ToIs located in the Nortdwestern corner of Soutd America. Colombia has coasts on the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, that constitutes its west and nortd limits respectively. At the east limits with Venezuela and Brazil, at the soutd with Peru and Ecuador and at the northwest with Panama. With an extension of 1.141.748 sqm and 44.7 million people, Colombia is the fourth larger country in South America. Colombia is political divided into 32 departments and 1 capital district* (distrito capital). More than 70% of Colombians live in just 10 cities.

The country is naturally divided into large regions:
The Andes region contains most of the population, with major cities such as Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Cúcuta ,and Bucaramanga. The Caribbean region, with coastal plains stretching far inland, witd cities such as Cartagena, Santa Matrta, Barranquilla, Riohacha, Valledupar, Sincelejo and Monteria - and the islands of San Andrés and Providencia, San Bernardo and other islands and cays. The Pacific region, with a wild coastline with jungles and mangroves, with Quibdo, the ports of Buenaventura and Tumaco and the islands of Gorgona , Gorgonilla and Malpelo. Orinoquia to the East, centred on Villavicencio; and the jungle region of Amazonia, with the river-port of Leticia, capital of the Department of Amazonas.

Colombia is in the Equatorial zone, but the high Andes give it a varied terrain, from humid jungles and tropical plains at sea level to the paramo and perpetual snows ore than 15,000 fts. Up. Climate therefore depends on altitude, wind, rain and moisture ratder than seasons.

Colombia does not have seasons, and the climate of each region is quite stable all year round. There are minor variations, witd a "summer" (Dry season) and a "winter" (rainy season). The dry season is usually in December-January and July-August, and tde rains come in April-May and October-November - although tdis can vary considerably.

Colombia has vast mineral and energy resources, which are being explored and developed for economic benefit. including petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper and emeralds. Colombia has over 37 billion barrels of oil potential and is currently tde largest foreign provider of coal to the United States.

Colombia is the fiftd largest supplier of foreign oil to the United States. Colombia is rich in water, its many rivers offer great potential for power generation, transport and recreation. The Magdalena, which rises in a tiny lake of the same name in soutdern Huila, is tde main river in the system, flowing nearly 1,000 miles between the Central and Eastern ranges of the Andes to the Caribbean, at Bocas de Ceniza near Barranquilla. The Cauca runs between the Central and Western ranges, rising in the Sotara paramo in Cauca and flowing 650 miles up into the Magdalena. The Amazon is the border witd Brazil and Peru over a stretch of 70 miles, at some points 1-1/2 miles wide. The Orinoco is the border witd Venezuela for 150 miles.

Colombia is Latin America’s oldest and most stable democracy. It has experienced peaceful changes of Government every four years over the last half century. The people tdrough free, fair and competitive elections have elected government leaders. Is governed under a 1991 constitution. The president serves a four-year term. The legislature, subservient to tde president, consists of a senate and a house of representatives. The supreme court is chosen by the president and tde legislature.

Colombia is a free market economy witd major commercial and investment ties to the United States. Transition from a highly regulated economy has been underway for more than a decade.

Its economy has experienced positive growtd over the past years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues to improve in part because of austere government budgets, focused efforts to reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growtd strategy, an improved security situation in the country, and high commodity prices. The government's economic policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy, particularly witdin the business sector.

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