WELCOME TO COLOMBIA

INTRODUCTION

Due to its privileged geographical position: two oceans, three mountain ranges, forests and plains, Colombia has been described as a continent country immensely rich in landscapes and unexplored places and therefore with a high tourism. We started with the Caribbean coast, where sand and sea of seven colors of San Andrés in love, stories of inquisitors, liberating heroes, pirates and privateers who inhabit the streets of Cartagena surprise, the natural exuberance and rich archaeological heritage of the Tayrona Park located near Santa Marta also qualified as one of the most beautiful bays in Latin America dazzle and joy of the Carnival of Barranquilla Heritage are just some of the elements that appeal in the Colombian coast. Moreover, archaeological sites such as Ciudad Perdida or Augustine are living testimony of an indigenous past that still beats hidden in many places in Colombia, landscapes and places that have not been traveled by the eyes of the world, beaches, waterfalls, trails and routes where coffee is grown or admire plants and animals that would astound Darwin Parks thousands of rivers, streams and forests, hills and plains are ideal for ecotourism practice as well as the immensity of the Amazon rainforest. On the Pacific coast are ideal places for diving and Gorgona island, Malpelo and whale watching this Nuquí Bay. And the departments of the Colombian plains region, Arauca, Casanare, Meta and Vichada, are ideal for lovers of extreme sports and adventure tourism. Vital urban centers where business, trade, cultural activities, nightlife and youth culture are blended in a wonderful pace and cosmopolitan Bogota dining destination, financial and cultural heart, Medellín and industrial center of fashion, the beautiful, historic Cartagena and the capitals of the departments of Valle and Atlantic, Cali and Barranquilla, respectively.

Colombia

Colombia is a country of America, a member of the UNASUR, located in northwestern South America, organized constitutionally as a decentralized unitary republic. Its capital is Bogota. Its area is 2,070,408 km2, of which 1,141,748 km2 correspond to the mainland and the remaining 928 660 km2 to its maritime extension, which maintains border disputes with Venezuela and Nicaragua. Borders with Venezuela and Brazil, south to Peru and Ecuador and Panama to the northwest, in terms of maritime boundaries, adjacent to Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea and Panama, Costa Rica and Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. Colombia is the only South American country with coasts on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, where it has several islands and the archipelago of San Andres and Providencia. The country is the fourth nation in land area in South America, with around 45 million inhabitants, the third largest population in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico, and overcoming aArgentina. Colombia is recognized worldwide for the production of weak coffee, flowers, emeralds, coal and oil, its cultural diversity and for being the second richest country in biodiversity in the world. One of the main economic centers of the Spanish-speaking America (fourth), and in 2009 the economy on a planetary level number 27.

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Geography Colombia is the twenty-sixth largest country in the world and the fourth in South America, covering 1 141 748 km ². Located at the extreme northwestern part of South America, bordered on the east by Venezuela and Brazil, south to Ecuador and Peru the north by the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean), northwest by Panama, and west by the Pacific Ocean. The country also recognizes the limits of its territorial sea, bordered by the Caribbean countries of Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Central American countries of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.82 12Geológicamente, Colombia is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire makes the region prone to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions to be positioned at the convergence of the Nazca, Caribbean and South America. These plates are in Colombia two great territorial zones, one submerged in the Pacific Ocean a nd Caribbean Sea, covering an area of approximately 828 660 km ² and a second formed by the Andes mountains and plains in the east it shares with Venezuela, covering approximately 1 143 748 km ². The country's highest point is Pico Olon Christopher C (5775 m) in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta which is segregated from the mountain ranges like the Sierra de Macuira in the Guajira peninsula, forming part of different biomes as Barranquilla xeric scrub and La Guajira, the Santa Marta mountain forests and dry forests of the Valle del Sinu. The country's highest point is Pico Olon Christopher C (5775 m) in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta which is segregated from the mountain ranges like the Sierra de Macuira in the Guajira peninsula, forming part of different biomes as Barranquilla xeric scrub and La Guajira, the Santa Marta mountain forests and dry forests of the Valle del Sinu.

Hydrography

In the world, Colombia is one of the countries with the highest water resources, rivers, streams and water birth, it is also the main source of water on the planet in whose territory the big five hydrographic areas, called the site in that flow: Caribbean , Orinoco, Amazon, Pacific and Catatumbo, the latter formed by the rivers that flow into Lake Maracaibo. Its main rivers are the Caquetá, the Magdalena, Cauca and the Atrato, the last three are unique in South America go from south to north, and the last of these is one of the largest rivers in the world in conjunction with length.

