Discover Colombia

Written by: Natalie Yao

Geography and Nature

Colombia is located in the northwestern part of South America and connects it with Central and North America. The nation is the fifth largest in South America with a land area of about 450 thousand square miles. Some of the countries Colombia borders are Panama to the southwest, Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, Peru to the south, and Ecuador to the southwest. Colombia’s land is very diverse with tall mountains and volcanoes, to grasslands, to tropical beaches. There are three ranges from the Andes Mountains that cut across Colombia. The country also touches two bodies of water, which are the Caribbean Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The climate in the country is mostly tropical along with warm temperatures all year round. Some rivers in Colombia are the Magdalena, the Amazon, and the Orinoco. Some major cities include its capital Bogota, Medellin, Antioquia, and Cali. 

With very diverse land characteristics, Columbia also has a very diverse biological population. In fact, about 10 percent of animal species on Earth can be found in Colombia. Such animals include jaguars, tapirs, armadillos, ocelots, deer, spectacled bears, poison dart frogs, and monkeys. In the oceans and rivers, turtles, piranhas, crocodiles, and electric eels can be found. Additionally, there are over 1,500 bird species of all different sizes that live in Colombia, such as the Andean condor and the hummingbird.

People and Culture

Most people in Colombia are mixed, with European and Indigenous blood. There is also a large population of people with African descent. The official language of Colombia is Spanish, but there are also many Indigenous languages spoken in the country. Most of the nation’s population is Roman Catholic. In addition, the majority of Colombians live in cities, which are mostly in the western region. 

Colombian cuisine is a blend of Indigenous, Spanish, and African influences, representative of the diverse population of people that live there. Their dishes are famous for being flavorful and hearty. Common ingredients used in Colombian food are corn, plantains, potatoes, rice, and tropical fruits. 

Some popular dishes include:

• Arepas: fried corn cakes that can be stuffed with cheese, egg, or meat

• Empanadas: Fried corn pockets filled with meat, potato, or cheese

• Sancocho: a stew cooked with meat, yua, plantains, and corn

• Bandeja Paisa: A large platter with rice, beans, meat, plantains, avocado, and chorizo

• Aguapanela: Sweet sugarcane drink served with lime

National Symbols

• National Bird: Andean Condor

• National Flower: Cattleya Trianae Orchid

• National Jewel: Emerald

• National Anthem: Oh gloria inmarcesible!