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Geography of Colombia

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

Colombia Quickstats

  • Population: 44,379,598 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 1,138,910 sq km
  • Density: 40 /km² (161st)
  • GDP (total): $337.286 billion (29th)
  • GDP (per capita): $7,565 (81st)
  • Literacy: 92.8%

Languages of Colombia

Useful to know

  • Currency: Peso (COP)
  • Dial code: +57

International Trade

External sites

More Resources

Colombia Internet

  • Usage: 6,700,000
  • Penetration: 15.8 %
  • Top Domain: .co

WT eBusiness info:

  • Success Ranking: 100
  • Market testing: Untested
  • Overall risk: High
  • Overall reward: Low

e-maturity:

  • Tourism: 10%
  • eCommerce: 10%
  • Gaming: 10%
  • eLearning: 10%

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