Bogota is the capital and largest city of Colombia. Spanish is the main language and the majority of Colombians are Roman Catholic. Colombia has diverse landscapes ranging from snow-capped mountains and rainforests to grasslands and beaches. The country has a long history of civil conflict between liberal and conservative factions as well as struggles with guerilla groups and drug cartels, though peace processes in recent decades have reduced violence. Colombia remains focused on economic development while stabilizing its political situation.
2. Country HighlightsCountry Highlights
Capital: Bogota
Language: Spanish
Currency: Colombian peso
Government: Multiparty
Republic
Religion: Roman Catholic
Population: 48.3 million (2014)
Names: Colombia is named
after Christopher Columbus,
was a part of New Granada
colony
3. BOGOTÁ
• Bogotá, called Santafé
de Bogotá, is the
capital, and largest
city, of Colombia.
Bogotá is the most
populous city in the
country. Bogotá and its
metropolitan area.
4. Colombian ClimateColombian Climate
Colombia has many extremes of landscape, and
different elevations dictate various climates:
1. Hot zone (tierra caliente)
2. Temperate zone (tierra templada)
3. Cold zone (tierra fria)
4. Bleak and treeless zone (paramos)
6. The people of Colombia
• The guerrillas have lost control in
many areas where they once
dominated after the success of a
controversial peace process within
the Colombian government.
Meanwhile Colombia's homicide rate,
for many years one of the highest in
the world, almost halved between
2002 and 2006.
• Yet in 2009 and 2010, there was a
drastic increase in the homicide rate
in the city of Medellin because of
gangs and military groups.
• This caused Colombia to have the 6th
highest fear of terrorism in the world.
7. Drug wars
For most of the 1980s, 90s & early 2000s, the Colombian
government was engaged in civil war which involved the
following groups:
•FARC (left wing rebels)
•ELN (left wing rebels)
•AUC (right wing paramilitaries)
Under President Uribe, the FARC rebels were brought
under control. The current President Santos is trying to
negotiate a long term peace agreement with the FARC.
8. Drugs In Colombia
• Coca, marijuana and other
drugs had been part of the
lifestyle of some
Colombians, Cocaine is
produced at $1500/kilo in
jungle labs and could be
sold on the streets of
America for as much as
$50,000/kilo
10. Customs & TraditionsCustoms & Traditions
• Festivals provide the ideal setting to see, hear and
experience Colombian culture.
Carnaval de Negros y Blancos
Carnaval de Barranquilla
Wind and Kite Festival
Feria de las Flores or The Flower Fair
11. Customs & TraditionsCustoms & Traditions
Unique Colombian Marriage Customs:
• No Bridesmaid or Best Man
• A Dance
• The Coins or Las Arras
Famous food:
• Bandeja paisa or "paisa platter" - national dish
• Colombian coffee
12. ArtArt
• Pre-colonial
Early artifacts were
made of clay, stone,
and gold. Gold was
abundant was used to
make ornaments
inspired by nature and
the supernatural
16. Religion: Roman CatholicismReligion: Roman Catholicism
Beliefs:
Authority Within the Church
The Bible
Forgiveness of Sin
Hell
Mary's Status
Purgatory
Salvation
Saints
17. Religion: Roman CatholicismReligion: Roman Catholicism
Practices:
Baptism
Clergy Selection
The Lord's Supper
Prayer
Right to Life
Sacraments
Statues
18. Geography: Location &Geography: Location &
NeighboursNeighbours
•located in north-west South America. It is the
fourth largest country in Latin America.
19. Map of ColombiaMap of Colombia
•It is bordered by Ecuador and
Peru on the south, Brazil and
Venezuela in the east, and
Panama on the north-west. It has
extensive coastlines on both the
Pacific and the Carribean.
20. GeographyGeography
Colombia is a country of contrasts.
It has both snow-capped
mountains, tropical regions with
rainforests, grassy plains, and
warm beaches.
• Country:
3 major regions:
1. The Andean region
2. The Coastal region
3. Rainforests and llanos
Highest point:
Pico Cristobal Colon
28. CHICAMOCHA
• The Chicamocha Canyon
is a steep sided canyon
carved by the
Chicamocha River. This
river flows through the
departments of Boyaca
and Santander, where it
reaches its maximum
depth near the outskirts
of Bucaramanga.
• The canyon is the result
of the erosion caused by
water.
29. HistoryHistory
• Precolonial: The land was originally
home to many groups of Native
Americans. Chibcha, a group in the
Andes, traded gold and emeralds for
the Guajira’s (another group) cotton
and salt. Other groups are the
Tayrona, Muisca, and Quimbaya.
• 1530s: Spanish conquered the Chibcha
for gold, and they brought African
slaves to work in sugarcane
plantations along with Chibcha
survivors.
30. History: Legend of El DoradoHistory: Legend of El Dorado
El Dorado is the name of a
Muisca tribal chief who covered
himself with gold dust and, as an
initiation rite, dove into the
Guatavita Lake, and offer gold to
their gods.
Later, it became the name of a
legendary "Lost City of Gold",
that fascinated explorers since
the days of the Spanish
Conquistadors. No evidence for
its existence has been found.
31. History
• 1717: The area became the
Spanish colony of New
Granada.
• 1819: Colombia won
independence from Spain,
led by Simon Bolivar and
Francisco Santander. The
independent republic of Gran
Colombia was declared and it
included present-day states
of Colombia, Ecuador,
Panama, and Venezuela.
32. HistoryHistory
• 1830: This republic has disintegrated and Colombia (with
Panama), Ecuador, and Venezuela became independent
nations. During this period, the Liberal and Conservative
parties were founded.
• 19th
century was characterized by rivalry and armed struggles
between Liberal and Conservative factions.
• 1899-1902: War of a thousand days – a civil war over
government disagreements. Another civil strife known as
‘The Violence’ flared again in 1948-1959.
• 1980s: Some wealthy Colombians engage in illegal drug
trade. The government campaigned to stop this, but has met
violent resistance from durg lords.
• Today Colombia is the third largest oil producer in South
America.
