Colombia Essay, Research Paper

COLOMBIA

Climate

The climate, however, varies with the elevation. The low regions

along the coast and the deep Pat?a and Magdalena river valleys are

torrid, with mean annual temperatures of 75? to 80? F. From about

1500 to 7500 ft the climate is subtropical, and from about 7500 to

10,000 ft it is temperate. Above about 10,000 ft is the cold-climate

zone, where temperatures range from 0? to 55? F. The average

January and July temperatures in Bogot? are 58? F and 57? F,

respectively. The averages for the same months in Barranquilla are

80? F and 82? F. Throughout the year, three-month periods of rain

and dry weather alternate. Along the Pacific coast precipitation is

heavy. At Bogot? the annual rainfall averages about 40 in, and in

Barranquilla it averages about 32 in. Dry weather prevails on the

slopes of the Eastern Cordillera.

Government

Colombia has a Republican form of government. Colombia has a

president who is elected by popular vote. He is chosen by any

man or woman 18 years or older. The president can serve one four

year term. He appoints a cabinet which has to be approved by

congress. Congress is composed of a House of Representatives

(199 members) and a Senate (112 members).

Land Area

The total land area of the country is 440,831 sq. mi. The capital

and largest city is Bogota.

Population Characteristics, Religion, and

Language

The population of Colombia (1993 estimate) was 34,942,767,

giving the country an overall population density of about 79 per

sq. mi. About 95 percent of the people are Roman Catholics.

Small Protestant and Jewish minorities exist. The official

language of Colombia is Spanish. The racial makeup of the

Colombian population is diversified. About half the people are

mestizo (of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry), about

20 percent are of unmixed European ancestry, and about 14

percent are mulatto (of mixed black and white ancestry). The

remaining 8 percent is made up of blacks, Native Americans, and

people of mixed race.

History

In 1538 Spanish conquistadors founded New Granada. In 1717

Bogota became the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada

which consisted of present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and

Venezuela. In 1819 Simon Bolivar defeated Spanish troops near

Bogota and became the first president of the new republic of Gran

Colombia.

Currency

The basic unit of currency is the Colombian peso (829 pesos equal

U.S.$1; 1994).

Natural Resources

The mineral resources of the country are varied and extensive.

Colombia is the major world source of emeralds. Other significant

reserves include petroleum and natural gas, coal, gold, silver, iron

ore, salt, platinum, and some uranium.

Compulsive Age Of Education

There isn’t a standard age for the beginning of education for the

Colombian child. All that is required is five years of education for

each student. 85% of all Colombian children over age 15 can read

and write. To make a comparison, in the United States schooling

begins at age 5 and is mandatory to age 16.