Colombia--part: Chocó, Antioquia, Risaralda, Valle de¹ Cauca, Caldas, Tolima, Huila, Quindío, Meta, Caquetá, Cauca and Nariño Departments and Putumayo Intendency; and part of San Andrés y Providencia (Malpelo Island)

How is the land laid out?

The Western² and Central Andes lie entirely within this area as do the southern Eastern³ Andes. The Cauca River flows between the Western and Central ranges and the Magdalena River between the Central and Eastern. Notable peaks are Volcanoes Tamaná, Chiles and Cumbal in the Western range (4200, 4761 and 4890⁷ meters); Nevados del⁴ Ruiz, Tolima and Huila (5400, 5215 and 5750 meters) and Volcanoes Puracé, Pan de Azucar, Sotará and Azufral (4756, 4482, 4580 and 4070 meters) in the Central Range ; and Cerro Nevado⁵ in the southern Eastern range (4560 meters). West of this wall is the coastal plain, east the Amazonas⁶ basin and the Orinico Plains. The area's southeastern forests include the headwaters of the Japurá,⁸ known locally as the Yarí and the Caquetá.

There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites focused on nature: the Malpelo Fauna and Fora Sanctuary on Malpelo Island; and Los Katiós National Park along the border with Panamá and contiguous with a Panamanian national park. Another natural attraction is Gorgona Island.

Who lives there?

This is one part of a large area of the Americas where Spanish and Roman Catholic Christianity represent the majority.

There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites focused on culture: the National Archeological Park of Tierradentro⁹ in Cauca Department; and San Agustín Archeological Park in Huila Department.

There are two large cities: Cali and Medellín. Tourists also visit Papayán, a city with buildings from the colonial era, and nearby natural attractions.

Map

Who was there before?

A sampling of pre-Columbian languages follows: I. Choco languages were spoken in Chocó and Anitiquia as well as in Panamá. II. Witotoan languages were spoken in Putamayo and further east.

Around the Area

north from northern Antioquia
northeast from Antioquia
east
south from eastern Putumayo
southwest
west
northwest

Footnotes

1. Translates as Valley of.
2. Occidental in Spanish.
3. Oriental in Spanish.
4. Translates as Snowy-peaks of the.
5. Translates as Snowy Peak.
6. Amazon in English.
7. Some atlases have 4764 for Cumbal and do not show Chiles--New International Atlas (Rand McNalley and Company, 1999) and The Times Atlas of the World (Random House, 1992); the Atlas de Colombia (Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi, 1967) lists both with the heights I gave (Colombia Hundida 4000 Metros).
8. South America's sixth or seventh longest river.
9. Might be translated as toothed-land.