General Information

INFORMATION ABOUT COLOMBIA

Colombia: Turning the page to a positive reality

President's Profile

Ministers' Profiles

Actions and outcomes of the National Security Forces in the protection of human rights, 2002-2008

Summary
National Holidays
National Symbols
National Anthem
Map
Climate
Geography
Population

Basic Facts

Name: Republic of Colombia
Capital: Bogotá D.C.
Most Important Cities: Medellín, Cali, and Barranquilla
Location: South America
Climate: Tropical which tends to vary with the altitude
Area: 1,141,748 km²
Government: Republic
System of Government: Presidential with division of powers (executive, legislative and judicial)
Chief Executive and President: Álvaro Uribe Vélez
National Independence Day: 20 July 1810
National bird: The Andean Condor
National flower: Orchid
National Tree: Wax Palms
Religion: Catholicism 95.4%
Official Language: Spanish
Business community: English
Population: 42,090,502 (Census 2005)
Currency: Colombian peso (Col$)
GDP: 6.8% (2006)
Literacy rate: 91%
Exports: 15.1% (2006)
Imports: 23.4% (2006)
Principal exports: Oil (US $ 4,7 m) and Coffee (US $ 1,0 m)
International reserves: US $ 8,9 m (2000)
International Airport: Santafe de Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena and San Andres
Highest Peaks: Peak Cristobal Colon (5775 metres); Peak Simon Bolivar (5775 metres), Volcano Nevado del Huila (5750 metres) and Volcano Nevado del Ruiz (5490 metres)
Main Rivers: Magdalena (1543 km long); Guaviare (1350 km long); Caqueta (1200 km long) and Putumayo (1350 km long)

Summary

Located in the north of South America, Colombia is bordered by Venezuela and Brazil to the east, Peru and Ecuador to the south and Panama to the northwest, countries with which it maintains dynamic political and economic relations.

The fourth largest in South America (approximately the same size as France, Spain and Portugal combined), Colombia covers an area of 1,141,748 km² and has a population of 37 million spread over 32 provinces and 1,087 municipalities. Mountains constitute 30% of the country's land area and the remaining 70% consists of plains.

A geographically diverse country, Colombia has the Andes mountain range, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the Amazon River which give the country varied climates ranging from perpetual snow and temperate Andean valleys to hot tropical areas, rainforests and the exotic Amazon jungle.

Colombia is strategically located in the centre of the planet on the Equator. It is the only country in South America that has both an Atlantic (1,610 km.) and a Pacific (1,290 km.) coastline. Colombia is at the crossroads between South America and Central and North America.

Colombia features a modern infrastructure - three large seaports, a number of airports including five international ones and approximately 80 thousand miles of modern highways. This facilitates constant easy contact with the rest of the world.

Colombia is one of the oldest democracies in South America and holds popular elections for Congress, the President, Provincial Governors, mayors and provincial and local councils.

The system of government is presidential, with three independent branches of Government, all fully independent from one another. The Executive consists of the President of the Republic, who is elected by popular vote every four years without the possibility of re-election, and sixteen cabinet members appointed by the President. In the 1994 elections, the office of Vice-President was revived and the Vice-President is elected together with the President. The Vice-President replaces the President when he is on leave, resigns or in cases of death.

The Legislature is a two-chamber system, with a Senate of 102 members (two of which are reserved for native indigenous communities) and a House of Representatives with 165 members. Both chambers of the Congress of the Republic are elected by direct popular vote for four year terms.

The Judiciary is administratively and financially independent. The structure is headed by the Supreme Court (for private matters); the Constitutional Court (for Constitutional matters); and the Council of State (responsible, among other matters, for disputes between the State and individuals).

In addition there is the Prosecutor General's Office, the Comptroller's Office (which oversees public expenditure) and the Attorney General's Office (which oversees civil service performance and standards). An independent Central Bank (Banco de la República) is responsible for monetary stability.

