COLOMBIA

Kolumbien - Colombie - Colmbia

Geographical Location Historical Background National Symbols Natural Regions Colombian Food
2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Colombia North of the South

Colombia, the Golden Gate of South America, is surrounded by the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Crossed in two sections by the Equator, the north denotes the end of the Andes Mountains, while the south is the beginning of the Amazon basin. One of the richest countries in biological diversity, it is home to the largest number of species of birds, butterflies and orchids, as well as the tallest palm trees and the largest bird in the world, the Andean Condor.
2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Republic of Colombia
Honoring the discoverer of America, Cristoforo Colombo (Christopher Columbus)

Population: 42 million Area: 1,141,748 sq.kms. (446,000 sq.mi.) Currency: Peso Independence Day: July 20 Government: Democratic Republic Official Language: Spanish Religion: 95% of the population is Roman Catholic President 2002-2006: Alvaro Uribe
2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Patriotic Symbols
National Anthem Music Oreste Sindice Lyrics Rafael Nuez

The yellow (twice the size of the blue and red) symbolizes Colombia's wealth and resources. The blue represents the two oceans and the many rivers that irrigate our territory. The red is a tribute to the blood shed by our patriots who fought against Spain and gave Colombia its independence on July 20, 1810.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

National Symbols

National Tree: Wax Palms Ceroxylon quinduiense

National Bird: Andean Condor Vultur grypus

National Flower: Orchid Cattleya trianae

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Historical Background
Pre-Columbian cultures existed in scattered pockets in the Andean region and on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Among the most outstanding were the Tayrona, Sin, Muisca, Quimbaya, Tierradentro and San Agustn. Many of the tribes produced accomplished goldwork and pottery, and some left behind burial chambers and rock paintings which have helped anthropologists piece together their cultures. Alonso de Ojeda, a companion of Christopher Columbus, landed on the Guajira Peninsula in 1499. The wealth of the local Indians promulgated the myth of El Dorado, and the shores of present-day Colombia became the target of numerous expeditions. The Indians originally tolerated the arrival of the Spaniards but rebelled when the colonists tried to enslave them and confiscate their lands. In 1544, the country was incorporated into the viceroyalty of Peru, where it remained until 1739 when it became a part of New Granada (comprising the territories of what are today Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama).

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

'He went about all covered with powdered gold, as casually as if it were powdered salt. For it seemed to him that to wear any other finery was less beautiful, and that to put on ornaments or arms made of gold worked by hammering, stamping, or by other means, was a vulgar and common thing.' Gonzalo Fernndez de Oviedo, 1535-48

Eldorado
The Gilded One

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Simon Bolivar El Libertador

Along with slavery, the Spanish monopoly over commerce, taxes and duty slowly gave rise to protest, particularly towards the end of the 18th century. It was during this period that the first stirrings of national autonomy occurred, but it wasn't until 1819, and the appearance of Venezuelan liberator Simon Bolvar and his army, that independence was achieved. Ten years of uneasy confederation with Venezuela and Ecuador followed in the form of Gran Colombia, until regional differences between the three finally undermined the union

Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) He was one of South America's greatest generals. His victories over the Spaniards won independence for Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. He is called El Libertador (The Liberator) and the "George Washington of South America."

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Natural Regions
Colombia is in the Equatorial zone, but the high Andes give it a varied terrain, from humid jungles and tropical plains at sea level, to the pramo and perpetual snows. Geographers have devised different ways to divide Colombia into regions. It is most appropriate to divide the country into five geographic and natural regions:

Andean Highlands Region Caribbean Lowlands Coastal Region. Eastern Plains Region Pacific Lowlands Coastal Region Amazon Rainforest Region

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Andean Highlands
The Andes Mountains split in three distinct, roughly parallel chains, called cordilleras, that extend northeastward almost to the Caribbean Sea. Altitudes reach more than 5,700 meters, and mountain peaks are permanently covered with snow.

Altitude controls not only the climate but also the agriculture of a given area, and production is amazingly varied. In the late 1980s, approximately 78 percent of the country's population lived in the Andean highlands.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Products and Cities

Main cities: Bogot D.C. (Capital District). Other important cities are Medellin, Cali and Bucaramanga. Products: Main crops: coffee, potatoes, wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables and flowers. Industry: leading sectors are textiles, chemicals and intermediate consumer goods. Minerals: this region produces the outstanding and worldwide renowned Colombian emeralds.
2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Folklore
It seems that hardly a day goes by without some kind of festival in some corner. The Flowers Parade is a beautiful event held in Medellin. The peasants or silleteros elaborate their sillas with flowers of the region.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Caribbean Lowlands
The Caribbean lowlands consist of all of Colombia that is north of an imaginary line extending northeastward from the Gulf of Urab (near the border with Panama) to the Venezuelan border at the northern end of the Cordillera Oriental. In the northernmost part of the country, the semiarid Guajira Peninsula, stretches in the blue waters of the Caribbean sea. In the central part rises the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated mountain system with peaks reaching heights over 5,700 meters and slopes generally too steep for cultivation.
2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Cities and Products

The largest marine salt complex of the country is located in the Guajiras white beaches. Not far from there, El Cerrejon hosts the largest opencast coal mine in the world.

The region produces bananas, cotton and African palm. Traditional and industrial fisheries abound along the coast.

Cities like Cartagena de Indias, the most fortified city in the Americas, and San Andres island, are national and international tourist destinations.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Folklore
The most famous carnival takes place each February in Barranquilla. A mix of legacies from native Americans, African slaves and old Spanish conquerors explodes in multicolor expressions of joy and music. The carnival lasts for four days and ends on Ash Wednesdays eve.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Eastern Plains Region

The area east of the Andes includes about 699,300 square kilometers, or three-fifths of the country's total area. The entire area, known as the eastern plains is rich in oil, agriculture and cattle breeding.

The region is unbroken by highlands except in Meta Department, where the Macarena Sierra, an outlier of the Andes, is of interest to scientists because its vegetation and wildlife are believed to be reminiscent of those that once existed throughout the Andes.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Products and Cities

The area east of the Andes includes about 699,300 square kilometers, or three-fifths, of the country's total area. Although this region is vast, the density of population is low . The main cities are Villavicencio, Arauca and Yopal. The economy had been based on cattle-raising, but oil reserves have proved to be larger and of better quality than expected and oil production has now become a major input for the economy. Among other farm products, this region crops rice, African palm, tobacco, yam, and ripe plantain.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Folklore
The joropo and galeron are the typical dances of the Eastern plains. The harp, the treble clarinet, the maracas and the four-string guitar are the regular ensemble for an event in the Llanos (plains)

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Pacific Lowlands
The rainfall and humidity of this region are among the highest in the world.

The Pacific lowlands, a region of jungle and swamp with considerable, but little-exploited, potential in minerals and other resources. Buenaventura is the largest harbor on the coast. At the east, the Pacific lowlands are bounded by the Cordillera Occidental, from which numerous streams run. Most of the streams flow westward to the Pacific

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

People and Culture

The majority of the population of the Pacific region is black and of an indigenous tribe. Both of these ethnic groups still conserve their traditions.

One of the main attractions of this region is Gorgona Island where, during August and September, the Yubartas -hunchback whalesvisit its coast.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Amazon Rainforest
Colombia shares a portion of the socalled largest lung of the Earth. This area has a very low population density and access is only possible by air or riding one of the many long rivers that cross it. Inhabitants are mostly native tribes that preserve their pre-discovery traditions. Colombia is the second richest country in biodiversity in the world, after Brazil. Colombia's herbariums have classified over 130,000 plants, including Victoria Amazonica, which is similar to a water lily and has leaves large and strong enough to support a child.
2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Some Colombians Around the World

Andres Jaramillo Botero

Carlos Vives

Juan Montoya
2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Only in Colombia

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

COLOMBIAN CUISINE The Taste of the Tropics

BANDEJA PAISA

MAMONA

MONDONGO

CAZUELA DE MARISCOS

AJIACO

PIPITORIA

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

If you want to see the Caribbean, go to Cuba or Dominican Republic; If you want to see the Pacific Ocean, go to Chile; If you want to see The Andes, go to Ecuador; If you want to see The Amazon, go to Brasil; If you want to see the pre-columbian cultures, go to Mxico or Per; but if you want to see all these things together, your destination is definitely Colombia.

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

Credits

Viva Colombia Video CD. MinDesarrollo, Genoma Ltda. Colombia 2002. http://www.yocreoencolombia.com/ http://www.themodernword.com/gabo/ http://www.wag.caltech.edu/home-pages/ajaramil http://www.geocities.com/colombia_botero/ http://www.americas-fr.com/musique/cartes/carlo

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association

For more information visit or e-mail us at:

http://stuact.tamu.edu/stuorgs/csa/ colombia@stuact.tamu.edu

2003 C. Giraldo, A. Calixto and M. Rodriguez - Colombian Students Association