Columbia

By TwistedRoseStudios
  • Jan 1, 1499

    Alonso de Ojeda, a companion of Christopher Columbus landed on the Guajira Peninsula

  • Apr 20, 1525

    Santa Marta was the first permanent Spanish settlement was founded

  • 1800s - Over 50 insurrections & eight civil wars

  • 1899 - 1903 Civil War of Thousand Days

  • 1948 - La Violencia most cruel & destructive of Columbia's many civial war started

  • Political monopy ended

  • 1980s - Rise in power of the Medellin and Cali drug cartels

  • New constitution was enacted

  • 2000s - Columbia remains one of the world's largest producers and exporters of cocaine, as well as a source country for herion and marijuana

  • Exports - $40.78 billion; petroluem, coffee, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut flowers

  • Net Mirgration Rate : -.67%/1000 population

  • Total Land 1,038, 700 sq km, Water 100,210 sq km

  • Growth Rate 1.156%

  • Population - 44, 725, 543

  • Current issues drugs, corruption, gangs, violence, high unemployment

  • Bordered by Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezula

  • Coastline - 3208 km

  • Natural Resources: Petroluem, natural gas, coal, iron, ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

  • GDP - $467.6 billion

  • Bogota largest city more than 7 million people

  • Natural Hazards - Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, periodic droughts. Gleras is most active volcano which erupted in 2009 & 2010

  • Government: Republic, Executive, Senators 102 members, House of Representatives 166 members. They are elected by popular vote for 4 year terms.

  • Terrian: Pacific lowlands, Caribbean lowlands, Inland lowlands, Central highlands and Andean Mountain Region

  • Spansh official language

  • National Cuisine is a mixture of European, Caribbean and indigenous roots.

  • Carnivals: Carnaval de Barranquilla which is celebrated in February and is one of the most spectacular of the world.

  • Location - Northern South America has coastline along the Pacific Ocean & Caribbean Sea. Only country in Souther America to have both coastlines

  • Ethnic Groups: Mesitzo - 58%, Caucasian - 20%, Mixed African American & Caucasian - 14%, African American - 4%, Mixed Africian/Amerindan - 1%

  • Religion is influenced by Spanish Colonial Culture - 80-90% is Catholic

  • Climate Little variation in temperature. Dry season is December to March; Wet Season - April to November

  • Elevation - Lowest Pacific Ocean 0m, Highest Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m

  • Approximately 37% of Columbians live below the poverty line.

  • Environmental issues: Deforestation, soil and water, air pollution

  • Industries: Textiles, food processing, oil, clothing & footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement, gold, coal and emeralds