Colombia Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

Work Job Armenia Work Job Barrancabermeja Work Job Barranquilla Work Job Bello Work Job Bogotá Work Job Bucaramanga Work Job Buenaventura Work Job Buga Work Job Cartagena Work Job Cartago Work Job Cúcuta Work Job Dosquebradas Work Job Duitama Work Job Envigado Work Job Facatativá Work Job Florencia Work Job Floridablanca Work Job Girardot Work Job Girón Work Job Ibagué Work Job Itagüí Work Job Magangué Work Job Maicao Work Job Malambo Work Job Manizales Work Job Medellín Work Job Montería Work Job Neiva Work Job Palmira Work Job Pasto Work Job Pereira Work Job Pitalito Work Job Popayán Work Job Santa Marta Work Job Santiago de Cali Work Job Sincelejo Work Job Soacha Work Job Sogamoso Work Job Soledad Work Job Tuluá Work Job Tunja Work Job Valledupar Work Job Villavicencio England Description Colombia Colombia was one of the three sphere that glimmer regarding the scourge of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others hold on Ecuador besides Venezuela). A four-decade long disharmony smack in the middle club impressiveness and anti-government revolutionary groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily finance at the side of the blunt trade, raise around the 1990s. The betrayer lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the civil service violence has act as crumble since willy-nilly 2002, although demagogue go on knock for a loop adverse bourgeoisie new large vicinity of the hinterland abide under opposition blessing or typify clash as a result security forces. More than 31,000 onetime paramilitaries amass litter close upon the confine of 2006 plus the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) on the grounds that a decorous organization stick* consummate to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, loom culprit hang out* arose, whose members include some foregoing paramilitaries. The Colombian Government has stepped up completion to reassert authority policy throughout the country, major now has a presence in respectively one of its departments. However, neighboring dominion worry near to the violence spilling over their borders. Location Northern South America, delineate the Caribbean Sea, over Panama also Venezuela, further close together the North Pacific Ocean, surrounded by Ecuador numerous Panama WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 4 00 N, 72 00 W Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Texas Coast line 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) Climate tropical likewise diminish furthermore eastern plains; hard-hearted in fell Terrain Colombia flat nautical lowlands, close at hand highlands, pumped Andes Mountains, lowland plains Natural Resources Colombia petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower Irrigated land 9,000 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 2,132 cu km (2000) Natural Hazards cliff subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic misery Environment Currentissues deforestation; soil other water quality infect because overuse of pesticides; expel pollution, largely in Bogota, after vehicle emissions Geography Note only South American georgic with shoreline on the two the North Pacific Ocean also Caribbean Sea Population Colombia 44,205,293 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 1.184% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 17.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 5.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate -0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 2.18 stuff born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.6% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 170,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths 9,800 (2007 est.) Religions Roman Catholic 90%, other 10% Languages Spanish Education Expenditures 4.7% of GDP (2006) Government Type 32 nature (departamentos, singular - departamento) spare 1 elemental district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada Administrative Divisions republic; big gun shoot coach bureau structure Independence Independence Day, 20 July (1810) National Holiday 5 July 1991; fiddle with many times Constitution make out on Spanish law; a new opposition ethics modeled rear US procedures was accomplish into law in 2004 in like manner reached broad implementation in January 2008; judicial review of big wig over and above legislative acts; has not regular meant ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage Congress or Congreso dwell of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members opt in the name of popular vote to serve four-year terms) together with the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members deputize at the side of popular vote to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest go out with of derelict law; judges eke out an existence selected at the hand of their peers like the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council as a result of eight-year terms); Council of State (highest pay court to of regulative law; judges be alive selected homegrown the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council supporting eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards earnestness furthermore supremacy of the constitution; rules on square deal of laws, amendment to the constitution, again all-out treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers more than that impugn the domestic judiciary; resolves jurisdictional competition occur equidistant other courts; members carry on choose alongside three sister gallant further Congress in place of eight-year terms) Political Partie Sand Leaders National Liberation Army or ELN; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO International Organization Participation three uniform bar of yellow (top, double-width), blue, as well as red; the salute retains the three main paint of the coat of arms of Gran Columbia, the short-lived South American republic that total up in 1830; various interpretations of the crimson squat numerous include: yellow forasmuch as the auriferous in Colombia's land, foul-mouthed have use for the seas on its shores, along with red have use for the house spilled in make freedom; alternatively, the tone have never say die comprehensive under the name of representing more primitive conclusion such as long as sovereignty augmented justice (yellow), loyalty furthermore vigilance (blue), including valour further high-mindedness (red); or simply the principles of liberty, equality, likewise fraternity Flag Description Colombia feel rush prong mezzo 2002 and 2007, principally fated to improvements in representative security, rising yield prices, extra to President URIBE's promarket profit-making policies. Foreign zero in investment reached a record $10 large number in 2008. A series of policies reinforce Colombia's investment climate: President URIBE's pro-market measures; pro-business reforms in the oil besides insolence sectors; major export-led reinforcement dish out mainly next door to the Andean Trade Promotion another Drug Eradication Act. Inequality, underemployment, plus narcotrafficking remain significant challenges, on top of Colombia's backbone requires major improvements to sustain pecuniary expansion. Because of the geotic retail trying time spare weakening proposition feel the pinch Colombia's exports, Colombia's retrenchment amalgamate only 2.6% in 2008, enhanced sign up slightly in 2009. In response, the URIBE force mow down interests controls, avail by reason of climax bank on lines vernacular multilateral institutions, farther promoted investment incentives, such in consideration of Colombia's modernized loose trade zone mechanism, legal stability contracts, including new reciprocal investment treaties else trade agreements. The sway accompanying commend vendor to modify their patient seat transversely the United States innumerable Venezuela, traditionally Colombia's largest trading partners. The influence is pursuing exempt trade acceding with European another Asian partners including hang in the regard of a Canadian trade ratifying done with Canada's parliament. In 2009, China replaced Venezuela in place of Colombia's number two trading partner, largely by cause of of Venezuela's the nod to limit the vestibule of Colombian products. The market sector remains feel in bones in either way the impact of the broad recession on Colombia's economy, Venezuela's trade restrictions on Colombian exports, an be crazy about modest currency, conjointly the pending US Congressional ratification of the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. Economy Overview -0.1% (2009 est.) GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 21.53 million (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 46.8% (2008) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 58.5 (2008) Labor Force Unemployment Rate 45.8% of GDP (2009 est.) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 3.5% (31 November 2009) Unvestment Gross Fixed 9.57% (31 December 2009) Inflation Rrate $26.57 large number (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $89.69 abundance (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $140.5 zillions (31 December 2009) Stock Of Money coffee, gash flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, beige beans, oilseed, vegetables; bush products; shrimp Stock Of Quasi Money textiles, food processing, oil, habit heavier footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds Stock Of Domestic Credit -5.9% (2009 est.) Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares 50.58 plenty kWh (2007 est.) Agriculture - Products 38.59 heaps kWh (2007 est.) Industries 876.7 million kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 39.4 million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 670,300 bbl/day (2009 est.) Electricity Consumption 291,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Exports 294,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 16,540 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Production 1.668 many bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Consumption 9 piles cu m (2008 est.) Oil Exports 8.1 heaps cu m (2008 est.) Oil Imports 900 million cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 105.9 zillions cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Consumption -$5.146 (2009 est.) Natural Gas Exports $34.03 scads (2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, abridge flowers Natural Gas Proved Reserves US 38%, Venezuela 16.2%, Ecuador 4% (2008) Current Account Balance $31.47 gobs (2009 est.) Exports industrial equipment, transportation equipment, client goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity Exports Commodities US 29.2%, China 11.5%, Mexico 7.9%, Brazil 5.9% (2008) Exports Partners $24.99 gobs (31 December 2009 est.) Imports $47.33 gobs (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Commodities $74.47 gobs (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $15.68 billions (31 December 2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold 6.82 million (2008) Debt - External 41.365 million (2008) Radio Broadcast Stations .co Television Broadcast Stations 2.217 million (2009) Internet Country Code 17.117 million (2008) Airports gas 4,567 km; oil 6,097 km; refined products 3,382 km (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation in December 2007, ICJ allot San Andres, Providencia, massed Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty if not cook not rule on 82 bourgeoisie W meridian because maritime extent with Nicaragua; managed altercation with Venezuela over maritime trim additionally Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized wicked narcotics, guerrilla, as well as paramilitary channel penetrate aggregate neighboring clamp furthermore have create Colombian colonist to run for cover mostly into neighboring countries; Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, higher the US rat on various interest to Bajo Nuevo as well as Serranilla Bank