Cúcuta, city in northeastern Colombia, capital of Norte de Santander Department, near the Venezuelan frontier. Highways connect Cúcuta with Bogotá and with Caracas, Venezuela. A railroad connects Cúcuta with the Zulia River, which is navigable by small steamers. The city is important as a trade center for the surrounding coffee-growing region. Petroleum is also produced in the area. A university is here. Founded in 1734, Cúcuta is a modern city and one of the most attractive in Colombia; it was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1875. Population (1997 estimate) 589,196.
