Beauties of Colombia: Simon Bolivar Park aka Central Park of Bogota

Hi there my Steemian friends and followers!

Home to more than 7 million people, Bogota, the capital city of Colombia, is a bustling metropolis where people like me, who generally don´t like busy places, can get easily overwhelmed by all the urban tumult.

After a few days in Bogota, I started to look for a peaceful natural place where I could get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Fortunately, Bogota is also home to several beautiful parks including the Simon Bolivar Park where I found what I was looking for :)

Let me dedicate my today´s post to this impressive place and show you around a bit through some photos that I took there.

Situated in the middle of the city, the Simon Bolivar Park occupies a total area of approximately 400 hectares, which means it is actually bigger than the famous Central Park in New York City (with 341 hectares). Because of the similar size and central position in the city, the Simon Bolivar Park is often compared to its iconic American counterpart and is sometimes even dubbed the "Central Park of Bogota".

Named after the legendary Latin American liberator Simon Bolivar, the park is centered around a beautiful, large lake where you can see various vessels, from little cruise ships to paddle boats.

Sometimes referred to as the "lungs of Bogota" because of its lush vegetation and greenery, the park is covered with a dense network of well maintained hiking trails, bike lanes, walkways and many spacious lawns where you can play games, have a picnic or enjoy other outdoor activities.

Construction of the Simon Bolivar Park started in 1966 and two years later, in 1968, a monumental temple with a large cross in front of it was built in the park on the occasion of the 39th International Eucharistic Congress that took place in Bogota in August of the same year.

Throughout the decades, the park has undergone several extensions and major improvements. In 1983, for example, more than 3,000 new trees were planted in the park.

A part of the park known as the "Events Plaza" also serves as a venue for concerts, performances and other cultural events. The plaza has a capacity of up to 100,000 people and it has hosted a number of great concerts by some of the famous music bands such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Depeche Mode, Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers etc.

When we were visiting the park, there were some minor events too but rather than hanging around them, I was interested in exploring the remote parts of the place with few visitors.

We also rented a paddle boat and cruised around the lake a bit. The majestic mountains towering in the background gives the park a truly unique atmosphere and charm.

To me, the Simon Bolivar Park was one of the highlights of our stay in Bogota and I can totally recommend this place to anyone who wants to take a break from the hectic city life and enjoy some peaceful moments in nature. The park is open from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. every day and the entrance is free.

All photos of the park featured in this post were taken by me.

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