History of Colombia |
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History of Colombia
15000-10000 Man arrives to Colombian territory. |
1810 May 22 The First Republic formed in Cartagena. On July 20 in Santa Fe a Government is created that takes control of the country and replaces the viceroys Amar and Borbón.
1819 May 23 Begins the campaign to liberate Nueva Granada. On June 15 begins the ascent of the Andes. On July 27 The battle of the Pantano de Vargas. August 7 the Battle of Boyaca liberates Nueva Granada. On December 17 The Republic of Colombia is created by the Angostura Congress. The Republic of Colombia has three departments: Venezuela, Quito and Cundinamarca.
1903 November 3 Panamá proclaimes independence from Colombia. 
1957 May 10 The General Rojas Pinilla abandons his power, leaving it to the Military that governs until August 7, 1958. National Front December 1 approved by the people that institutionalizes a bi-party government.
General Information
To the South, Colombia's territory reaches 4° 12' 30", where the San Antonio Creek mixes with the Amazon River. 
North East 
The principal plateaus are in the Valleys of:
Colombia is a country with abundant water resources that come from the oceans, lakes, swamps, and other still waters, running waters (rivers, creeks, brooks), and subterranean waters. 
Lake-like waters are principally lagoons, located in inter-mountain basins of the different mountain ranges. Marshes and bogs are also commonly found where the rivers run low. 
Hydrographic Paths
Slope of the Caribbean: Formed by the running waters that spill into the Caribbean -- directly or via the principal rivers. There are 435.000 of running waters to the Caribbean, and its principal river is the Magdalena whose tributaries are the Cauca, Cesar, San Jorge, Carare, Sogamoso, Lebrija, Saldaña, Bogotá, Negro, Sumapaz, Guarinó, Lagunilla, La Miel, Magdalena and Nus Rivers. The Atrato flows into the Urabá Gulf and also receives many rivers, including the Sinú and Ranchería. There are many Colombian Rivers that flow directly into the Caribbean Sea. 
Colombia has the highest number of plant and animal species per area in all of the planet. There are more than 1800 bird species (more than the sum of birds of North America and Europe combined). The bird species vary from the condor of the Andes to the smallest of hummingbirds. And Colombian botanists have classified more than 130,000 plant species. 
Flora
In hot regions with permanent precipitation, jungles flourish with high trees and green foliage. Vines and epifits abound -- plants that live within other plants. Moreover, there is another level of vegetation in the jungle floor with a high level of density of plants.
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In more humid regions, like the jungles of Choco, the Amazon, the Catatumbo, the Central Valley of the Magdalena, and the low regions of the mountain ranges, the vegetation is exuberant, with a rich variety of species of wood, palm, rubber, and balsam trees.
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In the coastal regions with salty waters, mangroves grow. Mangroves are special regions created by trees accustomed to both the fresh and salt waters. You can find mangroves on the coast that borders the planes of the Pacific in the Gulf of Uraba, in the Cienaga Grande of Santa Marta, and to the south of the Bay of Barbacoas.
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In regions where the climate is semi-humid, there are two seasons: the dry and rainy seasons (like in the Plains of the Caribbean and Oriental Plains).The vegetation of these zones stands out for its different grasses with spread out trees that don't grow very tall and bushes that grow in thickets from 1 - 2 meters tall. In the Oriental Plains, there's also forests of Galeria that grow near the rivers, with the same aspect of a humid jungle. These forests are populated by big trees of a variety of species: among them the Morche Palms that grow in the high places where the conditions of humidity in the soil are favorable.
In the dry plains, the flora is comprised of desert-like vegetation (small trees, bushes with hard and rigid leaves, grasses, and many other legumes that adapt to the dryness). In this zone spiny plants and cacti abound that form small forests. This type of vegetation is found near the Caribbean, from the Gulf of Morrosquillo to the Guajira, in the Chicamocha, Dagua, Patia, and Magdalena River Basins, and this type of vegetation dominates the Valley of Tristezas and the plateaus of Mercaderes and Entre Rios.
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Between the warm and cold steppes, you can enjoy a sub Andean forest, characterized by the great variety of species however fewer in number than found in the tropics. In these areas, the natural forests have been replaced by coffee crops, especially in the Western and Central Mountain Ranges. In lands of higher altitude (between 2.400 and 3.600 meters) you will find the Forest of Fog characterized by a high number of species of smaller trees. These trees have a high number of branches and are filled with aerial plants. This type of vegetation is found in the mountains exposed to high amounts of precipitation where there are zones with high levels of condensation.
