Colombia

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela).
A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.
Four decades of conflict have turned Colombia into one of the world's worst humanitarian hotspots, with millions caught up in the crossfire between leftist rebels, cocaine smugglers and far-right paramilitary militias.

border countries: Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela

Official Name:
Republica de Colombia
conventional long form: Rebublic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
former: United States of Colombia

ISO Country Code: co
Local Time = UTC -5h

Country Calling Code: +57

Capital City: Bogotá formerly Santa Fe de Bogotá, (pop. about 6 million)

Other Cities:
Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena.

Government:
Type: Republic
Independence: 20 July 1810.

Geography:
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama.
Area: 1.14 million sq. km. (440,000 sq. mi.), fourth-largest country in South America.
Terrain: Flat coastal areas, with extensive coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, three rugged parallel mountain chains, central highlands, and flat eastern grasslands.

Climate: Tropical on coast and eastern plains, cooler in highlands.

People:
Nationality: Colombian(s).
Population: 42 million.
GNI per capita PPP: $ 7 303 (year)
Ethnic groups: Mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%.
Language: Spanish
Literacy: 93% in urban areas, 67% in rural areas.

Natural resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nickel, gold, silver, copper, platinum, emeralds.

Agriculture products: Coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp.

Industries: Textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds.

Exports partners: USA 47.1%, Ecuador 6%, Venezuela 5.3% (2003)

Imports partners: USA 29.6%, Brazil 5.5%, Mexico 5.4%, Venezuela 5.2%, China 5%, Japan 4.6%, Germany 4.4% (2003)

Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)