| Local name: Repùblica de Colombia
- Republic of Colombia |
| Surface :
1,141,748 sq km (440,830 sq mi) Maps
Worldwide |
| Population :
39,685,655 (July 2000 est.) inhabitants |
| Climate: Colombia lies almost entirely in the
Torrid Zone, which is between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of
Capricorn. The climate varies with the altitude. The low regions along
the coast have average annual temperatures of 24º C to 27º C. Above
about 3000m, temperatures range from –18º C to 13º C. There is
very slight variation in seasonal temperatures in Colombia. In Bogota,
the average high temperature in January is 20º C and in July the
average high is 19º C in comparison to Baranquilla’s highs of 32º
C and 33º C. Since it lies close to the equator, Colombia’s climate
does not vary significantly through the year. The temperature changes
with altitude – the coastal lowlands and Eastern Plains are warm,
and a few hours away are the cool Andean cordilleras. Three months of
dry weather and rain alternate. Along the Pacific coast, rainfall is
heavy. At Bogota, the annual rainfall is 1060mm. The slopes of the
Cordillera Oriental are in the rain shadow area. |
| Visas: Europeans (except for those from
Czeckoslovakia), Americans, Japanese, Australians and New Zealanders
don’t need a visa to enter Colombia. Don’t forget your passport,
it’s needed for stamping which is done on arrival in Colombia. Also
essential is an onward ticket. You could be asked to prove that you
have enough money to stay in the country for the number of days you
propose to. Get your passport photocopied, and witnessed by a notary
and then tuck it away in a safe place while you move around the city
with the copy. |
| Electricity is 110 V, 60 Hz AC throughout
Colombia. If your gadgets and gizmos are used to some other
specifications, it is suggested that you carry an adaptor. |
| Capital : Santa Fe de Bogotà
(pop: 5 million) |
| System : republic;
executive branch dominates government structure - Independence: 20
July 1810 (from Spain) - The head of the government is the President
and is elected by adult suffrage for a period of four years. The
President elects the Cabinet Ministers who assist him in Governance.
The legislature has two houses, the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The two houses are also elected by the same voting
pattern and for four years. |
| Languages : Castilian Spanish |
| Religions : Roman Catholic 90% |
| Money : Colombian peso (Col$) - 1
Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos |
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