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Basic Facts

SOME REASONS WHY  YOU SHOULD VISIT

• Amazingly diverse geography from Andean mountains to Amazon lowlands.
• 3rd highest capital in South America, Bogotá 2600m.
• Only country in South America with both a Pacific & Caribbean coast.
• More species of flora and fauna per sq.m. than any other place in the world including 3000 species of orchids, jaguar, armadillo & ocelot.
• Produces 50% of all world's emeralds.
• Fantastic coral reefs in the archipelagos of San Andres and Isla del Rosario
• Nobel Prize Winner- Gabriel García Márquez.
• World famous artist Fernando Botero
• Famous  colonial city and UNESCO world heritage site- Cartagena de Indias.
• Home of the Lost City - largest ancient city in Latin America.
• Oldest democracy in South America.

Location:         4 00 N 7200W  see map

Borders:          Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil and Panama.

Population:       44 million

Capital city:     Bogotá,   pop.   approx. 7 million, altitude 2,640m                                  

Religion           95% catholic

Ethnic             58%   mestizo,  20%  white,  14% mulatto,  4%  black,  3% zamba, 1%  Indian

Literacy           67% in urban areas  53% in rural

GMT                 -5 hours 

Dialling Code     57

Independence   (from Spain) 20 July 1810 

Industries:      textiles, food, oil, gold, chemicals, cement, coal, beverages, emeralds

Natural resources:  coal, petroleum, gas, iron ore, nickel, gold,  silver, copper, hydropower, emeralds

Agriculture:  coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn , sugar cane, cocoa, beans, oil seed, vegetables, shrimp.

Exports:  USA - 47.3%,  Ecuador - 6%, Venezuela - 5.3%

Imports:  USA - 29%, Brazil - 5%, Mexico -5%

Economy:     GDP  281 billion US dollars

                       GDP growth   3.6%

                       GDP per capita  $6,600

Unemployment  13.4%

Inflation    5.9%

Labour force : agriculture 30%, industry 24%, services 46%

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Contact : webmaster@realcolombia.co.uk

  HARD FACTS 

• 64% of population lives below the poverty line.

• 2 million colombians have been displaced as a result of the troubles.

• Estimated 4000 deaths annually as a result of the conflict.

• Gross national income (GNI) per capita $1,900

 www.fundacionpiesdescalzos.com

 

What does it cost? Beer-  Imported £1.25         Local          £0.25 Coffee (tinto)     £0.12 Coca cola            £0.17 Gallon of petrol   £1 CD                     £10 Hotel  Low          £10 Mid to High        £35-60 Taxi El Dorado airport to Zona Rosa, Bga £4 to £5 £1 = 4,500 approx Colombian pesos (COP) For currency converter click link below:  www.xe.com/ucc/