C O L O M B I A

Colombia's history began well over 13,000 years ago, as evidence of human occupation dates to that era.
Over time many Andean and Caribbean cultures inhabited the area, including the Tayrona, Sin, Muisca, Quimbaya, Tolima, Calima, Tierradentro, San Agustin, Nario and Tumaco peoples.
The Spanish arrived along the coastal areas of Colombia in the early 1500s and the country became Spain's chief source of gold; Cartagena and Bogota were founded by mid-century.
Spain eventually increased taxation of the colonists to fund their home-front war expenses, and the subsequent anger and uprising that occurred were the seeds of the revolution to come.
In 1819, Simon Bolivar (a national hero) and his armies defeated the Spanish, and the independent Republic of Gran was formed; it included Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
By the early 20th century, all of the original partners had withdrawn from the association, and in 1905, Colombia was finally on its own.
Since then it has survived a hurricane of political assassinations, internal governmental conflicts, guerrilla activities and drug wars. After all of that it remains one of the most attractive and mysterious countries on the South American continent.
Political and internal unrest, has for the most part, limited tourism to the Caribbean coastal resorts and towns, with special emphasis on Cartagena. International business travel is commonplace (to and from) the country's major cities.

Facts and Figures
Name Colombia
(long form) Republic of Colombia
Population 42,954,279 (27 out of 192)
Capital City Bogota (6.1 million)
Currency Colombian Peso (COP)
Languages Spanish
National Day July 20
Religions Catholic (90%), others
Geographic Coordinates
Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 04°38' N, 74° 05' W
Relative Location Colombia is positioned in the northern, southern and western hemispheres. It's located on the northwestern corner of South America, and bordered by Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Central America and the country of Panama, and by the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Land Statistics
Coastline 3,208 km
Land Areas
(land) 1,038,700 sq km
(water) 100,210 sq km
(TOTAL) 1,138,910 sq km (25 out of 192)
Landforms Fronted by the Caribbean and Pacific lowlands, as well as the eastern Amazon lowlands that extend to its borders with Brazil and Venezuela, the western third of Colombia is crossed by three rugged parallel ranges of the Andes Mountains, namely the Eastern, Central, and Western Cordilleras.
Many rivers rise in the upper elevations of the Andes, and the most significant include the Cauca, Magdalena and Putumayo. The Cauca and Magdalena (which flow northward) separate the three principal Andean mountain ranges, eventually merging and then ending in the Caribbean Sea.
Highest Pt. Cristobal Colon - 5,775 m
Lowest Pt. Pacific Ocean - 0 m

Climate The climate in Colombia has striking variations - which is quite typical of countries with a wide variety of elevations.
In general terms, weather conditions are hot and humid along the coastal areas, and below (1,000 m) in elevation; somewhat mild (1,000 - 2,000 m), and quite cold (2,000 meters, and above). The hottest months are March and April; coldest months are July and August.
As an elevation example, Bogota is over (2,500 m) in elevation, and average summer high temperatures approach 25.5° C, while in the lower eastern elevations, summer high temperatures soar into the high 32.5° C.
Precipitation is generally moderate to heavy, with highest levels in the Pacific lowlands and in parts of northeastern Colombia. Most rainfall occurs from (March - May) and from (September - November).