COLOMBIA

This video produced by the Colombian tourist board gives a taster of the beauty and diversity of the country.

Geography

Tayrona, Atlantic coast
Colombia is a natural paradise. It is the second most biodiverse nation on earth.

Colombia has two coastlines. One on the Atlantic, the other on the Pacific. There are the Andes Mountains, the Amazon rainforest, one of the driest deserts on the planet, and the wettest place on earth, the department of Choco.

Map with population hotspots
Strategically located at the north western tip of South America, Colombia is home to two of the most important ports in the Americas. Cartagena in the Carribean, and Buenaventura in the Pacific. The Panama Canal is located just to the north.

Colombia's landmass is roughly equivalent to Portugal, Spain, and France put together.


People

Food stall, Cali
Colombians are known for their warmth, and for being among the most smiley on earth. Music is the lifeblood, and boy can they dance.

Colombia is the world's 30th most populous country, with 45 million inhabitants, 75% of whom live in urban areas. It is a young country - over a quarter of the population is under the age of 15, and 67% are aged between 24 and 64.

Colombia is as diverse racially as it is geographically. 58% of Colombians are mestizo, 20% are white, 14% are mulatto, 4% are black, 3% are mixed black Amerindian, and 1% are Amerindian.

The main population areas are Bogota - the capital - with over 8 million; Medellin, 3.5 million; and Cali 2.5 million.

90% of Colombians are Roman Catholics.

Colombians are sociable - there are more mobile telephone lines in Colombia than there are people to use them.

Natural Resources

Colombia has an incredible wealth of exportable natural resources and crops.

'Cosecha'
Colombian coffee is considered to be the best in the world. It's Colombia's primary crop; bananas, cotton, sugar cane, oil palm and tobacco are also grown.

Colombian's main resources are: petroleum; natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, and hydropower.

Flowers are also part of Colombia's booming export business.




This is only a brief overview. For more detailed information please get in touch: