Colombia
Discover the Rich Tapestry of Colombia's Culture, Nature, and History
Colombia's Geography
Have you ever wondered about the geography of Colombia, a country renowned among travelers worldwide for its natural beauty?
There is no doubt that one of the most impressive aspects of Colombia is its geography, which enables a vast array of climates, landscapes, and wildlife species that adorn the country.
Some of the main determinants of Colombia's geography are:
- Its equatorial location: Situated near the Equator, Colombia experiences a tropical climate with little seasonal variation in temperature.
- Coasts on both oceans: Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Atlantic (Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific Ocean, providing diverse marine ecosystems and beach landscapes.
- The Andes mountain range: Crossing the country from south to north, the Andes divide into three main chains called cordilleras: the Eastern, Central, and Western Cordilleras.
- Major river valleys: The two main valleys, formed between the mountain chains, are traversed by two important rivers—the Magdalena River and the Cauca River.
- Thermal floors (climatic zones): The varying altitudes of the mountain chains create different climates depending on elevation above sea level.
- The Eastern Plains: Known as the Llanos Orientales, these vast grasslands are rich in rivers and pastures.
- The Amazon Basin: Located in the southeastern part of the country, this region features a rainforest climate and landscape.
- Isolated mountain systems: The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated mountain range with snow-covered peaks near the Caribbean coast, and the Sierra de la Macarena in the Eastern Plains.
These factors collectively contribute to the rich variety and diversity that characterize Colombia.
The population is not evenly distributed across the territory. Due to Colombia's geography, most people live in the western and central parts of the country, in the Andean and coastal regions. East of the Andes Mountains lie the Eastern Plains, or Orinoquía, and to the southeast is the Amazonia. These zones are sparsely inhabited by farmers and indigenous groups.
Natural Regions
As a traveler, it is important to be well-informed about the natural regions of the country, as the climate, topography, and vegetation change from region to region, affecting what clothing and accessories you might need to stay comfortable.
Colombia's geography is often divided into five natural regions; however, it is more accurate to consider six, including the Insular Region (which includes islands such as San Andrés). The natural regions of Colombia are:
- Andean Region
- Caribbean Region
- Pacific Region
- Orinoquía Region
- Amazon Region
- Insular Region
Hydrography
Colombia is immensely rich in natural resources, a wealth due to a combination of elements that shape the country's geography—from its abundant hydrography to the variety of climates provided by the thermal floors (pisos térmicos) and its equatorial location.
In addition to having high annual rainfall, Colombia possesses one of the most extensive and generous hydrographic networks on the planet. There are four major watersheds—the Pacific, Caribbean, Orinoco, and Amazon—shaped by the country's topography, which feed its reservoirs, streams, lakes, and rivers. There is a fifth watershed, the Catatumbo, which is smaller but still noteworthy.