Colombia Geography:
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates:
4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references:
Area:
total:
1,138,910 sq km
land:
1,038,700 sq km
water:
100,210 sq km
note: Includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
Area - comparative:
Slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 6,004 km
border countries: Brazil 1643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru (est.) 1496 km, Venezuela 2050 km
Coastline:
3,208 km
(Caribbean Sea 1760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1448 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
Tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: Nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
Natural resources:
Petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 2.42%
permanent crops: 1.67%
other: 95.91%
(2001)
Irrigated land:
8,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
Deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea (not ratified)
Geography - Note:
Only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea |
