Barrancas, La Guajira

Barrancas
Town
Location of the town and municipality of Barrancas in La Guajira Department.
CountryColombia
RegionoCaribbean
DepartmentLa Guajira
Government
  MayorJuan Carlos Leon Solano (L)
Area
  Town
1,060 km2 (410 sq mi)
  Urban
742 km2 (286 sq mi)
Elevation
40 m (130 ft)
Population
 (2020 est.)
  Town
38,232
  Density36/km2 (93/sq mi)
 
Time zoneUTC-5
ClimateAw

Barrancas is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of La Guajira. The municipality of Barrancas is located to the west of the Ranchería River in a valley between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Serranía del Perijá mountains. Barrancas has a total area of 742 km2 and at 40 meters over sea level. The average temperature is 28 °C throughout the year and distances from the capital of the Department of La Guajira, Riohacha. It became a municipality in 1892.

Its economy is based on agriculture and coal mining which is exploited by the Cerrejón coal mine.