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Because of its natural structure,Colombia can be divided into six distinctnatural regions. These consist of theAndean Region, covering the three branches of theAndes mountains found in Colombia; theCaribbean Region, covering the area adjacent to the Caribbean Sea; thePacific Region adjacent to thePacific Ocean; theOrinoquía Region, part of theLlanos plains mainly in theOrinoco river basin along the border withVenezuela; theAmazon Region, part of theAmazon rainforest; and finally theInsular Region, comprising the islands in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.[1] Colombia is located inSouth America.
TheAndes mountains form the most populous region of Colombia and contain the majority of the country's urban centres. They were also the location of the most significant pre-Columbian indigenous settlement. Beyond theColombian Massif in the south-western departments ofCauca andNariño, the Colombian Andes divide into three branches known as "cordilleras" (from the Spanish forrope): theCordillera Occidental, running adjacent to the Pacific coast and including the city ofCali; theCordillera Central, running up the centre of the country between theCauca andMagdalena river valleys (to the west and east respectively) and including the cities ofMedellín,Manizales andPereira; and theCordillera Oriental andPerijá Mountains, extending north-east towards theGuajira Peninsula, and includingBogotá,Bucaramanga andCúcuta.
The climate and vegetation of the region vary considerably according to altitude, but as a general rule the land can be divided into thetierra caliente (hot land) of river valleys and basins below 1,000 metres (3,300 ft); the more temperate conditions of thetierra templada (temperate land, approximately 1,000 to 2,000 m (3,300 to 6,600 ft)) andtierra fría (cold land, 2,000 to 3,000 m (6,600 to 9,800 ft)), which include the most productive land and the majority of the population; and the alpine conditions of thezona forestada (forested zone, 3,200 to 3,900 m (10,500 to 12,800 ft)),páramos (3,900 to 4,600 m (12,800 to 15,100 ft)) andtierra helada (frozen land, 4,600 m (15,100 ft) and above).
The Caribbean Region covers 132,218 km2 (51,050 sq mi) adjacent to the Caribbean Sea, stretching from theGulf of Urabá in the west to the Guajira Peninsula in the east and including some or all of the departments ofGuajira,Bolívar,Atlántico,Cesar,Magdalena,Sucre,Córdoba,Santander andAntioquia.
The region is traversed by a number of rivers heading from the Andean highlands to the sea, including Colombia's principal river, theMagdalena, which disgorges at the main port ofBarranquilla. As the area first settled by Europeans, the Caribbean region is also the location of the historic port cities ofSanta Marta andCartagena. However, whilst generally low-lying and humid, the region also includes theSierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range and theGuajira Desert.
The Pacific Region is located on Colombia's western, Pacific coast, and covers an area of 83,170 km2 (32,110 sq mi). It extends from the Gulf of Urabá in the north to the border withEcuador in the south, and includes part of the departments ofNariño,Cauca andValle de Cauca, and the whole ofChocó Department.
Its high humidity distinguishes this region. Precipitation is among the highest in the world, with an average of 4,000 mm (160 in) per year and some areas that receive as much as 12,000 mm (470 in) per year. These high levels of precipitation support a number of rivers, including theAtrato River,San Juan River,Patía River,Baudó River andMira River. The population of the region is mainly Afro-Colombian (it also includes several indigenous settlements), and the economy is based on mining (gold and platinum), timber, fishing, cattle raising and agriculture (particularly the cultivation ofborojo,banana andplantain).Buenaventura is Colombia's main Pacific port.
Also known as the Oriental Plains from the SpanishLlanos Orientales, the Orinoco Region (Spanish:Región de la Orinoquía) covers most of the area of thedepartments ofMeta,Arauca,Casanare andVichada. The region is rich in oil and suitable for extensive ranching but sparsely populated.
The Amazon Region is a region in southern Colombia over theAmazon Basin. It comprises thedepartments ofAmazonas,Caquetá,Guainía,Putumayo,Guaviare andVaupés.
The Insular Region is considered by some as a sixth region, comprising those areas outside continental Colombia, including the department ofSan Andrés y Providencia in theCaribbean Sea and the islands ofMalpelo andGorgona in the Pacific Ocean. However, cultural ties are with the respective coastlines.
