COLOMBIA

POPULATION -45,239,079

• 58% white and amerindian mixed
• 20% white
• 14% mulatto
• 4% black
• 3% zambo

POPULATION CTD.

• 1% pure amerindian

GEOGRAPHY

• northwest corner of South America
• only country in region that touches both Caribbean and Pacific Ocean
• borders Panamá, Venezuela, Perú, Ecuador and Brasil
• five regions : Caribbean, Andes, Pacific Coast, Orinoquia, and Amazon

CARIBBEAN

• deserts on peninsula of La Guajira
• mountains covered with rain forests
• contains Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta which is the highest coastal mountain
• very sandy beaches in Gulf of Morrosquillo
• jungles in Gulf of Uraba

ANDES

• largest mountain range in the world
• enters in the south
• separates into 3 mountain chains
• covered in snow, jungles, deserts and marshes

PACIFIC

• one of the wettest regions on Earth
• jungle (northern)
• cliffs and beaches (south)
• contains Gorgona and Gorgonilla

ORINOQUIA

• plain region
• extends eastward
• follows the river Orinoco

AMAZON

• considered the lung of the Earth
• largets genetic bank of animal and vegetable species
• preserved by Indian communities

HISTORY

• main towns founded in 16th century
• gold and emerald mines formed
• Christianity formed
• 1564- many slaves arrived
• Spain ruled Colombia

HISTORY CTD.

• 1808- Joseph Bonaparte ruled Spain
• Most of Colombia declared independence
• Spain conquered 1815-1816
• Símon Bolivar defeated Spanish
• Colombia, Panamá, Venezuela, and Ecuador became republic of Colombia

HISTORY CTD.

• 1828- Bolivar became dictator
• resigned in 1830
• Colombia and Panamá separated from Venezuela and Ecuador
• 19th century- 8 civil wars
• 1899- War of a Thousand Days

HISTORY CTD.

• 1903- Panamá became independent
• 1948- La Volencia (civil war)
• two armies: liberals and conservatives
• April 9,1948- liberal politician was assassinated
• citizens on conservatives side

HISTORY CTD.

• 1953- General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla became dictator
• 1957- General Pinilla stepped down
• parties agreed to share power
• 1957-1974- presidency alternated
• 1960's- left wing guerillas began

HISTORY CTD.

• 1970's&1980's- cocaine production rose
• drug trade led to brutal violence
• 1980's- hit with recession
• 2002- violence decreased
• 2009- hit with another recession

PRODUCTION

• petroleum
• coffee
• coal
• nickel
• emeralds

PRODUCTION CTD.

• bananas
• flowers

FUN FACTS

• first qualified for World Cup Fútbol in 1962
• women were able to vote in 1957
• biggest theatre festival,biggest salsa festival,biggest flower parade
• biggest outdoor horse parade, and second biggest carnival in the world
• national anthem played at 6 am. and 6pm.

FUN FACTS CTD.

• home to most colorful river the Caño Cristales