BOYACA, an inland department of Colombia, with an area of 27,23o sq.m., including the Casanare territory. Pop. in 1,041,267. The department is very mountainous, heavily forested and rich in minerals. The great Muso emerald mines are situated in the western part of Boyaca. The capital, Tunja (pop. in 1918, 10,68o), is situated in the Eastern Cordilleras, 9,0J4 ft. above sea level, and has a cool, temperate climate, though only N. of the equator. It was an important place in colonial times, and occupies the site of one of the Indian towns of this region (Hunsa) which had acquired a considerable degree of civilization before the dis covery of America. Other towns of note in the department are Chiquinquira (22,502), Moniquira (12,908), Sogamoso (16,539), and Boyaca (7,66o), where on Aug. 7, 1819, Bolivar defeated the Spanish army and secured the independence of New Granada.