Weather

Colombia Weather varies from extreme cold in the snow, even the warmest sea level, with two dry seasons and two of rainfall influence of trade winds and the intertropical convergence zone, which are influenced in turn by the effects of El Niño and La Niña. During the month of April, effects of wind and moisture producing two periods of heavy rains (called Winter) and two sporadic drought or rainfall (called Summer). This phenomenon does not occur in the center of the country where one is given a period of summer.

The temperature is relatively uniform for most of the year, being determined by different factors such as rainfall intensity, solar radiation, wind systems, altitude, continentality and humidity, they develop a mosaic of climates and microclimates. And in the arid desert of Tatacoa.

Some weather events that occur are electrical storms and floods, tornadoes and high winds in the Caribbean region, especially near the Atlantic department. Waterspouts occur in both the Pacific and the Caribbean, as well as the phenomenon of swell by sea currents, trade winds and the interaction of the Earth to the moon.

Fauna and flora

Colombia has a large number of taxa in fauna and flora of the equatorial zone in which it is located, in addition to the varieties of wildlife migrations from different parts of the world. Colombia is one of the mega-diverse countries in biodiversity, ranking third in living species and second species of birds. As for flora, the country has between 40 000 and 45 000 plant species, equivalent to 10 or 20% of all species worldwide, considered very high for a country of intermediate size.

The national bird is the Andean Condor (which can be seen on the shield) trianae Cattleya orchid is the national flower of Colombia and Quindio wax palm is the national tree.

Demography Colombia is considered by the National Bureau of Statistics. The country has a population of 42,888,592 inhabitants according to the latest national census which is the fourth most populous country in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. Of these, 51.4% are women and 48.6% are men. Most of the population is in the center (Andean region) and north (Caribbean and Pacific region) in the country, while the east and south (region of the eastern plains and Amazon, respectively) are quite large areas without populations large and generally uninhabited. The ten departments of the eastern lowlands (about 54% of the total) have less than 3% of the population and a density of less

than one person per square kilometer.

Electricity Electricity in Colombia is 110 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. If you travel to Colombia with a device that does not accept 110 Volts at 60 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. Type B plug

Ethnography The largest ethnic group in Colombia is the mestizo, which makes up 58% of the total population. The second group of whites with 20%, followed by Afro-Colombians with 10.6% represents the third largest black population in America, after Brazil and the United States. The Indians made up 3.4% of the national population and

Gypsies 0.001%. The proportions of the various indigenous ethnic groups vary markedly by region. In the Colombian Caribbean region are ethnic Kogi, Sanh, Wayuu, Kankuamo, and IKAS Chimilas or Arhuacos. In the Colombian Pacific region are the groups of Kuna, Embera and Kwaiken waunama. In the Amazon region are the Tikunas, Huitotos, Coconuco, Andoke, muinane, saliva, yakunas, cube, curripacos and toucans. In the Andean region are the Yukos Bari, U'wa, guambianos, Paez, and muiscas Sibundoy.In turn, in the Orinoco region are the Tunebo, Tinigua, guava, achaguas, Piapoco, saliva, Guahibos, piaroas, Betoyes, yaruros ypuinaves. Ethnic diversity in Colombia is the result of a mix of Amerindians, Spanish colonists and African descent. Among immigrants, the largest groups are from the Arab world, Spain, Italy, Germany, Costa Rica and China as well as Jews and Gypsies. In the late nineteenth century, Barranquilla received many European immigrants (Germans, French, Italians), Arabs from the Middle East (Lebanon and Syria), American, Japanese, Cubans and Chinese, among others, who were scattered throughout the country . In Maicao, Guajira, is the Arab and Muslim community largest in Colombia, descendants of Arab immigrants also have a strong presence in the department of Cordoba, in Barranquilla, Valledupar, Bogota and Valle del Cauca. Immigrants from other Latin American countries like Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru and the West Indies, among others, are also present, although minimal in Colombia.

Language Article ten of the Political Constitution of Colombia states that Castilian is the official language and the languages and dialects of ethnic groups are also official in their territories. The education provided in communities with their own linguistic traditions will be bilingual. There are approximately 65 indigenous languages and 2 native languages, which still remain, among which the Wayuu language,

the Paez, the Misak and Embera.

