Colombia is a country located in the Northwestern part of South America. The capital of Colombia is Bogota. The population of Colombia is over 46,000,000 people, and the majority of this population resides in the Andes Highlands and the Caribbean Coast. To the west, Colombia borders the Pacific Ocean, and to the north, the country borders the Caribbean Sea. Colombia shares borders with Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. The Andes mountain range runs from north to south through Colombia. To the east of the Andes Mountains is the Amazon Rain Forest which comprises 42% of Colombia’s land area. Colombia is the 27th largest city in the world.

The principal language spoken in Colombia is Spanish. About half of the population is Mestizo, a mixture of the indigenous people and Europeans. About 10% of the people are of African descent, and another 3.4% of indigenous people. There are approximately 37% of the population that are of European ancestry. Some sources claim that at least 29% of the entire population has some African ancestry.

Colombia is a major producer and exporter of coffee, emeralds, oil, flowers, and coal. Ecopetral, a Colombian oil company, is the fourth largest oil company in South America. Colombia has the largest known coal reserves in South America.

The government is a representative democracy. Colombia’s government has become very stable over the years. This has allowed Colombia to attract International companies to invest in Colombia. Bogota, Medellin, and Cali are major growth areas internationally. Other cities that have been beneficiaries of international growth are Cartagena and Santa Marta, both located on the Caribbean Sea. The Chinese have been making investments in the town of Buenaventura, Colombia’s largest and most important port city.

The biodiversity of Colombia is vast, and can be seen in the diverse geographical locations. From the coastal areas to the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rain Forest, a multitude of species of animals and plants thrive. Colombia has 34 national parks, and many other spectacular natural sites to explore. There are also 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Colombia.

Colombia is now enjoying an increasing tourist trade. In previous years Colombia had suffered from a lack of tourism as a result of the violence and the prolific drug trade. Things have drastically changed in Colombia and tourists are now discovering what Colombia has to offer. Cartagena, Santa Marta, San Andres Island, Providencia Island, and Barranquilla are a few examples of some popular international tourist destinations. Also attracting many foreigners to Colombia is the reasonable cost of living and a culture that is very engaging. “Health Tourism” has also become a major draw for Colombia. Many foreigners travel to Bogota, Cali, and Medellin for medical treatment. In 2010, Cali, Colombia performed over 50,000 cosmetic procedures.

There are 32 departments in the country and one capital district. These departments are analogous to states in the United States. Each department has a capital just as states do in the United States. The five largest cities in Colombia are Bogota with 7,600,000 people, Medellin with 3,800,000 people, Cali with 3,300,000 people, Barranquilla with 2,200,000 people, and Cartagena with 1,500,000 people.

Tourists are lured to Colombia for places to visit, and things to do while traveling in Colombia.