town, southern Colombia. It lies in the eastern flanks of the Andes Mountains, on a tributary of the Caquetá River. Founded in 1551, it is a commercial centre for the surrounding agricultural (principally sugarcane-growing) and pastoral (cattle-raising) lands and tropical rainforests of the Amazon River basin. Mocoa is just off the highway linking Pasto, capital of Nariño department, located 45 miles (72 km) to the west-northwest, and Puerto Asís, situated 50 miles (80 km) to the south on the Putumayo River. Pop. (2007 est.) 26,734.