Colombia

Officially the Republic of Colombia. The mainland territory is divided into four major geographic regions: Andean highlands (composed of three mountain ranges and intervening valley lowlands), Caribbean lowlands, Pacific lowlands and Ilanos and tropical rainforest of eastern Colombia. Colombia also possesses small islands in both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

Climate: striking variety in temperature resulting principally from differences in elevation; little seasonal variation. Habitable areas consist of hot (below 900 meters in elevation), temperate (between 900 and 1,980 meters), and cold (from 1,980 meters to about 3,500 meters) climatic zones

Population: 1988 estimated at 28 million

Language: Spanish

Capital: Bagota