The structure of the State is decentralized and the regions enjoy autonomy in their policies and administration. There are 32 Departments (provinces) - made up of 1,035 municipalities - four special metropolitan districts and zones designated as autonomous indigenous reservations. With a population of approximately 7 million, the capital city, Bogotá, is in the centre of the country. It is the political and economic centre of the country and over the years has become a major business centre and a metropolis that rivals any capital city of the world. Bogotá is followed in size by Cali, capital of Valle del Cauca (3.2 million inhabitants), Medellín, capital of Antioquia (2.8 million inhabitants) and Barranquilla, capital of Atlántico (1.8 million inhabitants) and the main Caribbean sea port.

The two main political parties are the Liberal and the Conservative but several other smaller parties are also represented in Congress and provincial governments - such as the New Democratic Force, National Salvation Movement, Communist Party, Christian Groups and Ethnic minorities and other parties including former guerrilla groups now integrated into civil society.

A new Constitution was introduced in 1991 with the aim of modernizing the nation's political institutions. The previous Constitution had been in force for over one hundred years. The new 1991 Constitution was written by representatives of the leading political parties, Indigenous people, left-wing groups, demobilized guerrillas, religious minorities, a former President and independent groups. Democratic participation, civil rights and those of ethnic minorities were strengthened. Constitutional reform, which granted autonomy in monetary policy to Colombia's Central Bank and paved the way for foreign investment in all sectors, provided further support for economic stability in Colombia.

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National Holidays

Law 51 of 22 December 1983 has established the following national holidays:

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National Symbols

Coat of arms

The Colombian coat of arms is a very special symbol in that it represents each element of Colombia. On 9 May 1834, Law 3 regulating the national coat of arms was enacted and sanctioned by Colombian President General Francisco de Paula Santander.

Under this law, the coat of arms only appears on the President's national flag, on military flags and on the letterheads of stationery for official communications. The coat of arms may be engraved on monuments, in churches, chapels, military or other cemeteries, barracks, ships, educational institutions and other places provided that such coats of arms satisfy the requirements of decorum.

Flag

Under Decree No. 861 of 17 March 1924, issued by the then President Pedro Nel Ospina to give the country a symbol of its identity, the flag or standard of the Republic of Colombia consists of three yellow, blue and red horizontal stripes - a yellow upper half, two equal stripes in the lower half, with blue in the middle quarter.

Yellow represents riches, blue Colombia's seas and sky and red the blood shed by our heroes in its struggle for independence.

The history of the Colombian flag, however, goes back further. Its colour scheme is attributed to Francisco de Miranda, who hoisted it for the first time on a ship when he fought against Spanish troops. Simón Bolívar adopted the tricolour flag as the emblem of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador (Great Colombia) in a letter dated 28 October 1813 from Valencia, Venezuela, to General Juan Bautista Arismendi, Governor of the Margarita Island.

On 20 February 1821, the yellow, blue and red Colombian flag made its appearance on the international scene when Chargé d'Affaires Manuel Torres presented this design to US Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, informing him that this would be Colombia's emblem.

During the Nueva Granada period, the flag's coloured stripes were placed vertically - red on the left followed by blue and yellow. Under a decree dated 26 November 1861, General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera's government changed the direction of the stripes from vertical to horizontal and ruled that the yellow stripe should be twice as wide as the other two. The current decree regulating the flag was issued on 17 March 1924.

National Flower - The Orchid

The orchid has been Colombia's national flower since 1834 and, more precisely, the variety known as Catleya Trinae, named after the Colombian naturalist José Jerénimo Triana. A native species of Colombia, these lovely orchids abound in temperate regions.

National Tree - Palma de Cera (The Wax Palm)

Found exclusively in the Colombian Andes, this species of palm tree (scientific name Ceroxylon Quindiuense) is Colombia's national tree. It grows principally in the Province of Quindío at altitudes of over 1000 metres. Because they are the tallest in the world, these palm trees are a prominent feature of the National Parks emblem.

This tree of imposing beauty, extraordinary strength and longevity grows on fertile, deep, well-drained mountainous terrain, like in the coffee-growing belt, where it dominates the landscape. Its size makes it a good ornamental tree for parks and avenues. Its fruit is much appreciated by wildlife.

