The Geography of Colombia
The more I get to know Colombia and Medellin, the more I realize how fundamentally linked Colombian culture is with its' unique geography. Every time I travel from one region or city to another, I'm always surprised by how different they are and in many ways, how cut off from one another the local cultures become.
There are 5 main regions in Colombia. These are:
- Andean region
- Caribbean region
- Pacific region
- Orinoquia region
- Amazon region
Each of these has regions is geographically unique and often strikingly different.
Consider that the bulk of the Colombian population lives in the mountainous regions due to the agreeable climate.
Medellin for example, is warm and comfortable whereas Sincelejo by the coast is borderline unbearable from my point of view.
The highest mountain in Colombia is Pico Cristobal Colon at 5975m (19603 feet) - that's a good 1000 meters higher than Mont Blanc to put things in perspective!
Andean Region
The Andean region is high, with snow covered peaks and glaciers but also with high plateaus and valleys where the climate is very comfortable. Medellin at ca. 1500m (4921 feet) is precisely such a place and Bogota at 2600 m (8530 feet) can be very pleasant during the day but surprisingly cold at night with temperatures falling near freezing point and times several degrees below freezing - not what you expect from a country on the equator!
Driving in the Andeas is generally difficult but scenic, dramatic and beautiful. It's not uncommon to experience large differences in temperature and nature from valleys with lush rain forest to peaks with pine trees.
Caribbean Region
Running along the coast to the East of Panama and some distance inland, this area is perhaps the best known in Colombia due to Cartagena being in the region. The Carribean coast of Colombia ranges from the dry, desert region of Guajira in the North bordering Venezuela to the Southern coastline bordering on Panama that is lush, humid and tropical. Other large cities and towns of this region include Santa Marta and Barranquilla and also entails Isla de Providencia and San Andres that are off the coast of Nicaragua - both are tropical but I much prefer Providencia.
Pacific Region
To the West of the county facing facing the Pacific ocean, this region is mainly wet and even swamp lowland, part of which comprises the almost impenetrable thin strip of land connecting Colombia to Panama. The area is low in population with smaller settlements such as Buenaventura on the coast.
Orinoquia Region
An enormous region comprising 60% of the nations total area but only a tiny portion of its' population, the Orinoquia region is mainly plains with cattle to the North.
Amazon Region
Tropical rain forest and believe it or not, this is in fact 20% of the entire Amazon Basin that Brazil is known for. You get the picture...
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