Cartagena

Cartagena, capital of the Colombian state of Bolívar, stands on a sandy island off the north coast, to the SW. of the mouth of the Magdalena, and communicates by four bridges with its suburb, Jetsemani, on the mainland. Though it has the best harbour on the coast, its trade has greatly fallen off since the rise of Sabanilla; but a canal connecting it with Calamar, on the Magdalena, has been reopened, and a return of prosperity is hoped for the port. The imports and exports have an annual value of about 1,500,000 and 2,500,000 respectively. Nearly half the imports are British, but the bulk of the foreign export trade is with the United States and Germany. The streets are narrow, with high houses, but the place is well built, and possesses a university, a handsome cathedral, and several churches. Founded in 1533, it was burned by Drake in 1585, but in 1741 repulsed an attack by Admiral Vernon. In 1815 the royalist General Morillo reduced the place by hunger, after a brave defence; but in 1821 it was again freed from the Spanish yoke. Pop. of Cartagena (or Cartagena de las Indias) 12,000.