Colombia Land of Diversity

1. ColombiaLand of Diversity

2. 5 Main Regions • Andean highlands • Caribbean lowlands • Pacific lowlands • Orinoco savanna • Amazon rainforest

3. Andean Highlands • Andes Mountains divide into three parallel chains called cordilleras (5,700 m). • Extend from Equator almost to the Caribbean Sea. • peaks permanently covered with snow • Areas below the peaks provide fertile farmland and pleasant living conditions. • 78% of Colombians live here.

4. Snow-covered Andean peaks • Fertile areas below peaks

5. Bogota • Largest city in Colombia (area and population) • Population: 7.3 million • Cultural, political, economic center of Colombia • First inhabited by Chibcha people

6. Caribbean Lowlands • Popular tourist area at base of Andes between Venezuela and Caribbean Sea. • Most ports are located here. • Nearly all imports come through this area.

7. Pacific Lowlands • Western part bordering Pacific ocean • Most geographically complex area • Mostly jungle, swamp mixed with Andes mountains • Few inhabitants

8. Orinoco Savanna • Large area of Colombia with few inhabitants • Home to Llanos plains • Most Colombians know very little about this area…viewed as an alien land. • Similar to African savanna area.

9. Amazon Rainforest • Dense jungle • Diverse animal, plant life • Shares similar characteristics of larger Amazon rainforest region.

10. Climate • Differences in climate result of elevation (Andes mountains). • Climate remains constant throughout the year (equator). • 5 levels of climate • tierra caliente (hot area) • tierra templada (temperate area) • tierra fría (cold area) • puna (mountainous areas) • tierra helada (permanent-snow area)

11. Climate Zones

12. tierra caliente (hot country) • 86% of land area • Huge amounts of rainfall • Mostly rainforest

13. tierra templada (temperate country) • 8% of land area • Separate wet and dry seasons • Moderate rainfall • Good for agriculture

14. tierra fría (cold country) • 6% of land area • Most populated zone • Approximately 25% of population • Major cities are found here

15. puna (mountainous areas) • Few inhabitants • beautiful, cold, harsh, mountainous climate • no agriculture

16. tierra helada (permanent snow) • No inhabitants • Few animal, plant life • Permanent cold, snow

17. Ethnic Groups and Climate • Columbia’s diverse and rugged geography has produced several distinct cultural groups. •  Costeño from the Caribbean lowlands • Caucano in the Pacific lowlands • Llanero from the Orinoco savanna

18. Each group has distinctive characteristics, accents, customs, social patterns, and forms of cultural adaptation to climate and geography that differentiates it from other groups. • Despite rapid modernization, these groups maintain their ethnic identities.

19. Vegetation • Elevation influences vegetation patterns in Colombia.

20. On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions. This assignment is due before the end of class. • List the 5 climate zones according to temperature (from hottest to coldest). • Which climate zone contains the most people? Why is this? • What affect does Colombia’s climate have on its people? • Which climate zone would support bananas, rice, and sugar cane? • Describe in your own words the story of Colombia’s 40- year war.