Medellín, as a municipality, has an area of 382 km
(147 sq mi). It has 16 comunas
(districts), 5 corregimientos
(townships), and 271 barrios.
The metropolitan area of Medellín lies within the Aburrá valley at an elevation
of 1,500 meters (about 4921 feet) and is bisected by the Medellín River (also
called Porce), which flows northward. North of the valley are the towns of Bello,
Copacabana, Girardota and Barbosa. To the south of the
