Natural Regions of Colombia
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The Natural Regions of Colombia are six natural regions comprised by primarily the Colombian Andes mountain range pertaining to the Andes, the Caribbean region pertaining to the area contiguous to the Caribbean sea, the Pacific region contiguous to the Pacific Ocean, the Insular region, comprehending islands both in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Amazon region part of the Amazon rainforest and the Orinoquía region part of the Llanos plains mainly in the Orinoco river basin.[1]
Because of its natural structure Colombia enjoys of five different natural regions. They are Caribbean region located on the northernmost part of the country, Pacific region which borders with the Pacific ocean, Andean region that it is formed by Colombia's three mountain system, Orinoco region that borders with Venezuela to the west and it is mainly plain, and the Amazon region which is the southernmost part of Colombia and it is conformed by the Amazon rain forest; it borders with Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
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[edit] Andean Region
- See also: Paisa region
The Andean Region of Colombia is the most populated zone of the country and is located in north part of the Andes. In the territories of Colombia it has three branches known as "Cordilleras": Cordillera Oriental, Cordillera Central and Cordillera Occidental.
[edit] Caribbean Region
The Caribbean region of Colombia extents on 132.218 square kilometers.It starts at the Uraba Golf and ends at the Guajira Peninsula in the direction east-west and from the edge of the west and central mountain range to the shore of the Caribbean sea in the direction south-north.
It is a mostly plain region that it is traversed by the Rivers Magdalena, Cauca, San Jorge, Zinu, Rancheria and Ariguani. This rivers form impressive deltas at their encounter with the Caribbean sea. The Caribbean region contrasts its mostly plain geography with the only mountain; the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. It is an extensive mountainous zone with a rich climatic diversity. It is one of the few places in the world where in a short range a sea and a perpetual snow covered mountain can be found.
The Colombian Caribbean region embraces most of the Colombian departments of Guajira, Bolivar, Atlantico, Cesar, Magdalena, Sucre, Cordoba, Santander and Antioquia. In despite the fact that the overall weather on the region is hot and humid, there are places where atmospheric changes and precipitations can vary strongly. The Guajira department is for instance drier, but the humidity intensifies to the interior and southern lands. Because of its location this zone is also affected by two periods of six months, one rainy and one dry respectively.
According to the Colombian Institute for the Geography Agustin Codazzi, the Caribbean region is divided in seven sub regions:
- The Guajira Peninsula
- Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
- Caribbean Savanna
- San Jorge and Sinu Rivers Valley
- Mompox Depression
- Gulf of Uraba
[edit] Pacific Region
It is located on western Colombia and it has an area of 83.170 square kilometers.It extents from the Uraba Gulf to the border with Ecuador at the south. It borders to the east with the Western mountain range and to the west with the Pacific littoral.It is conformed in part by the territories of the departments of Nariño, Cauca, Cauca Valley, Antioquia and the whole of Choco department.
This region is distinguished by its high humidity, and marsh areas. precipitation is among the highest in the world with an average of 4.000 mm per year with some spots where it can reach 12.000 mm per year.Because of this high precipitation levels this region has many mighty rivers such as the Atrato River, San Juan River, Patia River, Baudo River, Mira River, Iscuande River, Micay River, Telembi River, Anchicaya River, Naya River, Calima River, Timbiqui River, Dagua River and Yurumangui River.
The demographics for this region is mainly Afro-Colombian, it also shleters several indigenous settlements. On the urban areas the mst important activities are those of agricultural and industrial in nature, they are related to the fishing industry and the resources such as wood. Buenaventura is the most important maritime port and it features a strong economic activity and services as well.
The Economy of the Pacific region is based on the fishing industry, wood industry, mining industry (gold and platinum), cattle raising and agriculture which its backbones are the Borojo, banana and plantain crops.
[edit] Insular Region
The Insular Region is considered by some as a geopolitical region of Colombia which comprises the areas outside the continental territories of Colombia and includes the San Andrés y Providencia Department in the Caribbean sea and the Malpelo and Gorgona Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
[edit] Amazon Region
The Amazonía Region is a region in southern Colombia over the Amazon basin. It comprises the departments of Amazonas, Caquetá, Putumayo, Guainía, Putumayo and Vaupés.
[edit] Orinoquía Region
- See also: Los Llanos
The Orinoquía Region (Spanish: Región de la Orinoquía) is one of the five natural regions of Colombia. It is also known colloquialy as Oriental Plains from the Spanish Llanos Orientales. The region covers most of the area of the departments of Meta, Arauca, Casanare and Vichada.
[edit] References
- ^ (Spanish) MEMO: Natural Regions of Colombia Memo.com.co Accessed 22 August 2007.
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