Above tree line, the typical vegetation is the frailejón, small bushes and grainy plants, since they are varieties that have adapted to low temperatures, rains, and cold winds.
Fauna
The bio diversity of Colombian fauna is enormous. For example, there are 1300 species of mammals, 1800 species of birds and more than 35000 species of insects. This doesn't include the variety of amphibians, fish, and the abundance of marine fauna in Colombian seas.
Information about national parks and natural Colombian reserves
More information about the Colombian environment
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLOMBIAN ECONOMY:
2001 Population: 42,3 millonUrban population (2000): 75%
Area : 1.138.900 km2
Population Density: 40,7 inhabitants per km2
Population Growth (2002): 1,8% annual
Life span (2000) : 72 años
PNB per capita : US$ 2.020 PIB : US$ 85,3 billion
PIB por sectores : Agriculture 13.5%, Industy 29.8%, Services 56.8%(2000) .
Annual Inflation : 8.7% (2001)
Most Important Products: Coffee, Oil, Coal, Emeralds, Sugar Cane, Textiles, Flowers, Bananas.
Important Commercial Associates: USA, EU, VenezuelaUnemployment: 17%
The following are the most important economic entities of the country:
Ministry of Interior
Banco de la República (Bank of the Republic)
Commercial and Business Information:
Confecamaras : Chambers of Commerce of the Country.
Proexport Colombia : Entity in charge of facilitating Colombian exports.
Corferias : Primary place for expositions and fairs in Colombia.
General Information
2001 Population : 42,3 million
Urban population (2000): 75%
Population in Bogota: 8.500.000 inhabitants
Population Density: 40,7 habitants per km2
Population Growth (2002): 1,8% annual
Life Expectancy (2000) : 72 years
Birth rate per woman (2000): 2.6
Child Mortality in children 5 years or younger: 2.34%
Malnutrition in children under 5 years old: 6.7%
Distribution for Race: 58% Mestizo (Mix between caucasion and Indigenous), 20% caucasion, 14% Mulato (mix between black and white), 4% Black, 3% Zambo (Mix between black and indigenous), 1% Indígenous
Structure of the society according to age:
0-14 years: 33% (Men 6,474,927; Women 6,321,404)
15-64 years: 62% (Men 11,725,078; Women 12,333,982)
Older than 65 years old: 5% (Men 780,486; Women 945,072) (July 1998 est.)
Footprints and its South American Handbook describes Colombians in the following way:
"Colombia has many beautiful landscapes and places, but this is only half ot the story. The greatest attraction of Colombia is its people, and it's not for nothing that Colombia is known as Locombia. Its people are total optimists, insanely exuberant, terribly romantic and it's impossible to not fall in love with Colombians. If you ask people who know and visit Latin America what is their favorite country in the region, 9 out of 10 will say it's Colombia."
South American Handbook
EDUCATION:
2001 Population : 42,3 million
Urban Population (2000): 75%
Literatacy rate (15 years old +)):
91.3% Men
91.7% Women
91.5% Total (2000 estimate)
Primary Education: 90.7% of the population ( 2000 est )
Secondary Education: 61% of the population ( 2000 est )
People with personal computers: 3.6% of the population( 2000 est )
Internet Users: 878.000 ( 2000 est )
Source: Indicators of Development in the world, World Bank (April 2002)
More information in the Colombian Ministry of Education
ARTS
Colombia is an ethnic mosaic and this richness is reflected in its culture and folklore. The mix of different Indigenous cultures, Spanish and African influences have produced interesting fusions in all artistic expressions of the country.
LITERATURE
Colombia has been the cradle of great writers. The most famous are:
Gabriel García Márquez. Novelist and Nobel Prize winner.
Works: 100 Years of Solitude, The Coronel Doesn't Have Anyone to Write Him, The Smell of Guayaba, Chronicle of a Death Announced, Love in the Time of Cholera.
