- Total (2003)  - Density 44,531,434 36/km²  - Declared  - Recognised July 20, 1810 August 7, 1819 The Republic of Colombia is a country in northwestern South America. It is bordered to the north and north-west by the Caribbean Sea, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Ecuador and Peru, and to the west by Panama and the Pacific Ocean. Colombia - History. Main article: History of ...

Including:

• Colombia - History
• Colombia - Politics
• Colombia - Geography
• Colombia - Departments
• Colombia - Economy
• Colombia - Demographics
• Colombia - Religion
• Colombia - Culture
• Colombia - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Colombia: Encyclopedia - Colombia

See also:

Colombia, Colombia - History, Colombia - Politics, Colombia - Geography, Colombia - Departments, Colombia - Most Important Cities Of Colombia, Colombia - Economy, Colombia - Demographics, Colombia - Religion, Colombia - Culture, Colombia - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Colombia - Departments

Colombia has a diverse population that reflects its colourful history and the peoples that have populated her from ancient, to colonial and modern times. The historic amalgam of three main groups: Amerindians, Spanish colonist/European immigrants, and imported African slaves, are the basis of Colombia's current demographics. This miscegenation has created a racial and ethnic continuum; an order characterized by fluidity and ambiguity in which any claims of inclusion withi ...

See also:

Colombia, Colombia - History, Colombia - Politics, Colombia - Geography, Colombia - Departments, Colombia - Economy, Colombia - Demographics, Colombia - Religion, Colombia - Culture, Colombia - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Colombia - Demographics

Around 1450 BC there was cultural activity near Bogotá, in "El Abra". In 1000 BC, groups of amerindians developed the political system of "cacicazgos" (answering to a figure known as the Cacique) with a pyramidal structure of power, especially in the cases of the Muisca or Chibcha people. They have been considered to have one of the most developed political systems in South America, after the Incas. Spanish explorers made the first exploration of the Caribbean littoral in 1500 led by Rodrigo de Bastidas. Christopher Columbus navigated near ...

See also:

Colombia, Colombia - History, Colombia - Politics, Colombia - Geography, Colombia - Departments, Colombia - Economy, Colombia - Demographics, Colombia - Religion, Colombia - Culture, Colombia - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Colombia - History

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Cartagena was part of the Spanish Main, one of the chief ports of the Spanish treasure fleet and so a prime target by English pirates and French buccaneers (such as Sir Francis Drake, who sacked the city in 1586). Many of Cartagena's fortifications still stand: the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas, built between 1536 and 1657; the walls around the Old City (las Murallas); the undersea wall across Bocagrande built between 1771 and 1778; and the forts of San Jose and San Fern ...

See also:

Cartagena, Colombia, Cartagena, Colombia - Geography, Cartagena, Colombia - History, Cartagena, Colombia - Climate

Read more here: » Cartagena, Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Cartagena, Colombia - History

Around 1450 BC there was cultural activity near Bogotá, in "El Abra". In 1000 BC, groups of Amerindians developed the political system of "cacicazgos" (answering to a figure known as the Cacique) with a pyramidal structure of power, especially in the cases of the Muisca or Chibcha people. They have been considered to have one of the most developed political systems in South America, after the Incas. Spanish explorers made the first exploration of the Caribbean littoral in 1500 led by Rodrigo de Bastidas. Christopher Columbus navigated near ...

See also:

Colombia, Colombia - History, Colombia - Politics, Colombia - Geography, Colombia - Departments, Colombia - Most Important Cities Of Colombia, Colombia - Economy, Colombia - Demographics, Colombia - Religion, Colombia - Culture, Colombia - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Colombia - History

The carnival in Colombia was introduced by the Spaniards. The Colombian carnival has incorporated elements from the European cultures, it has managed to syncretise or to re-interpret traditions that belonged to the African and Amerindian cultures of Colombia. There is documentary evidence that the carnival existed in Colombia in the XVIII century and had already caused concerned to the colonial authorities, who censored the celebrations, especially in the mains centers of power such as Cartagena, Bogotá and Popayan. The carnival, therefore, ...

Including:

• Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Northern Colombia
• Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in the Lower Magdalena Valley
• Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Southern Colombia
• Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Central Colombia

Read more here: » Carnival in Colombia: Encyclopedia - Carnival in Colombia

Cartagena, Colombia, also known as Cartagena de Indias or La Heroica (The Heroic), is a large seaport on the north coast of Colombia. It has a population of 1,120,000, with 2.6 million living in its metropolitan area. Founded in 1533 by don Pedro de Heredia, and named after Cartagena, Spain, it was a major center of early Spanish settlement in the Americas, and continues to be an economic hub as well as a popular tourist destination. Cartagena Colombia - Geography. Cartagena faces the Caribbea ...

Including:

• Cartagena Colombia - Geography
• Cartagena Colombia - History
• Cartagena Colombia - Climate

Read more here: » Cartagena Colombia: Encyclopedia - Cartagena Colombia

The Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, AUC) was formed in April 1997 as an umbrella paramilitary organization to consolidate most local and regional paramilitary groups in Colombia, each with the mission to protect local economic, social and political interests by fighting insurgents in their areas. AUC itself estimates that it has authority over about 90% of the paramilitary forces within Colombia, with the remainder being independent factions. It is estimated that it has somewhere between ...

Including:

• Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - Activities
• Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - 2003-2004: Initial negotiation efforts
• Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - Disappearance of Carlos Castaño
• Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - Possible paramilitary presence in Venezuela
• Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - Late 2004: Demobilizations
• Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - 2005: Legal framework and controversy

Read more here: » Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia: Encyclopedia - Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia

total: 3,380 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejón coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete) narrow gauge: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995) Transportation in Colombia - Railway links to adjacent countries. Venezuela - no Brazil - no Ecuador - no Peru - no Panama - no ...

See also:

Transportation in Colombia, Transportation in Colombia - Railways, Transportation in Colombia - Railway links to adjacent countries, Transportation in Colombia - Highways, Transportation in Colombia - Waterways, Transportation in Colombia - Pipelines, Transportation in Colombia - Ports and harbors, Transportation in Colombia - Atlantic Ocean, Transportation in Colombia - Pacific Ocean, Transportation in Colombia - Amazonia, Transportation in Colombia - Other, Transportation in Colombia - Merchant marine, Transportation in Colombia - Airports, Transportation in Colombia - Airports - with paved runways, Transportation in Colombia - Airports - with unpaved runways

Read more here: » Transportation in Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Transportation in Colombia - Railways

The Carnival in Colombia is of European origin. This type of festivities was introduced by the Spanish and the Portuguese. The Carnival in Barranquilla dates back to the celebrations that took place in Cartagena during the times of Spanish rule, as a festivity for the slaves. The Cartagena festivities that took place by 1774 were suspended circa 1781 due to concern of the authorities because they “offended God ... and due to the practice of gambling ... and were a pretext abandon their jobs and obligations..”. Althou ...

See also:

Carnival in Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Northern Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in the Lower Magdalena Valley, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Southern Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Central Colombia

Read more here: » Carnival in Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Northern Colombia

Bolívar was elected first president of Greater Colombia and Francisco de Paula Santander, vice president. As the Federation of Greater Colombia was dissolved in 1830, the Department of Cundinamarca (as established in Angostura) became a new country, the Republic of New Granada. In 1863 the name of the Republic was changed officially to "United States of Colombia", and in 1886 adopted its present day name: "Republic of Colombia". Two political parties grew out of conflicts between the followers of Bolivar and Santander a ...

See also:

History of Colombia, History of Colombia - Pre-Columbian period, History of Colombia - Colonial times, History of Colombia - Struggle for independence, History of Colombia - The Republic, History of Colombia - The National Front, History of Colombia - Post-National Front years, History of Colombia - Post 1990, History of Colombia - Recent developments, History of Colombia - External link

Read more here: » History of Colombia: Encyclopedia II - History of Colombia - The Republic

The Andes range is located in Colombia from Southwest (Ecuador boarder) toward Northeast (Venezuela boarder) and is divided in the Colombian Massif (Macizo Colombiano) in three ranges (East Range, Centre Range and West Range) that form two long valleys, Magdalena and Cauca follow by the rivers of the same name. The eastern half of Colombia, comprising more than half its territory, is plain and composed by savanna and rainforest, crossed by rivers belonging to the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The northern part, called "Los Llanos" is a s ...

See also:

Geography of Colombia, Geography of Colombia - Geographic regions, Geography of Colombia - Andean Highlands, Geography of Colombia - Caribbean Lowlands, Geography of Colombia - Pacific Lowlands, Geography of Colombia - Eastern Colombia, Geography of Colombia - Climate, Geography of Colombia - Relief, Geography of Colombia - Facts, Geography of Colombia - Rivers and Lakes, Geography of Colombia - Rivers confined to Colombia, Geography of Colombia - Rivers originated in Colombia, Geography of Colombia - Lakes, Geography of Colombia - Sources

Read more here: » Geography of Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Geography of Colombia - Relief

Climate The striking variety in temperature and precipitation results principally from differences in elevation. Temperatures range from very hot at sea level to relatively cold at higher elevations but vary little with the season. At Bogotá, for example, the average annual temperature is 15°C, and the difference between the average of the coldest and the warmest months is less than 1°C. More significant, however, is the daily variation in tempera ...

