Northwest South America.

GMT - 5.

1,141,748 sq km (440,831 sq miles).

45.6 million (2005).

39 per sq km.

Santa Fe de Bogotá. Population: 6.9 million (2005).

Colombia is situated in South America, bordered to the north by the Caribbean, to the northwest by Panama, to the west by the Pacific Ocean, to the southwest by Ecuador and to the south by Peru, to the northeast by Venezuela and to the southeast by Brazil. The Andes Mountains extend into the country in three ranges running south to north, dipping finally into the lowlands of the Caribbean coast. Along the southern part of the Pacific coast run wide, marshy lowlands rising to a relatively low but rugged mountain chain. East of this range, the southwestern coastal lowlands extend in a low trough running from the port of Buenaventura on the Pacific coast to the Caribbean. East of this rise the slopes of the Western Cordillera which, with the Central Cordillera range, runs north to the Caribbean lowlands from Ecuador, separated by a valley, filled in the south by volcanic ash to a height of 2500m (8202ft). Further north lies the fertile Cauca Valley, which extends to Cartago where it becomes a deep gorge running between the Cordilleras to the Caribbean lowlands. The Eastern Cordillera, the longest range, rises north of the Ecuadorean border and runs north then northeast towards Venezuela. Flat grassy prairies in the east along with the jungles and towering rainforests of the Amazon make up over half the country’s area. There are also two small islands, San Andrés and Providencia, located 700km (430 miles) north of the Colombian coast, that have belonged to Colombia since 1822.

The president is Head of State, elected by universal adult suffrage for a period of four years. The president appoints and is assisted by a Cabinet. The legislature is the bicameral Congress, consisting of a 102-member Senate and the 165-member House of Representatives. All members are elected by universal adult suffrage. The president and both houses of Congress serve four-year terms.

Republic. Colombia declared its independence from Spain in 1810; however, it was proclaimed the Republic of Gran Colombia in 1819. Head of State and Government: President Álvaro Uribe since 2002.

Spanish is the official language. Local Indian dialects and some English, French, German and Italian are also spoken.

Christianity, with 95 per cent Roman Catholic; small Protestant and Jewish minorities.

Normal courtesies should be observed. It is customary to offer guests black Colombian coffee, well sugared, called tinto. Spanish style and culture can still be seen in parts of the country, although in Bogotá, North American attitudes and clothes are becoming prevalent. Casual clothes can be worn in most places; formal attire will be necessary for exclusive dining rooms and social functions. Smoking is allowed except where indicated. The visitor is advised that many of the main cities in Colombia are notorious for street crime, particularly at night. Drug-related crimes are a serious problem throughout the country and the visitor should be wary of the unsolicited attention of strangers.

Mostly 110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs.