Colombia, Country in northwestern South America.
Colombia is a republic in South America that stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean coast and includes Andean ranges, Amazonian rainforests, and varied coastlines. The terrain goes from tropical beaches to glaciated peaks above 5700 meters and supports habitats for countless animal and plant species.
Spanish conquerors founded their first permanent settlement in Santa Marta in 1525 before moving inland and establishing Bogotá in 1538 as the administrative center of the New Kingdom of Granada. Under the leadership of Simón Bolívar the territory gained independence in 1819 and evolved into the present republic.
The name comes from Christopher Columbus and recalls his voyage to the Americas, while the country today is shaped by its regional coffee farming, folk music, and coastal traditions between the Pacific and the Caribbean. In rural areas you often find small plazas where people gather to talk and where local celebrations bring the community together.
The national currency is the Colombian peso, and major banks with ATMs are found in urban centers, while credit cards are accepted at most shops. International airports in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Cartagena offer connections to many destinations in the Americas and Europe.
The country supplies 95 percent of the world's mined emeralds from deposits in the Andean region and is also the second-largest coffee exporter after Brazil. With over 1900 recorded bird species it hosts more than any other country on Earth and draws birdwatchers from around the globe.
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