciones/poblacion/proyepobla06_20/ProyeccionMunicipios2005_2020.xls)
9. GeoNames
10. BBC Things
11. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
12. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)