geography & climate
Fronted by the Caribbean and Pacific lowlands, as well as the eastern Amazon lowlands that extend to its borders with Brazil and Venezuela, the western third of Colombia is crossed by three rugged parallel ranges of the Andes Mountains, namely the Eastern, Central, and Western Cordilleras.
The Climate of Colombia is characterized for being tropical and temperatures have a mean maximum of 38° C (100° F ) and a minimum of 18° C (64° F ).
General climate is very hot and dry. Rainfall in the hot zone is heaviest in the Pacific lowlands and in parts of eastern Colombia, where rain is almost a daily occurrence and rain forests predominate. Precipitation exceeds 760 centimeters annually in most of the Pacific lowlands, making this one of the wettest regions in the world; in eastern Colombia, it decreases from 635 centimeters in portions of the Andean piedmont to 254 centimeters eastward. Extensive areas of the Caribbean interior are permanently flooded, more because of poor drainage than because of the moderately heavy precipitation during the rainy season from May through October. Precipitation is moderate to heavy in most parts of the country; the heavier rainfall occurs in the low-lying hot zone.
The Climate of Colombia is characterized for being tropical and temperatures have a mean maximum of 38° C (100° F ) and a minimum of 18° C (64° F ).
General climate is very hot and dry. Rainfall in the hot zone is heaviest in the Pacific lowlands and in parts of eastern Colombia, where rain is almost a daily occurrence and rain forests predominate. Precipitation exceeds 760 centimeters annually in most of the Pacific lowlands, making this one of the wettest regions in the world; in eastern Colombia, it decreases from 635 centimeters in portions of the Andean piedmont to 254 centimeters eastward. Extensive areas of the Caribbean interior are permanently flooded, more because of poor drainage than because of the moderately heavy precipitation during the rainy season from May through October. Precipitation is moderate to heavy in most parts of the country; the heavier rainfall occurs in the low-lying hot zone.
music
Get your groove on with some Colombian music!
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Cumbia is a mixture of Spanish, native Colombian, and African American music. The music arose in the Atlantic coast in the 19th century. Cumbia included only percussion and vocals, but now includes saxophones, trumpets, keyboards and trombones. Some artists are Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Los Graduados, Los Black Stars, Los Golden Boys, Los Teen Agers, and Los Corraleros de Majagual. It is played with Caribbean coast gaitas drums, maracas and guacharaca.
Another style of music is Bambuco. It is the most representative of the Colombian music from the Andean zone. It is played by duos or trios playing the guitar or tiple, and on some occasions a flute. Songs like the torbellino, the sanjuanero, the guabina and the bunde are Bambuco style.
Mapale is of African origin and is danced chiefly on the Atlantic coast and on the banks of the Magdalena River. With its fast rhythm and constant clapping, it has a marked playful quality.
Another style of music is Bambuco. It is the most representative of the Colombian music from the Andean zone. It is played by duos or trios playing the guitar or tiple, and on some occasions a flute. Songs like the torbellino, the sanjuanero, the guabina and the bunde are Bambuco style.
Mapale is of African origin and is danced chiefly on the Atlantic coast and on the banks of the Magdalena River. With its fast rhythm and constant clapping, it has a marked playful quality.
culture
Colombia's geographic and climatic variations have combined to produce relatively well-defined "ethnocultural" groups among different regions of the country:
Even with rapid urbanization and modernization, regionalism and regional identification continued to be important reference points, although they were somewhat less prominent in the 1980s than in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Religions: Catholicism is main religion in Colombia Clothing: Colombians do not wear tennis shoes unless they are playing tennis, jogging, etc. For business, men should wear dark suits, white shirts and ties in the cities. In warmer areas, dress is less formal. Women should wear dresses and suits. Foods: Arepa, Buñuelos, Fruit, Pandebono, Tamales |
government & history |
fun facts |
Fighting for independence, Simón Bolivar defeats the Spanish at Boyaca. The republic of Gran Colombia
Chosen to be first President of Colombia, was General Simón Bolívar y Palacios The current flag of Colombia was officially adopted on December 17, 1819. Its legislature has a congress, its judiciary has a supreme court, and its executive branch has a president |
46,245,297 million people (2015)
The yellow symbolizes sovereignty and justice, blue as loyalty and vigilance, and red represents the valor shown and the victory achieved during the battles for independence from Spain. Native Animals: The spectacled bear, Tamandua tetradactyla. Callicebus cupreus. West Indian manatee. Black-mantled tamarin. Three-striped night monkey. Jaguarundi. It is illegal to wash your car in the street. Buses are actually quite expensive. While long-distance trips can cost just around $55 USD one way, fares are sometimes as high as $100 USD. Motorcycles, Tricycle Moto-Taxi, Taxi, Colectivo, Bus, |
geography
Colombia Geography. Fronted by the Caribbean and Pacific lowlands, as well as the eastern Amazon lowlands that extend to its borders with Brazil and Venezuela, the western third of Colombia is crossed by three rugged parallel ranges of the Andes Mountains, namely the Eastern, Central, and Western Cordilleras.