Alvaro Mutis. Novelist and poet
Works: The Snow of the Admiral, Ilona Arrived with the Rain, A Beautiful Death, The Last Stop of the Tramp Steamer, Amirbar, Abdul Bashur
Rafael Pombo. Poet and storyteller
Works: The Hour of Twilight, Prelude to Spring and Rhyming Stories for Children like Simon the Silly, The Little Shepherd Girl, The Car, The Poor Old Lady, the Bandit Cat, The Owl and the Dove, The Boy and the Butterfly, Mirringa Mirronga, The Dolled-Up Pig, Cutufato and his Cat
Jose Asunción Silva. Poet
Work: Nighttime, Bitter Drops
PAINTING AND SCULPTURE
The most important Colombian artists are:
Fernando Botero |
Alejandro Obregón |
Omar Rayo |
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Edgar Negret |
David Manzur |
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MUSIC
Music lives and breathes in Colombia -- it's part of the essence of daily Colombian life, with hints of African rhythm from the Caribbean and touches of Andean influence, not to mention its Spanish feel.
Typical Colombian music varies depending on the region in Colombia and where you travel. The most typical Colombian rhythms are: La Cumbia, el pasillo, el torbellino, el bambuco, Los vallenatos and El mapale.
Some of Colombia's most important musicians are:
Shakira: Born in Barranquilla, Shakira is the most famous Colombian singer in the world. She has won many Grammies.
Style: Latin and English Pop
Songs: Si te vas, Antología, Pies descalzos, Donde estas corazón, Estoy aquí, Ojos así, Suerte.
Carlos Vives: Carlitos, as people call him, was born in Santa Marta and brought the folkloric rhythm of vallenato back to life for all the enjoy -- both young and old. The vallenato is the typical Caribbean Coast rhythm. Vives, too, has won various Grammies.
Style: Vallenatos, Latin Fusion Pop.
Songs: La gota fría, La tierra del olvido, Fruta fresca, Dejame entrar, El amor de mi tierra.
Aterciopelados: Andrea Echeverry and Héctor Buitrago managed to fuse rock with the rhythms of Colombia, winning various Grammies.
Style: Rock Pop Latin Fusion
Songs: Bolero Falaz, Florecita rockera, Baracunatana, No necesito, Cosita seria.
Juanes: Juan Esteban is from Medellin, and after Ekhymosis broke up, he began his career as a soloist. He mixes Colombian rhythms with classical rock instruments and has won many grammies.
Style: Latino Pop Fusion.
Songs: Fijate bien, A Dios le pido, La Camisa Negra, Mi Tierra (Ekhymosis)
Toto la Momposina: He is the most famous singer of Colombian Folklore in the world.
Style: Folklore
Niche: The most popular group of salsa in the country
Style: Salsa
Listen to Colombian music live and some of the most popular Colombian radio stations:
(click on the logo)
More information about art and culture in Colombia
RELIGION
As in any Latin American country, the country is primarily Catholic. In the last several years other Christian religions have started to grow in Colombia. Approximately 4.000.000 Colombians have abandoned Catholicism and incorporated themselves in Anglican, Lutheran, Mormon and other Christian congregations.
EMBLEMS & SYMBOLS
NATIONAL BIRD
The condor (vultus gryplus). Chosen in 1834 as the emblem of liberty and sovereignty, the condor is on Colombia's national crest. Today, there are many campaigns to conserve this bird and save it from extinction
Though the majestic condor hasn't been chosen to be Colombia's "official" bird, it has always been associated with the glory of Colombia's patriotism. It is engraved on our national Coat of Arms. It is the bird that flies higher than any other, and its majesty and nobility are proverbial while its life span mythical. It's been called "the eternal bird." The strength and power of the condor are formidable.
They say a condor can fly up to 200 leagues in a day. It only flies on sunny days. It's feathers are black with seemingly blue appearance -- much like oil. Its powerful wings are lined in white as well as its majestic throat. It lives in the highest peaks of the Andes mountains.
TREE
The Cera Palm Tree of Quindío (Ceroxilon quindiuense) was chosen to be Colombia's National tree by scientists in the Latin American Botanical Congress in 1949 (celebrated in Bogota). Later it was officially adopted as a symbol of Colombia by law in 1961 and 1985.
The Cera Palm Tree is a palm of great beauty, extraordinary strength, and legendary life span. It's exclusive to the Andes Mountains in Colombia and can reach up to 70 meters tall.
FLOWER
Orquid (Catleya Trianae). Epifit plant with meaty leaves, originating in Colombia. It flourishes on the temperate Andean jungle floor.
Called Catleya Trianae in honor of the naturalist Jose Jeronimo Triana, this orquid was chosen as the National flower according to the Colombian Academy of History in 1936, even though it hadn't been chosen by law. Colombian orquids are considered the most beautiful orquids in the world, as you can see the structure and form of the Catleya Trianae is no exception and is a flower of extraordinary beauty.
