Short facts about the geography of Colombia

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:

South America, Central America and the Caribbean

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 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km

Coastline:

3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

Maritime claims:

continental shelf:  200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 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:  4% permanent crops:  1% permanent pastures:  39% forests and woodland:  48% other:  8% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

5,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography - note:

only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Source: World Factbook