2. Columbia: Geography Located in the Northwest region of South America, Columbia is “characterized” by five main natural regions: the Andes Mountain Range, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Llanos plain and the Amazon Rainforest. Due to the extreme differences in elevation, it gives the country a wide variety of temperatures from the coast to inland. Columbians tend to refer to their climate in zones of elevation. If you are under 2900 feet you are in the “hot zone,” between 2900 and 6500 feet, the “temperate zone,” and then 6500 to 1200 feet, the “cold zone.” About 86% of the country lies in the “hot zone.”
3. The Andean region is divided upon three “cordilleras.” The Cordillera Occidental, has relatively low peaks at 9800 feet, is the least populated and has dense vegetation. The Cordillera Occidental is divided from the Cordillera Central by the Cauca Valley. The Cordillera Central has the highest peaks ranging from 10,800 feet to 17,600 feet, and is the most densely populated of the three. It is the most active ranges, involving several volcanoes. Between the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental is the river of Magdalena. The peaks of the Cordillera Oriental ranger from 8200 feet to 8800 feet, with three large basins suitable for settling on. The Caribbean region consists of lowlands, shaped in a triangle, from the northern part of the Cordillera Oriental. Located inland from these costal cities Cartagena and Santa Marta are swamplands, hidden streams, and shallow lakes that support farms and banana and cotton plantations. In the Pacific Region, the climate is not quiet accurate to provide what people need to live. The area is jungle and swamp like, with no way to provide useful resources. In the Orinoquíaregion, located east of the Andes, lies the plains, where there is little population and a unique wildlife. Then in the Amazon region, is home to the rainforest. This is where many grand rivers connect to the Atlantic Ocean.
4. People The approximate population of Columbia is 44.91 million people, at a growth rate of about 1.4%. The primary religion that consists of 90% of the population is Roman Catholic, while the other 10% are a mix. Different ethnic groups consist of Mestizo (58%), white (20%), Mulatto (14%), black (14%), mixed black-Amerindian (3%), and Amerindian (1%) and they all speak Spanish.
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6. History In 1499 Spanish explorers made the first exploration to the Caribbean, led by Rodrigo de Bastidas. Exploration continued to the founding of the Pacifc Ocean, Chile and Peru. In 1525 Santa Marta and then in 1533 Cartagena were founded. In 1535, an expedition led by Gonzalo Jiminez de Quesada, found the “New City of Granada,” which later became “Santa Fé de Bogotá.” Also during this time there were expeditions that founded the city of Cali and the city of Popayán. Then, Nicolas Federman, went over to the Cordillera Oriental, found the Caribbean people of the tribes Chibchan and Carib and eventually conquered them. From the beginning of the conquests by the Spanish rule, there were always rebellions for independence. None were successful enough or had enough energy to keep going, except the rebellions under Simón Bolívar Francisco de Paula Santander. In November 1811 a movement that led to the independence of Cartagena, also led to “the formation of two independent governments,” that fought a civil war. Columbia achieved independence in 1824.
7. After Columbia’s independence, it went through several years of name changing and became the Republic of Columbia. Then under the influence of the United States built the Panama Canal, which the United States paid $25 million seven years after the completion. On April 9, 1948 the assassination of the Liberal presidential candidate Jorge EliécerGaitán was the last straw between the two political parties and caused years of bloody battles. Between the years 1953 to 1964, the tension started to die down, after 180,000 Columbians had died. The National Front ended that period of tension, known as “La Violencia.” It also ensured the Liberal and Conservatives of governing together from that point on. Throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s the infamous drug cartels moved onto the scene, some having their own illegal armed groups. In 1991, The New Columbian Constitution was ratified. In the recent years Columbia is still being over run by the drug trades, even when their president Andrés Pastrana tries to negotiate. Then during the presidency of ÁlvaroUribe, increased pressure on these illicit groups and over all violence decreased. More people started to travel and tourism increased because of new security.
8. Sources Wikipedia The U.S State Department Flags and Nations of the World