The Preparatory Commission for the Third South American Botanical Congress held in Bogotá in 1949 selected it as Colombia's national tree. In 1985, under Law 61, it was officially adopted as a national symbol.

National Bird- The Condor

 Symbolizing the Colombian people's freedom and sovereignty, the condor was selected in 1834 as an emblem for the Colombian coat of arms and as one of the national symbols.

The largest bird in the world with wings that are over 3 meters long, the condor is capable of flying at great heights. It is characterized by its longevity and is therefore known as "the eternal bird". Another feature is its stamina and in a day it can fly over 1,000 km. It only flies on sunny days.

This bird inhabits the highest summits of the Andes Cordillera, especially in Colombia, Peru and Chile. Its scientific name is vultur griphos.

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Colombian National Anthem

Coro
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
¡Oh júbilo inmortal!
¡En surcos de dolores                    
El bien germina ya!
I
Cesó la horrible noche!
la libertad sublime
derrama las auroras
de su invencible luz.
La humanidad entera,
que entre cadenas gime,
comprende las palabras
del que murió en la cruz.
Coro
II
Independencia grita
el mundo americano;
se baña en sangre de héroes
la tierra de Colón.
Pero este gran principio:
el Rey no es soberano,
resuena, y los que sufren
bendicen su pasión.
Coro
III
Del Orinoco el cauce
se colma de despojos;
de sangre y llanto un río
se mira allí correr.
En Bárbula no saben
las almas ni los ojos,
si admiración o espanto
sentir o padecer.
Coro
VIII
La virgen sus cabellos
arranca en agonía
y de su amor viuda
los cuelga del ciprés.
Lamenta su esperanza
que cubre loza fría,
pero glorioso orgullo
circunda su alba tez.
Coro
IX
La patria así se forma
termópilas brotando;
constelación de cíclopes
su noche iluminó.
La flor estremecida,
mortal el viento hallando,
debajo los laureles
seguridad buscó.
Coro
X
Mas no es completa
gloria vencer en la batalla,
que el brazo que combate
lo anima la verdad.
La independencia sola
al gran clamor no acalla;
si el sol alumbra a todos,
justicia es libertad.
Coro
XI
Del hombre los derechos
Nariño predicando,
el alma de la lucha
profético enseñó.
Ricaurte en San Mateo
en átomos volando,
deber antes que vida
con llamas escribió.
Coro IV
A orillas del Caribe
hambriento un pueblo lucha,
horrores prefiriendo
a pérfida salud.
Oh, sí de Cartagena
la abnegación es mucha,
y escombros de la muerte
desprecia su virtud.
Coro
V
De Boyacá en los campos
el genio de la gloria
con cada espiga un héroe
invicto coronó.
Soldados sin coraza
ganaron la victoria;
su varonil aliento
de escudo les sirvió.
Coro
VI
Bolívar cruza el Ande
que riega dos océanos;
espadas cual centellas
fulguran en Jun´n.
Centauros indomables
descienden a los llanos,
y empieza a presentirse
de la epopeya el fin.
Coro
VII
La trompa victoriosa
en Ayacucho truena;
y en cada triunfo crece
su formidable son.
En su expansivo empuje
la libertad se estrena,
del cielo americano
formando un pabellón.
Coro

History of the National Anthem 

Rafael Núñez, who was President of the Republic of Colombia for four periods, composed the lyrics for the Colombian National Anthem while an Italian who acquired Colombian nationality composed the music.

On 11 November 1887 this anthem was sung for the first time in public at a small variety theatre in Núñez's native city of Cartagena, On 6 December 1887 the first official performance took place during a special ceremony in a function room at the Palacio de San Carlos, (at that time the Presidential Palace and now the Colombian Foreign Ministry). Rafael Núñez, civil, ecclesiastical and military dignitaries and ministers of the diplomatic corps were present. A choir of 25 voices and an orchestra conducted by Master Sindici performed the 11 verses and chorus of the anthem that gives a poetical account of the struggle for Colombian independence.

