Environmental Axis

The Bogotá Environmental Axis has a history that dates back to pre-Columbian times, when the Muisca indigenous people inhabited the region. The San Francisco and Fucha rivers, which today form part of the Axis, were considered sacred by the Muisca, who called them "Siecha" and "Sutagaos" respectively, and considered them sources of life and fertility. During the colonial era, these rivers were used to supply water to the city of Bogotá.  

This important work by the architect Rogelio Salmona, declared a Cultural Heritage Site, serves as the central axis for understanding the impact of urban development on the city. The master builder once said: "The paved curves of Jiménez de Quesada Avenue silently invoke the buried San Francisco River, or as the first inhabitants of Bogotá (the Muisca) called it, Vicachá, which means the radiance of water in the darkness." In addition to restoring the water's historical memory and reintroducing the wax palm, the project, which necessitated a reorganization of vehicular traffic, is sensitively integrated with the streets that converge upon it.

Currently, the Environmental Axis, or 'Paseo de la Avenida Jiménez,' named after the city's founder, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, marks the northern boundary of the historic center. Here, with views of Monserrate Hill, one finds a reflecting pool, the Plazoleta del Rosario, and a TransMilenio bus rapid transit station, among other features.   

The Environmental Axis has become an important public space and green corridor in downtown Bogotá. Along its banks, one can find parks, recreational areas, cultural spaces, and public art installations, making it a vital place for urban life and the well-being of Bogotá's citizens.