Tourism For many years, the internal armed conflict deter tourists from visiting Colombia and in several countries had warnings for people to travel to the country. However, the number of tourists has increased in recent years due to security enhancements as a result of the strategy of "democratic security" of former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, implying a significant increase of the military and police presence throughout the country. The presence of tourists increased from 0.5 million in 2003 to 1.3 million in 2007, what he meant to Colombia several awards of international stature. In 2006, one of the best travel publishers in the world "Lonely Planet", picked Colombia as one of its top 10 global destinations in 2006. Improvements in security in the country were recognized in November 2008 with a review of travel advice for Colombia issued by the British Foreign Office. Among the attractions are the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria in Bogota, the walled city and beaches Cartagena, Rosario Islands, beaches and the historical center of Santa Marta, Tayrona

National Park, desert and beaches Guajira, the colonial cities of Santa Fe de Antioquia, Popayan, Villa de Leyva and Santa Cruz de Mompox (especially during Holy Week), the Catedral de Las Lajas Cathedral in Nariño and Salt Zipaquirá. Tourists visiting the country for many festivals, fairs and carnivals as the Feria de las Flores in Medellín, the Carnival of Barranquilla, Cali Fair, the Feria de Manizales, Carnival of Blacks and Whites in Pasto, the Legend FestivalVallenato Valledupar, the Festival of Sincelejo 20 January, the Festival del Mar in Santa Marta, the Iberoamerican Theater Festival of Bogotá, the National Beauty Pageant in Cartagena, among others. Also, due to improved security, Caribbean cruises have become to arrive in Cartagena and Santa Marta. The variety of geography, flora and fauna of Colombia has resulted in the development of an ecotourism industry that focuses on national parks in the country.Among the most important ecotourism destinations are: along the Caribbean coast, the Tayrona National Park in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Cabo de la Vela on the tip of the peninsula of Guajira, the volcano Nevado del Ruiz, Chicamocha Canyon and the desert of Tatacoa in Huila National Park Amacayacu in the Amazon basin and the Pacific islands of Malpelo and Gorgona. Colombia has seven sites declared World Heritage by UNESCO.

Culture Indigenous cultures found in the country to the arrival of the Spanish, European culture (in Spain) and the Africans imported during the colonial period are the basis of Colombian culture, which also shares bsic features with other cultures such as Hispanic in demonstrations religaion, music, dances, festivals, traditions, dialect, among other Culturally, Colombia is a country of regions in which the heterogeneity is due to various factors such as geographic isolation and difficulty of access between different parts of the country. Subregions or major cultural groups are "cops" (located in the highlands Cundiboyacense), the "paisas" (settled in Antioquia, the coffee), the "prairie" (inhabitants of the Llanos Orientales), the "vallunos" (area of Valle del Cauca), the "coastal" (located on the Caribbean coast), and "Santander" (located in the departments of Norte de Santander and Santander), among others, whose

habits vary according to their influences and heritages.

Colombia, an ode to musical diversity Colombia has a wide diversity of ethnicities and customs that have given rise to a lively, deep and big musical production has even managed to immerse themselves in new genres. In recent years, the fusion of tropical rhythms and traditional genres like pop and rock, performed by artists such as Shakira, Juanes and Carlos Vives are awarded to internationally renowned Colombian music. One of the most popular rhythms outside the Vallenato, which originated on the Caribbean coast where the mixing of African slaves, European conquerors and indigenous native rhythms generated from various percussion instruments such as the box and the drums, Accordion including German and flutes and pipes of Indian origin.To this area belong other rhythms like Cumbia, elPorro, the Mapalé, Champeta the merecumbé and puja, which are among its most famous interpreters Toto La Momposina and The Pipers of San Jacinto. The music of the Andes takes African and indigenous elements, but his greatest influence came from

Spain, hence its typical instruments are predominantly of strings.Spanish guitar, tiple, cuatro, the mandolin, sometimes accompanied by percussion instruments, give us Bambuco elegant melodies, Guabina, Hall, Whirlwind, Waltz, and more popular as carranga, the Lane, the guasca and partying. In large cities, there are significant movements in genres like rock music, pop, funk, jazz, punk and metal. Bogota, Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla and Cartagena, are the epicenter of great artists who are: Aterciopelados, The Hall Effect, Superlitio in the rock scene, Cabas and Fonseca in the pop, The stench in the metal, Diva Gash, are some internationally recognized names. Likewise, there are numerous scenarios to show the new talents, such as the Park Rock Festival, one of the most important in Latin America dedicated to the rock.