The invitation to the ceremony said "The minister of Government presents his compliments to you and has the honor to enclose two tickets for a concert to inaugurate our National Anthem in the function room on 6th instant. The function will begin at nine o'clock. Bogotá, December 1887."

In 1890, the notes of this anthem were heard in Rome, Mexico, Lima, Caracas and Curacao. On 28 October 1920 it was adopted as the Colombian National Anthem under Law 33, sanctioned by Colombian President Marco Fidel Suárez.

Authors of the National Anthem

Rafael Núñez - Born in Cartagena in 1825, Rafael Núñez was a politician, poet, journalist, philosopher, legal adviser and statesman. He was elected President on four occasions and served from 1880 to 1882, 1884 to 1886, 1886 to 1892 and 1892 to 1898. Núñez convened the National Constituent Council that issued the Colombian Constitution of 1886. Núñez died in Cartagena in 1894.

Oreste Sindici - Born in Rome in 1837, he came to Bogotá as a member of an opera company and decided to adopt Colombian nationality. He married Justina Jannaut, a Bogotá lady of French origin, with whom he had three children: Oreste, Eugenia and Emilia. He composed the music for President Rafael Núñez's poem, which was to become the Colombian National Anthem. He died in Bogotá in 1904. The Colombian Congress issued Law 89 of 1937 to pay tribute to him.

José Rozo Contreras - Born in Bochalema, Norte de Santander, in 1894, he was the author of the transcription of the National Anthem officially adopted by the Colombian government under Executive Decree No. 1973 of 1946. After studying in Rome and Vienna, he returned to Colombia to conduct the National Band. He held this post until his death in Bogotá.

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 Map

Climate

Colombia is a tropical country with a variety of climates, but no seasons. Rainy and dry periods alternate throughout the year and temperature is largely determined by altitude above sea level.

The Andean mountains give rise to a great variety of climates ranging from those found in rain forests and tropical plains to tundra regions and perpetual snow peaks. On account of its geo-astronomical position, Colombia receives constant solar radiation throughout the year, which results in day and night being roughly of the same duration. For this reason climate variations are not determined by seasons but rather are due to altitude, humidity and to the effects of trade winds. Temperatures vary according to altitude - about -2ºF per 1.000 ft. of altitude.

There are extreme variations in rainfall ranging from regions such as Chocó in the north-west of the country, with some of the highest rainfall and humidity levels on Earth, to regions such as La Guajira in the extreme north-east of the country, with a desert and steppe and scarce rainfall.

The temperature is 22º-28º C at sea level, at medium altitudes 17º-23ºC and at high altitudes 6º-14ºC. There are slight variations depending on whether it is the "dry season" ("summer" - December to January and July to August) or the "wet season" ("winter" - April to May and October to November).

Because of Colombia's varied climates, many thousands of vegetable species are found in Colombia, some of these supply all food needs, others are valuable plants for medicinal or industrial use. There are also large timber resources and rare and decorative flowers.

Geography

Colombia has a territorial area of 1,147,748 km², approximately the combined size of France, Spain and Portugal, and is divided into five geographic zones: the Atlantic Coast, the Pacific Coast, the Orinoco River Basin (Orinoquia), the Amazon River Basin (Amazonia) and the Andean Region. It is in this last region where 70% of the country's population has settled.

Colombia's coastline extends for 1,600 kilometers along the Caribbean Sea and 1,280 kilometers along the Pacific Ocean. Colombia possesses several islands, the most important being the Archipelago of San Andrés and Providence in the Caribbean, and Gorgona, Gorgonilla and Malpelo in the Pacific.

There are 32 cities with a population of over 100,000 inhabitants. Of these cities, Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla lead the way in commercial and industrial development. With an area greater than three times that of Finland, Colombia's most striking feature is its extraordinary variety.

