Cordillera Occidental, Mountain range in western Colombia.
Cordillera Occidental is a mountain range in western Colombia that separates the Cauca Valley from the Pacific coast. The range runs through six departments and forms a natural boundary between two very different climate zones.
This mountain range formed during the uplift of the Andes millions of years ago through tectonic plate movements. The geological activity shaped the relief and created the present elevation differences between coast and valley.
Many indigenous communities living across different altitudes of the Cordillera Occidental maintain traditional agricultural practices and land management techniques.
Two major mountain passes connect the city of Cali with Buenaventura on the Pacific coast and both sit below 1500 meters elevation. The roads through the mountains can be challenging in rain and require careful driving.
Five national parks including Munchique, Farallones de Cali, Tatamá, Las Orquídeas and Paramillo protect different ecosystems and endemic species across the region. The parks sit at different elevations and each holds its own plant and animal communities.
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