Location:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates:
4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
1,138,910 sq km
country comparison to the world: 26
land:
1,038,700 sq km
water:
100,210 sq km
note:
includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
total:
6,672 km
border countries:
Brazil 1,790 km, Ecuador 708 km, Panama 339 km, Peru 1,494 km, Venezuela 2,341 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
More Climate Details
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note:
nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
arable land:
1.84%
permanent crops:
1.66%
other:
96.5% (2011)
10,870 sq km (2011)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
2,132 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
12.65 cu km/yr (55%/4%/41%)
per capita:
308 cu m/yr (2010)
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
volcanism:
Galeras (elev. 4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (elev. 5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace
deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea