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Colombia:
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Other pages in this profile of Colombia:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups - both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence. More than 32,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) as a formal organization had largely ceased to function. Still, some renegades continued to engage in criminal activities. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its municipalities. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders. |
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Location |
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama |
Geographic coordinates |
4 00 N, 72 00 W |
Map references |
South America |
Area |
total: 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank |
Area - comparative |
slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
Land boundaries |
total: 6,309 km border countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,800 km, Venezuela 2,050 km |
Coastline |
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
Climate |
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands |
Terrain |
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation |
Natural resources |
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower |
Land use |
arable land: 2.01% permanent crops: 1.37% other: 96.62% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
9,000 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards |
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts |
Environment - current issues |
deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
Geography - note |
only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea |
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