Editing Colombia (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Colombia|Geology of Colombia}}
[[File:Mapa de Colombia (topografía).svg|upright|thumb|[[Topographic map]] of Colombia]]

The geography of Colombia is characterized by its six main [[Natural regions of Colombia|natural regions]] that present their unique characteristics, from the [[Andes]] mountain range region; the [[Pacific Coast]]al region; the Caribbean coastal region; the ''[[Llanos]]'' (plains); the [[Amazon rainforest]] region; to the [[Insular Region (Colombia)|insular area]], comprising islands in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.<ref name="Geography of Colombia">{{cite web|url=http://www.colombia-sa.com/geografia/geografia-in.html|title=Natural regions of Colombia and description of the three branches of the andes cordillera|publisher=colombia-sa.com|access-date=7 March 2014|archive-date=14 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314043601/http://www.colombia-sa.com/geografia/geografia-in.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It shares its maritime limits with [[Costa Rica]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Honduras]], [[Jamaica]], [[Haiti]], and the [[Dominican Republic]].<ref name="Maritime borders" />

Colombia is bordered to the northwest by [[Panama]], to the east by [[Venezuela]] and Brazil, and to the south by [[Ecuador]] and [[Peru]];<ref name="Land borders">{{cite web|url=http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/politica/fronteras-terrestres|title=The Republic of Colombia shares land borders with five (5) countries|work=Cancillería |publisher=cancilleria.gov.co|access-date=6 June 2016|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731123542/http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/politica/fronteras-terrestres|url-status=live}}</ref> it established its maritime boundaries with neighboring countries through seven agreements on the Caribbean Sea and three on the Pacific Ocean.<ref name="Maritime borders">{{cite web|url=http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/politica/fronteras-maritimas|title=Maritime borders|work=Cancillería |publisher=cancilleria.gov.co|access-date=6 June 2016|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731123704/http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/politica/fronteras-maritimas|url-status=live}}</ref> It lies between latitudes [[12th parallel north|12°N]] and [[4th parallel south|4°S]] and between longitudes [[67th meridian west|67°]] and [[79th meridian west|79°W]].

East of the Andes lies the [[savanna]] of the ''[[Llanos]]'', part of the [[Orinoco]] River basin, and in the far southeast, the [[jungle]] of the [[Amazon rainforest]]. Together these lowlands make up over half Colombia's territory, but they contain less than 6% of the population. To the north the [[Caribbean Region of Colombia|Caribbean coast]], home to 21.9% of the population and the location of the major port cities of [[Barranquilla]] and [[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena]], generally consists of low-lying plains, but it also contains the [[Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta]] mountain range, which includes the country's tallest peaks ([[Pico Cristóbal Colón]] and [[Pico Simón Bolívar]]), and the [[La Guajira Desert]]. By contrast the narrow and discontinuous [[Pacific Region of Colombia|Pacific coastal lowlands]], backed by the [[Baudó Mountains|Serranía de Baudó]] mountains, are sparsely populated and covered in dense vegetation. The principal Pacific port is [[Buenaventura, Colombia|Buenaventura]].<ref name="Geography of Colombia" /><ref name="populationbyregions" /><ref name="Population density" />

[[File:ISS-42 Colombia’s Santa Marta massif.jpg|thumb|left|[[Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta]] as seen from the [[International Space Station|ISS]]]]

Part of the [[Pacific Ring of Fire|Ring of Fire]], a region of the world subject to earthquakes and [[volcano|volcanic eruptions]],<ref name="Ring of Fire">{{cite web|url=http://seisan.ingeominas.gov.co/RSNC/index.php/material-educativo|title=Colombia is part of the Ring of Fire|publisher=seisan.ingeominas.gov.co|access-date=7 March 2014|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307220211/http://seisan.ingeominas.gov.co/RSNC/index.php/material-educativo|archive-date=7 March 2014}}</ref> in the interior of Colombia the Andes are the prevailing geographical feature. Most of Colombia's population centers are located in these interior highlands. Beyond the [[Colombian Massif]] (in the southwestern departments of [[Cauca Department|Cauca]] and [[Nariño Department|Nariño]]), these are divided into three branches known as ''cordilleras'' (mountain ranges): the [[Cordillera Occidental (Colombia)|Cordillera Occidental]], running adjacent to the Pacific coast and including the city of [[Santiago de Cali|Cali]]; the [[Cordillera Central (Colombia)|Cordillera Central]], running between the [[Cauca River|Cauca]] and [[Magdalena River]] valleys (to the west and east, respectively) and including the cities of [[Medellín]], [[Manizales]], [[Pereira, Colombia|Pereira]], and [[Armenia, Quindío|Armenia]]; and the [[Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)|Cordillera Oriental]], extending northeast to the [[Guajira Peninsula]] and including Bogotá, [[Bucaramanga]], and [[Cúcuta]].<ref name="Geography of Colombia" /><ref name="populationbyregions" /><ref name="Population density" /> Peaks in the Cordillera Occidental exceed {{convert|4700|m|ft|0|abbr=on|sp=us}}, and in the Cordillera Central and Cordillera Oriental they reach {{convert|5000|m|ft|0|abbr=on|sp=us}}. At {{convert|2600|m|ft|0|abbr=on|sp=us}}, Bogotá is the highest city of its size in the world.<ref name="Geography of Colombia" />

The main rivers of Colombia are Magdalena, Cauca, [[Guaviare River|Guaviare]], [[Atrato River|Atrato]], [[Meta River|Meta]], [[Putumayo River|Putumayo]] and [[Caquetá River|Caquetá]]. Colombia has four main drainage systems: the Pacific drain, the Caribbean drain, the Orinoco Basin and the Amazon Basin. The Orinoco and [[Amazon River|Amazon]] Rivers mark limits with Colombia to Venezuela and Peru respectively.<ref name="Hydrography">{{cite web|url=http://www.colombia-sa.com/geografia/geografia-in-2.html|title=Hydrography of Colombia|publisher=colombia-sa.com|access-date=7 March 2014|archive-date=20 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920042242/http://www.colombia-sa.com/geografia/geografia-in-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Colombia}}
[[File:Colombia_Köppen.svg|thumb|upright|Colombia map of [[Köppen climate classification]]]]

The climate of Colombia is characterized for being tropical presenting variations within [[Natural regions of Colombia|six natural regions]] and depending on the altitude, temperature, [[humidity]], winds and rainfall.<ref name="Thermal floors" /> Colombia has a diverse range of climate zones, including [[tropical rainforest]]s, [[savanna]]s, [[steppe]]s, [[desert]]s and mountain climates.

[[Mountain climate]] is one of the unique features of the Andes and other high altitude reliefs where climate is determined by elevation. Below {{convert|1000|m|ft|0|sp=us}} in elevation is the [[tierra caliente|warm altitudinal zone]], where temperatures are above {{convert|24|°C|°F|1}}. About 82.5% of the country's total area lies in the warm altitudinal zone. The [[tierra templada|temperate climate altitudinal zone]] located between {{convert|1001|and|2000|m|ft|0|sp=us}} is characterized for presenting an average temperature ranging between {{convert|17|and|24|°C|°F|1}}. The [[tierra fría|cold climate]] is present between {{convert|2001|and|3000|m|ft|0|sp=us}} and the temperatures vary between {{convert|12|and|17|°C|°F|1}}. Beyond lies the alpine conditions of the forested zone and then the treeless grasslands of the [[páramo]]s. Above {{convert|4000|m|ft|0|sp=us}}, where temperatures are below freezing, the climate is [[tierra helada|glacial]], a zone of permanent snow and ice.<ref name="Thermal floors">{{cite web|url=http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/economia/colombia/eco1.htm|title=Thermal floors|publisher=banrepcultural.org|access-date=25 February 2014|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016033544/http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/economia/colombia/eco1.htm|archive-date=16 October 2014}}</ref>

=== Biodiversity and conservation ===
{{see also|Fauna of Colombia|Flora of Colombia|Deforestation in Colombia}}
Colombia is one of the [[megadiverse countries]] in [[biodiversity]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inecc.gob.mx/descargas/ai/con199328.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.inecc.gob.mx/descargas/ai/con199328.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live|title=Declaración de Cancún de países megadiversos afínes|author=Delegatarios de países megadiversos|publisher=inecc.gob.mx|language=es|access-date=9 March 2014}}</ref> ranking first in [[List of birds of Colombia|bird species]].<ref name="Bird Species">{{cite web|url=http://www.proaves.org/colombia-officially-the-nation-with-the-greatest-diversity-of-birds-and-a-new-world-record/?lang=en|title=Colombia Celebrates over 1,900 Bird Species|date=9 December 2013|publisher=proaves.org|access-date=18 December 2013|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219125544/http://www.proaves.org/colombia-officially-the-nation-with-the-greatest-diversity-of-birds-and-a-new-world-record/?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Colombia is the country with the planet's highest biodiversity, having the highest rate of species by area as well as the largest number of [[endemism]]s (species that are not found naturally anywhere else) of any country. About 10% of the species of the Earth live in Colombia, including over 1,900 species of bird, more than in Europe and North America combined. Colombia has 10% of the world's [[List of mammals of Colombia|mammals]] species, 14% of the [[amphibian]] species and 18% of the [[Endemic birds of Colombia|bird]] species of the world.<ref name="DIVERSITY OF SPECIES IN COLOMBIA">{{cite web|url=http://www.humboldt.org.co/component/k2/item/62-cifras |title=Colombia accounts for around 10% of the flora and fauna of the world. |publisher=humboldt.org.co |access-date=21 July 2013 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309144021/http://www.humboldt.org.co/component/k2/item/62-cifras |archive-date=9 March 2014 }}</ref>
[[File:Cattleya trianae tipo Baronessa.jpg|left|thumb|The national flower of Colombia, the [[endemic]] [[orchid]] ''[[Cattleya trianae]]'', is named for Colombian botanist and physician [[José Jerónimo Triana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/revistas/credencial/julio2001/laflor.htm|title=La flor de mayo, Cattleya trianae, flor nacional|language=es|access-date=3 March 2017|publisher=banrepcultural.org|archive-date=9 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109175958/http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/revistas/credencial/julio2001/laflor.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

As for plants, the country has between 40,000 and 45,000 plant [[species]], equivalent to 10 or 20% of total global species, which is even more remarkable given that Colombia is considered a country of intermediate size.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/frame_detalle.php?h_id=5274|title=Flora of Colombia|publisher=parquesnacionales.gov.co|language=es|access-date=18 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125222620/http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/frame_detalle.php?h_id=5274|archive-date=25 January 2016}}</ref> Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, lagging only after Brazil which is approximately 7 times bigger.<ref name="Biodiversity of Colombia">{{cite web|url=http://www.prodiversitas.bioetica.org/nota63.htm |title=Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world |author=Luis Fernando Potes |publisher=prodiversitas.bioetica.org |language=es |access-date=9 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190443/http://www.prodiversitas.bioetica.org/nota63.htm |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref>

Colombia has about 2,000 species of [[marine fish]] and is the second most diverse country in [[freshwater fish]]. It is also the country with the most endemic species of [[List of butterflies of Colombia|butterflies]], is first in [[orchid]] species, and has approximately 7,000 species of [[beetle]]s. Colombia is second in the number of amphibian species and is the third most diverse country in [[List of reptiles of Colombia|reptiles]] and [[Arecaceae|palms]]. There are about 1,900 species of [[mollusk]]s and according to estimates there are about 300,000 species of [[invertebrates]] in the country. In Colombia there are 32 terrestrial [[biomes]] and 314 types of [[ecosystems]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sibcolombia.net/web/sib/cifras|title=System of information about biodiversity of Colombia|publisher=Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad de Colombia|language=es|access-date=5 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523121645/http://www.sibcolombia.net/web/sib/cifras|archive-date=23 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="humboldt">{{cite web |url=http://www.humboldt.org.co/images/documentos/pdf/documentos/iern-biodiversidad-2010-2011.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.humboldt.org.co/images/documentos/pdf/documentos/iern-biodiversidad-2010-2011.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=Informe sobre el estado de los recursos naturales renovables y del ambiente Componente de biodiversidad, 2010–2011 |publisher=humboldt.org.co|language=es|access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>

Protected areas and the "National Park System" cover an area of about {{convert|14268224|ha|km2|sp=us}} and account for 12.77% of the Colombian territory.<ref>{{cite web |language=es |url=http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/sistema-de-parques-nacionales-naturales/ |title=Dirección de Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305033857/http://parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/sistema-de-parques-nacionales-naturales |url-status=dead }}</ref> Compared to neighboring countries, rates of [[deforestation in Colombia]] are still relatively low.<ref name="United Nations Deforestation">{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/change-forest-area-19902011 |title=Change in forest area, 1990/2011 (%) |publisher=undp.org |access-date=18 February 2015 |archive-date=15 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215040216/http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/change-forest-area-19902011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Colombia had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 8.26/10, ranking it 25th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G }}</ref> Colombia is the sixth country in the world by magnitude of total renewable freshwater supply, and still has large reserves of freshwater.<ref name=worldwater>{{cite web|url=http://worldwater.org/water-data/|title=Table 1: Total Renewable Freshwater Supply, by Country|publisher=worldwater.org|access-date=1 April 2014|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731123429/http://www.worldwater.org/water-data/|url-status=live}}</ref>