Information
Country: ColombiaContinent: South America
Colombia, South America
Overview
Here’s an in-depth look at Colombia-its geography, history, culture, economy, and more-without diving into specific landmarks; it sits in the northwestern corner of South America, where the mountains meet the sea.It’s the only country in the region with shores on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, where you can spot palm-fringed beaches on one side and rugged wave-battered cliffs on the other.To the east lies Venezuela; to the southeast, Brazil.Peru stretches along its southern edge, while Ecuador and Panama hug the west.The north meets the Caribbean Sea, bright and salt-scented.In Colombia’s heart, the Andes rise and split into three sweeping branches, their ridges cutting across the Andean Region like folded stone.This region boasts major cities, including Bogotá-the bustling capital-along with Medellín and sunny Cali.The Andes stretch across so many zones that one valley feels like the tropics, while a ridge above is cool and temperate, making them vital for growing coffee, bright blooms, and hearty potatoes.Caribbean Region: The northern coast, where the Caribbean Sea laps against pale sand, is famous for its warm, tropical climate.Barranquilla and Cartagena stand out as the region’s biggest cities, bustling with busy ports, sunlit beaches, and a vibrant blend of African, indigenous, and Spanish traditions.In Colombia’s far west, where the air hangs heavy with moisture, the Pacific coast stretches past dense tropical rainforests, winding rivers, and wide, low-lying plains.Cities such as Buenaventura sit here, where the air smells faintly of salt from the nearby coast.This place teems with life-bright birds dart through the trees, and every corner bursts with green.To the east, Colombia stretches into the Orinoco basin and spills into the lush, humid depths of the Amazon rainforest.Rivers wind through dense forests and quiet wetlands here, with only a few scattered homes but an astonishing variety of wildlife.Rivers and lakes: The Amazon River begins in southern Colombia, winding through dense green rainforest before flowing into Brazil.The Magdalena River winds through the Andean region, carrying boats past misty green hills and serving as one of the country’s vital transport routes.Lake Tota, shimmering high in the Boyacá mountains, is Colombia’s largest lake, while smaller Lake Guatavita is renowned for its role in the El Dorado legend.Colombia’s coasts are tropical-lush rainforests drape the Pacific shore, while the Caribbean side bakes under a dry, sun-bleached sky.In the Andes, the climate shifts with altitude-warm and mild in the valleys, crisp and cold higher up where the air feels thin.The country has two distinct seasons-rain falls from April to November, drumming on tin roofs, and the dry months stretch from December to March.Colombia’s diverse landscapes mean you can swelter in the humid lowland heat one day and feel the crisp bite of mountain air the next.Before the Spanish arrived, Colombia teemed with indigenous peoples-the Muisca, Tairona, Quimbaya, and Nariño-each with its own traditions, from goldwork to mountain settlements.The Muisca Confederation ranked among the most sophisticated pre-Columbian societies in the Andes, famed for intricate gold ornaments, thriving farms, and a tightly organized political system.Spanish Colonial Era (1538–1810): Spain took control of Colombia in the early 1500s, its ships heavy with muskets and bright red flags.In 1538, the Spanish founded Santa Fé de Bogotá, a bustling settlement that later rose to serve as the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, encompassing lands that today are Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.safeDuring this period, Catholicism swept through communities, filling chapels with the scent of candle wax and whispered prayers.safeIndependence (1810–1819): The struggle against Spanish rule erupted in 1810, when revolutionary juntas sprang up-fueled by the bold uprisings already sweeping through other parts of Latin America.Simón Bolívar stood at the heart of the region’s struggle for freedom, leading battles and rallies that echoed through mountain valleys.After a string of campaigns-capped by the Battle of Boyacá in 1819-Colombia won its independence and joined Gran Colombia, a brief republic that also embraced Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.Gran Colombia broke apart in 1831, and Colombia emerged as its own republic.Its borders shifted over the years, like lines redrawn on a weathered map.19th Century: The century saw stretches of political turmoil, with liberals and conservatives clashing, borders fiercely contested, and civil wars erupting like sudden summer storms.The country stood bitterly divided, and a series of internal clashes-most brutally the Thousand Days War (1899–1902), which left streets littered with spent shells-scarred Colombia for years.In the early 20th century, many nations enjoyed stretches of political calm and steady economic growth, with bustling city streets and new factories humming through the morning fog.But during La Violencia (1948–1958), a brutal civil war between liberals and conservatives, tens of thousands were killed, and the nation was left politically and socially torn-its towns scarred by bullet-pocked walls.In the 1950s and 1960s, guerrilla groups like the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and others took up arms against the government, striking from dense jungle hideouts.The guerrilla movement sank deep into the swelling drug trade, moving cash and crates of powder through jungle trails.In the late 20th century, powerful drug cartels-most notably Medellín and Cali-tightened their grip on Colombia, unleashing waves of violence that scarred the nation throughout the 1980s and into the early ’90s, when gunfire often echoed through city streets at night.In the 21st century, Colombia’s pushed hard against drug trafficking, cut back on violence, and strengthened its economy-streets once tense now hum with the sound of open markets.In the late 1990s, with U. S. backing, Plan Colombia set its sights on dismantling drug cartels and armed insurgent groups.In recent years, talks with the FARC and ELN have brought partial demobilization and fragile peace deals, the kind signed in crowded halls smelling faintly of coffee.In 2016, the Colombian government and the FARC signed a peace deal that ended the Americas’ longest insurgency, closing a chapter of gunfire in the hills and opening one of the most pivotal moments in the nation’s history.In Colombia, Spanish is the official language, rolling off the tongues of almost everyone you meet.The country’s home to several indigenous languages, among them Wayuu, Embera, and Nasa Yuwe-names you might hear spoken in a bustling market or along a dusty village road.Along Colombia’s Pacific coast, some Afro-Colombian communities speak Creole, their voices carrying its lilting rhythm over the sound of the waves.Colombian Spanish stands out for its rich mix of accents, from the crisp tones of Bogotá to the lilting rhythm of coastal slang.People often describe Bogotá’s accent as clear and “neutral,” but down on the coast or deep in the Amazon, you’ll hear dialects with their own distinct rhythms and sounds.In Colombia, Roman Catholicism dominates, with more than 90% of people identifying as Catholic-church bells still ring out across small towns every Sunday.People across the country mark many religious festivals, with streets especially alive during Holy Week and the bright, music-filled days of Christmas.The number of Protestants is steadily rising, joined by smaller indigenous faiths and Afro-Colombian spiritual practices, some marked by drumbeats that echo through village nights.