See also:

Geography of Colombia, Geography of Colombia - Geographic regions, Geography of Colombia - Andean Highlands, Geography of Colombia - Caribbean Lowlands, Geography of Colombia - Pacific Lowlands, Geography of Colombia - Eastern Colombia, Geography of Colombia - Climate, Geography of Colombia - Relief, Geography of Colombia - Facts, Geography of Colombia - Rivers and Lakes, Geography of Colombia - Rivers confined to Colombia, Geography of Colombia - Rivers originated in Colombia, Geography of Colombia - Lakes, Geography of Colombia - Sources

Read more here: » Geography of Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Geography of Colombia - Climate

1,101 (1999 est.) Transportation in Colombia - Airports - with paved runways. total: 90 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.) Transportation in Colombia - Airports - with unpaved runways. total: 1,011 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 62 914 to 1,523 m: 330 under 914 m: 618 (1999 est.) ...

See also:

Transportation in Colombia, Transportation in Colombia - Railways, Transportation in Colombia - Railway links to adjacent countries, Transportation in Colombia - Highways, Transportation in Colombia - Waterways, Transportation in Colombia - Pipelines, Transportation in Colombia - Ports and harbors, Transportation in Colombia - Atlantic Ocean, Transportation in Colombia - Pacific Ocean, Transportation in Colombia - Amazonia, Transportation in Colombia - Other, Transportation in Colombia - Merchant marine, Transportation in Colombia - Airports, Transportation in Colombia - Airports - with paved runways, Transportation in Colombia - Airports - with unpaved runways

Read more here: » Transportation in Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Transportation in Colombia - Airports

The carnival reached the capital of Colombia in modern times. The celebration of the first Carnival in Bogota dates back to year 1916 and it started as a Student Carnival for which a congeniality queen was elected. The first queen of Bogotá's student carnival was Elvira Zea. After winning the contest she used her own real name as Queen's name, in that occasion she took the name Elvira I. The queen was the person in charge of opening the celebrations. In the following years the carnival grew in number of comparsas (krewe ...

See also:

Carnival in Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Northern Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in the Lower Magdalena Valley, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Southern Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Central Colombia

Read more here: » Carnival in Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Central Colombia

The main meal of a Colombian's day is lunch, usually eaten at about 1 or 2pm. This meal consists of three courses: a soup followed by a main course followed by either a drink or dessert. Although, in some cases, in the morning after breakfeast a snack is eaten, also known as Medias Nueves and also after lunch, called Medias Onces. Many varieties of fruit virtually unknown to the Western world are enjoyed in Colombia, such as the zapote, lulo, curuba, mamoncillo, uchuva, feijoa, sweet gran ...

See also:

Culture of Colombia, Culture of Colombia - Geography, Culture of Colombia - Religion, Culture of Colombia - Family, Culture of Colombia - Society, Culture of Colombia - Manners and Communication, Culture of Colombia - Entertainment, Culture of Colombia - Cuisine, Culture of Colombia - Art and Literature

Read more here: » Culture of Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Culture of Colombia - Cuisine

A very important and traditional carnival is the Blacks and Whites Carnival in the city of Pasto, Nariño. It is one of the most ancient carnivals in the Americas. It commemorates the day in which the African slaves had a free day when they unleashed all their happiness. Some historians refer that in 1607, there was a slave rebellion in the town of Remedios, Antioquia that made the authorities panic. The event was remembered by the black population of Popayan, Cauca, who demanded a day off, in which thay were really free ...

See also:

Carnival in Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Northern Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in the Lower Magdalena Valley, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Southern Colombia, Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Central Colombia

Read more here: » Carnival in Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Carnival in Colombia - Carnival in Southern Colombia

The Countries national sport is Soccer. The traditional sport of bullfighting, brought to South America by the Spanish, remains popular in Colombia, bullfighting is normally to be seen in national festivals or in the bullfigthing season. Baseball, has become a very popular game in the recent years, It is specially popular among the people from the coast and it is strongly promoted all around the country. One exam ...

See also:

Culture of Colombia, Culture of Colombia - Geography, Culture of Colombia - Religion, Culture of Colombia - Family, Culture of Colombia - Society, Culture of Colombia - Manners and Communication, Culture of Colombia - Entertainment, Culture of Colombia - Cuisine, Culture of Colombia - Art and Literature

Read more here: » Culture of Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Culture of Colombia - Entertainment

Colombia is well-endowed with minerals and energy resources. It has the largest coal reserves in Latin America and is second to Brazil in hydroelectric potential. Estimates of petroleum reserves in 1995 were 3.1 billion barrels (493,000 m³). It also possesses significant amounts of nickel, gold, silver, platinum, and emeralds. The discovery of two billion barrels (0.3 km³) of high-quality oil at the Cusiana and Cupiagua fields, about 200 km (125 miles) east of Bogotá, has enabled Colombia to become a net oil exporter since 1986. To ...

See also:

Economy of Colombia, Economy of Colombia - History, Economy of Colombia - Mining and Energy, Economy of Colombia - Trade, Economy of Colombia - Foreign Investment, Economy of Colombia - Statistics, Economy of Colombia - Notes

Read more here: » Economy of Colombia: Encyclopedia II - Economy of Colombia - Mining and Energy