Infinite variety

Colombia as a country of regions with different climates, altitudes, soils, fauna and biodiversity has a wealth of invaluable culinary. Each of them possesses representative ingredients, cooking methods and signature dishes, so, speaking of Colombian cuisine involves talking to the regional cuisines of the 6 major regions: Andean, Caribbean, Pacific, Orinoco, Amazon and Insular. Through the generosity of the soil, the variety of tropical fruit is as large as the Colombian territory and prepare them fresh juices, desserts and pastries. In cold areas Andes are the soups (the most famous of which is the ajiacoBogotano), boiled and cooked tubers based on potatoes, cubios, Chugu (own indigenous culture) and cassava arracacha combined with grains , vegetables and meats. In temperate zones, tamales whose mass is a paste of corn cooked very spicy which extends on banana leaves and filled with different types of meat. In the department of Antioquia, a combination of generous portions of rice, sliced ripe banana, avocado, chorizo, frayed and fried meat, called "bandeja paisa" has become one of the most popular dishes of Colombian cuisine. In coastal areas, or along rivers, dishes based on fish preparations accompanied by fried tostones (crispy arepas kind of fried green plantains) or in soups and broths in which there is no shortage yucca and plantain . On the Atlantic coast, are famous egg arepas and ear and cassava cakes. On the Pacific coast, specializing in rich preparations based on seafood with a strong African influence and the islands of San Andres and Providencia marked by the English culture, typical of the Caribbean islands. Through the generosity of the soil, the variety of tropical fruit is as large as the Colombian territory and prepare them fresh juices, desserts and sweets of all kinds as the basis of guava snack.

Startling figures • The longest network of bicycle paths in the world is in Bogota.

• The Chocó has the lowest population density per square kilometer in South America. • The Lake Otún is the highest in the country. • Orlando Duque de Cali is the best diver in the world. • It is estimated that in 2006, approximately 2 million foreigners visited Colombia. • Colombia has the second largest flower exporter after Holland. • In Colombia can be harvested every month of the year because the sun's rays fall perpendicularly, 365 days a year. • Colombia is the second largest producer of blueberries. • El Sombrero vueltiao has 15 turns. • The world's highest mountain located on the coast, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. • 453 hectares of Colombia are cultivated rice. • Colombia has 5 volcanoes as much of America. • In Colombia, 80 indigenous languages are spoken. • The Colombian José Ordoñez holds the world record of telling jokes. In 2006, totaled 70 hours. • Colombia has 167 species of endemic birds.

• The island of Corota at Lake La Cocha, Nariño is the smallest natural park in the world. • Colombia is the third-largest water resources in the world. • 1130 municipalities make up Colombia. • In Colombia, 20, 365 days a year are holidays. • The largest march against war in Colombia was made in 99: Eleven million people protested peacefully. • In Colombia there are 3452 types of orchids identified. • The world's most populous island is Santa Cruz del islet in the Gulf of Morrosquillo. • Colombia is one of the 3 countries of the continent have its own space satellite, the "Libertad 1." • A study reveals that after the island of Vanuatu, Oceania, Colombia is the 2nd happiest country in the world. • The only Olympic goal in World Cup history was scored by Mark Coll to Colombia in 1962. • Atrato River in Choco, is the 4 th largest river in the world. • Colombia has the highest number of amphibians in the world: 583 species. • Colombia is currently the largest world power skating.

Cultural heritage Colombia eight pieces that are the heritage of humanity by UNESCO: 1. The port, Fortaleza and Monumental de Cartagena de Indias. 2. National Park Katíos as biogeographic wealth since 1994. 3. The Tierradentro National Archaeological Park, as the only witness to daily life, rituals and funeral customs of a Hispanic society since 1995. 4. The Archaeological Park of San Agustin, the set of pieces that highlight the importance of ancestor worship and the complex system of religious belief and magic, since 1995. 5. The Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompós, as Spanish colonial architecture of their residences and places of worship since 1995. 6. The Carnival of Barranquilla, a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity, since 2003. 7. The district of San Basilio de Palenque, as intangible heritage of humanity, since 2005. 8. The Shrine of Malpelo Fauna and Flora for their biodiversity, since 2006.