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Colombia

Colombia A country in the extreme north-west of the South American continent, the only South American country with coasts on both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, separated by the isthmus of Panama. To the east is Venezuela, and to the south Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.

Physical

The northern end of the Andes occupies the north-western half of the country, breaking into three great cordilleras which enclose high, cool plateaux. Running from them are several large rivers to water the hot northern coastal plains. South-east of the Andes, plains of rich pasture stretch away to the east and to the south, where the land falls in forested terraces towards the headstreams of the Amazon.

Economy

Colombia has a wide range of agricultural crops and is virtually self-sufficient in food production. About 5% of Colombia's total area is arable, while 30% is permanent pasture land. Colombia has large reserves of crude oil (another major oilfield was discovered in 1991), coal, natural gas, gold, precious stones, platinum, bauxite, and copper. Coffee accounts for half of exports, and industrial products such as textiles, iron, chemicals, and petroleum products are also exported. Political instability has deterred much-needed foreign investment, and disrupted agriculture. Cannabis and coca are cultivated illicitly on a vast scale for the manufacture of illegal drugs.

History

Colombia was occupied by the Chibcha Indians before the Spanish conquest. The first permanent European settlements were made on the Caribbean coast, Santa Marta being founded in 1525 and Cartagena eight years later. Colonization of the interior was led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, who defeated the Chibchas and founded the city of Bogotá in 1538. The region was initially part of the viceroyalty of Peru, but a different political status came with the establishment of the viceroyalty of New Granada in the first half of the 18th century. The viceroy sitting in Bogotá was given jurisdiction over Colombia, but also over Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. Colombia remained a viceroyalty of Spain until the battle of Boyacá (1819) during the SPANISH-SOUTH AMERICAN WARS OF INDEPENDENCE, when, joined with Venezuela, it was named by Simón BOLÍVAR the United States of Colombia. In 1822 under his leadership New Granada, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador were united as the Republic of Gran Colombia, which collapsed in 1830. In 1832 a constitution for New Granada was promulgated by Francisco Santander, which was amended in 1858 to allow a confederation of nine states within the central republic, which is now known as the Granadine Confederation. In 1863 the country was renamed the United States of Colombia. The constitution of 1886 abolished the sovereignty of the states and the presidential system of the newly named Republic of Colombia was established. The War of the Thousand Days (1899–1902), encouraged by the USA, led to the separation of Panama from Colombia (1903). Violence broke out again in 1948 and moved from urban to rural areas, precipitating a military government between 1953 and 1958. A semi-representative democracy was restored that achieved a degree of political stability, and Colombia's economy has recovered from the setbacks of the early 1970s as diversification of production and foreign investment have increased. Agriculture is the chief source of income in Colombia, but it is estimated that the country's illegal drugs trade supplies some 80% of the world's cocaine market. During the 1980s Colombia achieved sustained economic growth and a successful record of external debt management, but the drug trade increasingly dominated both internal affairs and its relations with the USA. At the same time numerous extremist guerrilla groups, of both Left and Right, resorted to violence, including assassinations. In 1990 the ruling Liberal Party convened a Constitutional Assembly, which produced a new constitution, followed by an agreement by some guerrillas (most notably the notorious M-19) to demobilize and take part in the political process, while several drug traffickers surrendered. However, violence has continued to be a major problem. Further attempts to establish a dialogue between the government and the guerrillas were made in 1999.

Related newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles from HighBeam Research

(Including press releases, facts, information, and biographies)

