Colombia

Colombia Port towns, national parks, salsa dancing and shopping glory, is what you can expect visiting Colombia. Lying with coast lines at the Pacific Ocean, boardering countries like Venezuela and Brazil. At Parque Nacional Tayrona, you will find beautiful beaches, the possibility of snorkelling to see the coral reefs, or visit the Santuaruo de las Lajas, a very special neo-Gothic church, set up against a cliff, letting a rock beeing main altar.

Area: 1.141.870 Km²
Population: 40.349.000 (2001 est.)
Density: 35 pop/Km²

System of government: Presidential Republic
Capital: Santa Fe de Bogotá (4.300.000 pop., 6.080.000 urban aggl.)
Major cities: Medellín 3.290.000 pop., Cali 1.870.000 pop., Barranquilla 1.000.000 pop.
Ethnic majority: Mestizo 65%, White 18%, Mulatto 10%, Black 5%, Amerindian 2%
Border countries: Panamá NORTH-WEST, Ecuador and Peru SOUTH, Brazil SOUTH-EAST, Venezuela NORTH-EAST

Principal mountains: Pico Cristóbal Colón 5800 m
Principal rivers: Rio Magdalena 1540 Km, Rio Putumayo 1500 Km
Principal lakes: -
Principal islands: San Andrés and Providencia 44 Km² (total, with others minor islands)
Climate: Equatorial - continental

Language: Spanish
Religion: Catholic 95%
Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)

Fixed public holidays: 1/1, 6/1, 19/3, 1/5, 29/6, 20/7, 7/8, 15/8, 12/10, 1/11, 8/12, 25/12
Dialling code: 0057
GMT: -5

World Heritage List:

• Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena (1984)
• Los Katios National Park (1994)
• Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox (1995)
• National Archeological Park of Tierradentro (1995)
• San Agustín Archeological Park (1995)