Huila (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈwila]) is one of the departments of Colombia. It is located in the southwest of the country, and its capital is Neiva.^[4]

Quick Facts Department of Huila Departamento del Huila, Country ...

Department of Huila Departamento del Huila
Department
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Alma del Huila (Huila's soul)
Huila shown in red
Topography of the department
Coordinates: 2°59′55″N 75°18′16″W
Country	Colombia
Region	Andean Region
Established	1905
Capital	Neiva
Government
• Governor	Luis Enrique Dussán López
Area
• Total	19,890 km2 (7,680 sq mi)
• Rank	26th
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	1,200,386
• Rank	15th
• Density	60/km2 (160/sq mi)
GDP [2]
• Total	COP 24,012 billion (US$ 5.6 billion)
Time zone	UTC-05
ISO 3166 code	CO-HUI
Provinces	4
Municipalities	37
HDI (2019)	0.726[3] high · 22nd of 33
Website	https://www.huila.gov.co/

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Huila is a department that has a population of 1,122,622 inhabitants, of which 679,667 (60.54%) people live in municipal capitals and 442,955 (39.46%) in the rest of the Huilense territory.^[5] This corresponds to 2.5% of the total Colombian population. The majority of the population is settled in the Magdalena valley, with epicenters in Neiva and Garzón due to the possibilities offered by the commercial-type agricultural economy, oil exploitation, the best provision of services and the road axes connected to the central axis that borders the Magdalena. The rest of the populations are located on the coffee belt, standing out Pitalito and La Plata, the North Subregion presents a decrease in its rural population, mainly attributable to the alterations of agricultural and oil activities on the landscape. The average population density in the department is 59.88 inhabitants / km², with the highest densities in Neiva (223.72), Pitalito (200.1) and Garzón (162.45), and with the lowest in the municipalities of Colombia and Villavieja (7.83 and 10.91 respectively).^[6]

The south of the department is located in the Colombian Massif. The Cordillera Oriental is born in this place.

Colombia's third highest peak, the Nevado del Huila volcano, is located in the department of Huila.

The Magdalena River (also called Yuma River) is Colombia's largest river, begins in the department of Huila. Some of Huila's most important towns are located in the Magdalena River Valley. Betania is a dam located on the Magdalena river. A larger dam, El Quimbo, is planned for the same river.