Colombia is located in the northern part of South America with geographic coordinates of 4 00 N, 72 00 W. It borders Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil. The northern coast borders the Caribbean Sea and the West coast borders the Northern Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is 1,138,910 sq km with 1,038,700 sq km of land and 1,038,700 sq km of water. The coastline is 3,208 km, 1,760 km borders the Caribbean sea, and 1,448 km borders the North Pacific Ocean.
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Climate Colombia’s terrain consists of flat coastal lowlands, eastern lowland planes, central highlands, and high Andes Mountains. Natural hazards include volcanic eruptions, occasional earthquakes, and periodic droughts. 37.5% of land in Colombia is used for agriculture, and 54.4% is forest, and 8.1% is other.
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CultureCastilian Spanish is the main language spoken in Colombia although there are more than 180 indigenous languages and dialects that exist. About three-fifths of the population is mestizo( a mix of native Indian and European). Most Colombians are Roman Catholics; the church is deeply ingrained in Colombian society. Popular regional foods include arroz con coco( rice with coconut) in coastal areas, ajicaco( a stew) in new Bogota , and frijoles(beans) and chicharrones( pork rinds) in Medellin. White rum is a common drink of the Caribbean coast as is aguardiente (an anise flavored liqueur) in the highlands.
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History
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