Half of an extensive wetland where the fresh water of the rivers melts with the salt of the sea, two cultural jewels, floating peoples in the Colombian Caribbean are hidden. This is its story
News Colombia.
There are no streets or vehicles here; Life passes between rowing and canoes. So are floating peoples. Fishing is the soul of the economy and the reason for being of these communities.
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New Venice and Buenavista are the floating peoples of which we talk. Located in Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Magdalena the origin of these villages dates back to the 19th century. New Venice, the largest, was founded in 1847 and was previously known as THE MORRO. Inspired by the Italian city channels, the inhabitants decided to baptize it with their current name.
Today, it has about 400 homes and around 3,800 inhabitants.

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These communities were born from need: abundant fishing and the desire to escape slavery and violence led the first settlers to build their homes About piles, directly on the swamp.
Over time, schools, health centers, churches and even floating courts arose that shape a completely different life.


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LIVE IN THE CIÉNAGA: ADAPTATION AND RESISTANCE
Walking through these communities is not possible; Everything is done in Canoa. Since childhood, children learn to row as part of their daily lives. The environment imposes its rules, but also offers abundance. Water is not only via, it is food, work and culture.
In a video the creator of the content of Kevin Bolaños, visits and talks to visitors to know what his day to day is, because life here revolves around fishing. «If the fishing fisherman, we sell; If not, we do not eat, ”says Mrs. Yolanda, one of the most beloved residents of Nueva Venice, who has been in charge of her store for more than four decades, open more than 80 years ago. She, like many, remembers her childhood with joy, but also recognizes difficulties: the shortage of drinking water, the lack of basic sanitation services and limited access to trade.
An ecosystem that gives everything
The Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta It is a natural sanctuary. This wetland Of great biodiversity is surrounded by mangroves that house birds, fish and crustaceans. As the boat goes into its waters, herons and other birds fly over the landscape, remembering that life here flows to the rhythm of nature.

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The rains are a precious good. The ceilings of the houses collect water for human consumption, and when it is scarce, families depend on boats that transport water from tributaries of the Magdalena River. Although there are no sewerage systems, the currents drag wastewater, avoiding bad odors.
What for some is exotic, for its inhabitants it is everyday. From the construction of canoes to the Sunday pool games, Nueva Venice and Buenavista are living examples of how human beings can adapt to the most unusual environments. And although their landscapes seem out of a postcard, their needs remain real.