Cordillera Oriental, Mountain range in eastern Colombia
The Cordillera Oriental is a mountain range in eastern Colombia stretching from Huila in the south to Norte de Santander near the Venezuelan border. The peaks rise from forested hills to rocky summits above 5000 meters (16,400 feet), interrupted by deep valleys and wide plateaus.
The range formed through tectonic uplift that began millions of years ago and continues today. Before the Spanish arrival, the Muisca and other groups lived here, mining salt and trading along the ridges.
Farmers in the valleys grow coffee and corn on terraced fields that climb steep slopes. Villages often sit where morning fog rises and clears by afternoon.
Trails range from easy paths in the valleys to demanding routes at high altitudes where the air thins and weather changes quickly. Gear for rain and cold should always be packed, even when mornings start sunny.
The highest peaks hold glaciers that slowly retreat and feed lakes from which rivers flow both east and west. Some of these waters supply drinking water to millions of people in the cities below.
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