Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0092/00923.txt

Text File | 1991-06-24 | 12KB | 270 lines

$Unique_ID{COW00923}
$Pretitle{226}
$Title{Colombia
Quick Facts About Colombia}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Colombian Information Service}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Colombia, Washington DC}
$Subject{per
colombia
cent
table
colombia's
foreign
miles
population
investment
caribbean}
$Date{1988}
$Log{Table 2.*0092301.tab
Table 3.*0092302.tab
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Table 7.*0092306.tab
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Table 11.*0092310.tab
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}
Country:     Colombia
Book:        A Sketch of Colombia
Author:      Colombian Information Service
Affiliation: Embassy of Colombia, Washington DC
Date:        1988

Quick Facts About Colombia

LOCATION

     Colombia, located in the northwestern corner of South America, is
bordered by two oceans: the Caribbean to the north with 1,000 miles of
coastline and the Pacific to the west with 800 miles. Colombia's boundaries
are: Panama to the northwest (165 miles); Venezuela (1,380 miles) and Brazil
(1,000 miles) to the east; Peru and Ecuador to the south (1,000 and 365
miles).

     Colombia's territory covers an area of 440,770 square miles. A group of
islands and keys are also part of the Colombian territory: the San Andres and
Providencia archipelago and the islands of San Bernardo, Rosario and Fuerte
in the Caribbean; and Gongora, Gorgonilla and Palpelo islands in the Pacific.
Three ranges of the Andes mountains - West, Central and East - cross the
country south-north. In the eastern regions of the country, vast plains called
"Los Llanos" are largely used for cattle raising. To the southeast, a tropical
rain forest region forms the Amazon Basin.

CLIMATE

     Colombia, situated in the Equatorial Zone, has no seasons. The climate
varies according to altitude. The plains and coastal regions average 70
degrees to 80 degrees; the central plateaus (3,200 feet - 6,500 feet) 60
degrees to 70 degrees; the highlands (6,500 feet - 9,800 feet) 40 degrees to
60 degrees. There are also mountain peaks covered with perpetual snow above
15,000 feet.

GOVERNMENT

   d The Republic of Colombia has a democratic form of government, with public
power divided among three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial.
Colombia's present Constitution dates from 1886 and, with subsequent reforms,
guarantees all the basic constitutional rights.

     The President is elected every four years by direct national vote and
cannot succeed himself. He selects his cabinet and appoints the Governors.
Legislative power is exercised by a Congress composed of a Senate and a
Chamber of Representatives whose members are elected for four-year terms.
Judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, the Council of State and the
Electoral Court.

     Voting rights are exercised by citizens over 18 years of age. The two
major political parties are the Liberals and the Conservatives. Colombia is
divided for administrative purposes into 23 departments ("states"),  4
territorial districts, 5 special districts, and the Special District of
Bogota.

POPULATION AND EDUCATION

     Colombia's population is estimated at 30.6 million (1988). The annual
growth rate registered in the Census of 1985 was 1.7%, down from 3.3% in 1955.
The Andean valleys and mild plateaus are inhabited by 34% of the population;
the Caribbean coastal region is inhabited by 40%; and the balance covers the
Pacific coastal regions and the Amazon.

     Urban population is estimated at 69.7 per cent, compared with 52 per cent
in 1964, indicating a strong urbanization trend. The country has made
tremendous strides in education, and the illiteracy rate has dropped to 12% as
of 1985.

[See Table 2.: Population By Age Per Cent Distribution]

[See Table 3.: Illiteracy RATE Per Cent]

[See Table 4.: Per Cent Distribution of Urban/Rural Population]

THE MAJOR CITIES

     Due to a rugged topography, Colombia has developed many large cities
independent from each other. Bogota, the capital and seat of the
government, is the largest. In 1988, the historic metropolis celebrated the
450th anniversary of its founding. Next in size is the northwestern city of
Medellin, an important industrial and business center. Cali, to the
southwest, and Barranquilla, on the Caribbean coast, are the third and fourth
largest cities.

[See Table 5.: Population of the Largest Cities]

LABOR

     The economically active population was estimated at 10.1 million in 1985.
Unemployment is presently below 10 per cent. Minimum wages increased in 1989
to Col. $32,550 per month for a 40 hour week. Retirement pensions are granted
after 20 years to women over 55 years and men over 60. All workers must be
affiliated with social security. Foreigners have the same civil rights and
responsibilities as Colombians.

[See Table 6.: Economically Active Population (Thousands)]

NATURAL RESOURCES

     Colombia has extensive and varied mineral resources. Of major importance
are the substantial coal, nickel, natural gas and petroleum reserves.
Approximately 60 per cent of the country is covered by forest. Fish are
abundant, including tuna and shrimp.

     Colombia accounts for 95 per cent of the world's emerald production. It
has high reserves of gold, platinum, copper, tin and aluminum. Proven coal
reserves are estimated at 16.5 billion metric tons, the largest in Latin
America. Nickel reserves are estimated at 25 million metric tons, gas reserves
at 4 trillion cubic feet and oil reserves at over 2.0 billion barrels.

     Mining activity has stepped up significantly in the 1980s. Recent oil
discoveries make Colombia self-sufficient in oil, with a good surplus for
export. As of 1987, petroleum became the second largest export. Coal has
become the third largest export and ferronickel, used in stainless steel
production, the eighth largest.

HYDROGRAPHY AND ENERGY

     Colombia's myriad of oceans, lakes, rivers and subterranean waters
provide the basis for water transportation, agriculture, electric power and
fishing. The country is covered with navigable rivers that are part of the
four main water systems: Caribbean, Pacific, Amazon and Catatumbo, placing
Colombia high on the list of countries having vast hydroelectric energy
potential.

     In 1987, the installed capacity in the electric sector reached 8,600
Mws., of which 87 per cent is hydro-based. Estimated total potential is
120,000 Mws. Colombia has an electrical power grid that links the central and
northern regions and makes optimal use of both hydraulic and thermal energy.
This diversification of primary energy sources enhances the electrical
system's reliability.

TRANSPORTATION

     Colombia's rugged topography makes transportation difficult between the
coasts and the interior. Transport investment policy has been aimed at
national integration overcoming the obstacles imposed by geographic
conditions.

     Air service developed early for domestic and international
transportation. At present there are about 100 airports in the country. The
highway system, the focus of government spending in the 1980s, has been
expanded to over 62,000 miles of road. There are also over 2,000 miles of
railroads.

     The waterway system covers 5,000 miles. Currently, development is aimed
at three existing systems: the Magdalena River, Pacific Coast and southeast.
Colombia's main ports are: Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena on the
Caribbean, and Buenaventura and Tumaco on the Pacific. A new coal export
terminal was recently inaugurated on the Caribbean, at Portete Bay on the
Guajira Peninsula.

ECONOMY

     Colombia's economy, both varied and productive, is a result of its
unusual geographic conditions and abundant natural resources. The foundation
of the economy is based on agriculture and industry. GDP growth has been
strong in recent years, registering a rate of 5.4 per cent per annum in 1987
and an estimated 4.2 per cent per annum in 1988.