|
Colombia officially known as the Republic of Colombia is a country located in the northwestern region of South America. It is the 26th largest nation of the world and the fourth largest country in South America. Colombia is the only country in South America that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Official Languages:
Spanish is the official language of the country.
Independence, Republic and Government:
Since the beginning of the periods of conquests and colonization there were several rebel movements under the Spanish rule. But these rebels were weak and was unable to seize independence from the Spanish government. The last movement that sought outright independence from the Spanish government started around 1810, following the independence of St. Dominigue in 1804, presently known as Haiti. The two leaders of the movement Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Paula eventually became the President and Vice President of the of independent Colombia. The rebellion succeeded finally in the year 1819 when the territory of New Granada became the Republic of Greater Colombia as a confederation along Ecuador and Venezuela. Panama was also a part of Colombia. Internal political and territorial conflicts led to the separation of Venezuela and Quito (present Ecuador) from Colombia in 1830. The thousand year civil war during the period 1899 – 1902 together with United States led to the separation of Panama in the year 1903.
The government of Colombia is divided into three branches. Namely :
Executive branch: President along with the Vice – President is both the chief of the state and the head of the government. The President and the Vice – President are elected by popular votes for a period of four years.
Legislative branch: Bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats) and the members are elected by popular votes for a period of four years. The House of the Representatives or Camera de Representants (161 seats) members are elected by popular votes to serve a period of four years.
Judicial branch: Supreme court of justice or Corte Suprema de Justical is the highest court of criminal law in the country. Judges are elected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight years term.
Top Cities of Colombia:
Bagota:Nestled high in the Andes at 2620m. Santafé de Bogotá is a city of contrasts. It is a city of high rise building standing next to the churches. It is also a city of universities, theaters and shantytowns.
Cartagena: It is an old walled city and fortress that repelled pirates and invaders in ancient times. Now it attracts tourists' to its colonial charm, energetic nightlife and its nearby attractions.
San Andres: The white sandy beaches, exciting nightlife, a choice of full amenity accommodation, relaxation and duty – free shopping attracts visitors to the city of San Andres.
Medellin: It is the capital of Antioquia department of Colombia and enjoys a temperate climate that gives that city the names of The Land of eternal Spring and the Capital of the Flowers.
Santa Marta: It is the first Spanish settlement in Colombia. Being located on the coast it boasts great beaches.
Culture and Heritage:
The culture of Colombia is a heterogeneous, complex and uneven mixture Amerindian, Spanish, African and other cultures. Cumbia is the de facto national dance of Colombia and an unique expression of its founding cultures. The Spanish colonial legacy can still be felt in the Spanish language and Catholic faith – that the majority of the inhabitants of Colombia shares. As with other parts of Latin America Colombia also is becoming more urbanized and cosmopolitan. In the recent decades Colombia has made some of the important contributions in popular and high art world culture. The Nobel prize winner author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the painter Fernando Botero is from Colombia. Colombians have been producing art for thousands of years. Ornate golden figures and jewelry from millennia ago have been discovered by archaeological digs in Colombia.
Tourism
Founded in 1538 Bogota is the capital and the largest city of Colombia and is situated almost in the center of the country at an altitude of 2600m. Bogota is famous among the tourists for its historical landmarks such as the Capitol Municipal Palace and the Cathedral, the Capilla del Sangrario. It is also famous for its gold museum with an unique collection of over 100,000 pre – Colombian artworks and salt mines at around 50km south of Bogota.
Cali is said to be the world's capital of Salsa and also the principal sugar producing region of the country. It attracts tourists mainly for its unique Salsa.
The main tourists' attraction of Colombia is the 1600 km long Caribbean coast near Santa Marta. Its white beaches and proximity to fashionable beach resorts makes it the popular tourists' spot of the country. The Tayrona National Park some 35km south of Santa Marta is one of the most popular parks of the country and its major attraction is the deep bays shaded with coconut trees and beautiful beaches and several coral reefs.
The Amazon basin covers almost one – third of Colombia's territory. It is an area of thick tropical forest in the southeast with no roads and inhabited mostly by Indians. Letica, a small town with well developed tourists facilities on the bank of the river Amazon close to the border of Peru and Brazil is a popular tourists base of the country. Jungle trips notably to the nearby Amacayu National Park is also widely famous among the tourists.
The other important tourists attraction of the country includes San Augustin Archaeological Park - containing great number of relics and massive stone building and Silva - a beautiful Indian town.
|