The mountainous region consists of the three ranges of the Andes and the valleys between these ranges. The region begins in the southwest, where the Andes split into three ranges - the Western, Central and Eastern - and ends in the North at the Sierra Nevada range.

The Western Cordillera has five peaks over 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) high, but the Central Cordillera is higher, with six snowcapped peaks over 4,900 meters (16,000 ft). The Eastern Cordillera, the longest of the three, branches off into Venezuela, and its highest elevations are above 5,000 meters (16,400 ft). Two major rivers - the Magdalena and the Cauca - flow through the eastern and western Central Cordillera valleys.

Colombia's highest peaks are found in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast. The Colon Peak and the Bolivar Peak crown the highest coastal snowcapped mountain in the world.

It is in the Andean Region where most of the main cities are located - Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Popayán, Pasto, Tunja, Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Cúcuta, Bucaramanga, Neiva and Ibagué. The Caribbean Region, in the North, includes the following cities: Cartagena, Santa Marta, Barranquilla, Riohacha, Valledupar, Sincelejo, Montería. The low-lying Pacific Region, in the West includes cities such as Quibdó, Buenaventura and Tumaco. The Amazon-Orinoco Region, in the East, has Villavicencio, Florencia, and Leticia as its main centres. It includes the tropical rainforest and plains of the Orinoco basin.

For administrative purposes, the country is divided into 32 departments (provinces): Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada and 1050 municipalities.

Departments are ruled by a governor and a Departmental Assembly. In addition, cities are governed by a mayor and a Municipal Council, all of whom are elected by democratic vote.

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Population

Colombia has over 42 million inhabitants. According to the 2005 census there are 42,090,502 inhabitants. The majority (31,566,276) live in urban areas and the rest (10,524,226) in rural areas.

In number of inhabitants Colombia ranks third in Latin America, following Brazil and Mexico. Approximately 37% of the population is under 18 years old, which makes Colombia a young and dynamic nation. The population grows at an annual rate of 1.7%.

The most densely populated area of the country is the Andean Region, where the main cities are located, with 75% of the population; the Atlantic coast follows with nearly 21% of the population and the Pacific region, together with the Orinoquia and the Amazon, have only 4% of the population.

The four major cities alone (Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla) are home to 30% of the total population and there are 32 towns or cities with populations of over 100.000.

 The majority of the Colombian population is mestizo, a product of contacts between the Spanish colonists, the Indigenous population and descendants of the black slave trade from Africa.

Archeological research dates the remains of pre-Columbian indigenous tribes in the Colombian territory back to over 12,000 years ago. The region was inhabited by three major language groups: the Caribe, the Arawak and the Chibcha. Vestiges of the latter are found mostly in the Andean region.

The Chibchas grew maize and other crops. The main expressions of their culture were sculpture, gold artifacts, underground burial chambers and dwelling terraces and canals on mountainsides.

The other tribes (the Caribe and the Arawak) were efficient in the exploitation of the rich fauna on the riverside and marshy environments in the Caribbean and Amazon regions. They cultivated cassava and other tropical crops. They began to build artificial canals to drain the flood lands so as to live in them. Between the fifth and tenth centuries AD such works covered some 500,000 hectares of swampy lands.

The Spaniard's first contacts with Colombia go back to the early 16th century. Their first continental bases were established along the Caribbean coast (in Santa Marta and Cartagena), and then they expanded to central areas and the south, founding Bogotá, Tunja, Pasto, Popayan and Cartago.

They created the setting for the country's most significant historical and socioeconomic progress. Colombia's popular culture has distinctly regional characteristics since its geographical variety gives rise to several anthropological features. The bulk of the population is Spanish speakers of European descent. However the Pacific region is populated mostly by blacks of African descent, the Atlantic Coast predominately by those of mixed race, and the jungle areas are inhabited by surviving indigenous tribes.

This mix of races and cultures gives Colombia its broad cultural diversity, its folklore and idiosyncrasies, which produce a rich mosaic, which constitutes one of its leading attractions.

Colombia says that the most valuable resource is its people, which are characterized by their hospitable, open and hard-working temperament.

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