Arauca is a colombian department located in the extreme north of the country's Orinoco region. It limits to the north and the east with Venezuela, to the south with the departments of Vichada and Casanare, and to the west with Bocaya. Its name could have two origins: it could come from the Arahuacos, one of the indigenous ethnic groups that inhabited this territory, or from the bird called Arauco. In 1917 the independence of Arauca was declared, in 1955 the territory was announced as a category of the national administration, and in 1991 it was erected like department. The main economic activities in Arauca are oil exploitation, ranching, agriculture and trade.