PERSON
Juan Valdéz. Character created by the National Federation of Coffee PLantations to promote coffee sales in the exterior. Juan Valdez represents the typical farmer from the Colombian Coffee Region, that walks through the mountains accompanied by his mule (Conchita) who always helps him transport Colombian coffee.
DANCE
La Cumbia is a rhythmic Caribbean dance with African roots interpreted by couples that dance in circles to the sound of drums. It's typical to carry a candle in one hand.
FLAG
Colombia's flag design is contributed to Francisco Miranda. Simón Bolívar adopted the tri-color flag in 1813 as the emblem of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. According to the vision of the revolutionary, the flag symbolized "the rich (yellow)" people of Colombia, separated by the "blue" of the seas and the "red" of the Spanish people.
During President Pedro Nel Ospina's presidential reign in 1924, he decreed that the composition of the yellow, blue, red flag would be the official flag of the Republic of Colombia (Decree 861 of 17 of March, 1924). The colors would be distributed horizontally with yellow in the upper part taking 1/2 of the space of the flag, followed by horizontal lines of blue and red, each distributed equally (1/4 of the space) to fill the space.
COAT OF ARMS
In 1924, according to Decree 861 of the 17 of May, the design of the Coat of Arms of Colombia was created.
NATIONAL HYMN
The National Hymn of Colombia was composed in 1887, words written by Rafael Núñez to the music of an Italian composer, nationalized in Colombia, Oreste Síndici. It was written to commemorate the Independence of Cartagena on the 11 of November. The Law 33 of the 28 of October, 1920, sanctioned by President Marco Fidel Suárez made this song the national hymn of Colombia. It has one chorus and November 11, 1887, the hymn was sung for the first time in public in a small theater in the old public school of the Cathedral. The following month, on December 6, 1887, it was sung in front of the San Carlos Palace where Dr. Núñez listened with all civil, ecclesiastic, military, and diplomatic authorities.
National Hymn of the Colombian Republic
Words
Chorus
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
¡Oh júbilo inmortal!
En surcos de dolores
El bien germina ya.
I
Cesó la horrible noche,
La libertad sublime
Derrama las auroras
De su invencible luz.
La humanidad entera,
Que entre cadenas gime
Comprende las palabras
Del que murió en la cruz
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
II
"¡ Independencia!" grita
el mundo americano;
se baña en sangre de héroes
la tierra de Colón.
Pero este gran principio:
"el rey no es soberano".
Resuena, y los que sufren,
Bendicen su pasión.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
III
Del Orinoco el cauce
Se colma de despojos;
De sangre y llanto un río
Se mira allí correr.
En Bárbula no saben,
Las almas ni los ojos,
Si admiración o espanto
Sentir o padecer.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
IV
A orillas del Caribe
Hambriento un pueblo lucha.
Horrores prefiriendo
A pérfida salud.
¡Oh si!, de Cartagena
la abnegación es mucha,
y escombros de la muerte
desprecia su virtud.
¡¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
V
De Boyacá en los campos
El genio de la gloria,
Con cada espiga un héroe,
Invicto coronó.
Soldados sin coraza
Ganaron la victoria;
Su varonil aliento
De escudo les sirvió.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
VI
Bolívar cruza el Ande,
Que riegan dos océanos:
Espadas cual centellas
Fulguran en Junín.
Centauros indomables
Descienden a los llanos,
Y empieza a presentirse
De la epopeya el fin.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
VII
La trompa victoriosa
En Ayacucho truena;
Que en cada triunfo crece
Su formidable son.
En su expansivo empuje
La libertad se estrena
Del cielo americano
Formando un pabellón.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
VIII
La Virgen sus cabellos
Arranca en agonía,
Y de su amor viuda,
Los cuelga del ciprés.
Lamenta su esperanza
Que cubre losa fría,
Pero glorioso orgullo,
Circunda su alba tez.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
IX
La patria así se forma
Termópilas brotando;
Constelación de cíclopes
Su noche iluminó.
La flor estremecida,
Mortal el viento hallando,
Debajo los laureles
Seguridad buscó.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
X
Más no es completa gloria
Vencer en la batalla,
Que al brazo que combate
Lo anima la verdad
La independencia sola
El gran clamor no acalla:
Si el sol alumbra a todos,
Justicia es libertad.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
XI
Del hombre los derechos
Nariño predicando,
El alma de la lucha
Profético enseñó.
Ricaute en San Mateo,
En átomos volando,
" deber antes que vida",
con llamas escribió.
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