5 Facts About Barranquilla

1. On November 9, 2011, Shakira, born in Barranquilla, performed a cover of Arroyo's song "En Barranquilla Me Quedo" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center as a tribute to the singer when she was honoured as Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.

2. On October 7, 1857, Barranquilla was granted the status of "ciudad" by the Constituent Assembly of the State of Bolivar; and in the same year, the Municipal Council of Barranquilla designated three zones in the city: Abajo del Rio, Arriba del Rio, and El Centro.

3. The port of Barranquilla covers two main routes, the Magdalena River, which communicates with the interior of the country and the Caribbean Sea, from which millions of tonnes of goods are traded Europe and Asia.

4. In 1920, archaeologists revealed that Barranquilla is located on a vast historic necropolis.

5. Origin of Barranquilla, promoted in the second half of the 19th century by the historian Domingo Malabet, was not supported by oral tradition nor scientifically validated.