	COLOMBIA SIGNS FREE-TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. Newspaper article from: NotiSur - South American Political and Economic Affairs; 3/10/2006; 700+ words ; Colombia's government finished negotiations with the US, joining...country to sign the Andean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA). Colombia sought to maximize its role as a key US military and political...holding intense negotiations throughout February. The US and Colombia announced an end to negotiations on Feb. ... Read more
	ECUADOR TO FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST COLOMBIA AT INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE FOR FUMIGATIONS ALONG BORDER REGION. Newspaper article from: NotiSur - South American Political and Economic Affairs; 2/16/2007; 700+ words ; Colombia's decision to renew aerial fumigations to kill coca plants...Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa announced a deal with Colombia shortly before his Jan. 15 inauguration, he has since...Bogota because of the dispute. Ecuadorans believe that Colombia is attempting to drag them into the ... Read more
	Colombia still ranks as the largest U.S. market in central and South America.(agricultural trade)(Statistical Data Included) Magazine article from: AgExporter; 1/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; Colombia is holding onto its place as the second largest U.S. agricultural...Mexico. U.S. agricultural, fish and forest exports to Colombia totaled $424 million in 2000--virtually unchanged from...severe recession of 1999. This article concentrates on Colombia's food processing industry as a market for U.S. ... Read more
	Amnesty report cites U.S. role in Colombia's political violence. (Amnesty International) Magazine article from: National Catholic Reporter; 4/1/1994; ; 700+ words ; BOGOTA, Colombia -- The London-based human rights monitor...atrocities and political violence in Colombia with the release of a report that criticizes...described the human rights situation in Colombia as certainly one of the worst in the... Read more
	U.S. to double troop presence in Colombia.(Analysis) Magazine article from: National Catholic Reporter; 11/5/2004; ; 700+ words ; Colombia makes few headlines in the United States these days. But...embroilment comes just as a vocal civil movement is emerging in Colombia to demand an end to the war. The U.S. Congress has approved a doubling of the Pentagon's troop presence in Colombia, where a wave of protest has erupted as some 1.4 ... Read more
	Military overdose. (U.S. Involvement In Colombia). Magazine article from: The Christian Century; 7/12/2003; ; 700+ words ; THE NEWS FROM Colombia is mostly bad. The number of people...from whom the refugees have fled. The Colombian government has no program to aid those...the factory labor market. Meanwhile, Colombia's food market, which the campesinos... Read more
	Colombia conundrum.(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Commonweal; 5/5/2000; 700+ words ; Colombia is one of the most violent places in the world. Kidnappings...peace movement that has mobilized millions of ordinary Colombians and helped elect a president, Andres Pastrana, who has...Senate is likely to approve a $1.6-billion aid package for Colombia, four-fifths of which is designated as ... Read more
	Critical care nursing in Columbia: the formation of a new critical care nursing association/Enfermeria de cuidado critico en Colombia: la formacion de una nueva organizacion de enfermeria en cuidado critico.(GLOBAL CONNECTIONS)(Report) Magazine article from: Connect: The World of Critical Care Nursing; 9/22/2008; ; 700+ words ; SUMMARY * Intensive care services in Colombia have grown in recent years due to the...patients. * A group of nurse leaders in Colombia were interested in the development of...the voice of critical care nurses in Colombia. * This paper summarises the formation... Read more
	Keep on trucking: President Uribe pushes for Colombia's most ambitious highway plan ever.(INFRASTRUCTURE) Magazine article from: Latin Trade; 9/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; Colombia's highways are headed for an extreme makeover. President...has prepped to perform the surgery needed to modernize Colombia's vast network of highways. More than cosmetic, however...Caicedo, a former mayor of Bogota and current president of Colombia's infrastructure chamber. Despite the problems, ... Read more
	Quagmire in Colombia. Magazine article from: The Progressive; 7/1/2001; 700+ words ; As U.S. involvement in Colombia escalates, the situation looks more...into the region. Jesuit priest and Colombian human rights advocate Father Gabriel...the effects of U.S. military aid in Colombia. We are afraid that, with the increasing... Read more

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	Colombia Book article from: World Encyclopedia Colombia area: 1,138,910sq km (439,733sq mi) population: 43,492...currency: Peso = 100 centavos Republic in nw South America. Colombia is the only South American country to have coastlines...Caribbean port. Three ranges of the Andean Mountains dominate Colombia. On the edge of the w Cordillera lies the city ... Read more
	Colombia as Drug Source Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior COLOMBIA AS DRUG SOURCE Smuggling and the commerce in contraband have been a way of life in Colombia for nearly 500 years. Approximately 1,000 miles (1609...sparsely populated deserts in the north — have made Colombia a haven for smugglers of illegal Cocaine, Mari-Juana... Read more
	Colombia, Intelligence and Security Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security Colombia, Intelligence and Security Colombia emerged as an independent nation in 1830, following the collapse of Spanish rule in the region, then known as Gran Colombia. Large-landowning and military interests alternately dominated... Read more
	United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia (AUC Autodefensas Unidas De Colombia) Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia (AUC Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia) The United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia (AUC Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia ) — commonly referred to as the paramilitaries — is an umbrella... Read more
	Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was established in 1964 as the military wing of the Colombian Communist Party. FARC is Colombia's oldest, largest, most capable, and best-equipped Marxist... Read more

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