Colombia - Geographical Curiosities, #4

The Republic of Colombia can be found at the top-right hand corner of the continent of South America. It stretches back to the pre-Columbian era, when a number of different indigenous civilizations, such as the Tairona, the Muisca, and the Quimbaya, inhabited the territory.  This region has a rich history that dates back to this time period. Conquistadors from Spain first arrived in the area in the 16th century and began building colonies there, thereby laying the foundation for the Spanish Empire in Colombia.  The Spanish colonial rule had a profound effect on the native populations throughout the course of the subsequent few centuries.
A campaign for independence from Spanish authority began in the early 19th century, and by 1810, the first steps towards independence had been accomplished. In 1819, the area that is now Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela were all included in the territory that was designated as the Republic of Colombia. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Colombia was subject to enormous political and social shifts, including the emergence of drug cartels, civil wars, and territorial conflicts.  The country has continued to develop and has made major achievements in recent years, becoming an important role in South America and the world. There are tropical rainforests in the Amazon Basin, high-altitude peaks in the Andes Mountains, and coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean in the country of Colombia. This makes Colombia a country with a diversified topography.
Because of this diversity, there is a large variety of climates and weather patterns, ranging from equatorial and tropical regions to mountainous regions, which each have their own unique microclimates. In addition, the country is home to an astonishingly extensive variety of flora and wildlife, including more than 60, 000 different kinds of plant life and untold numbers of animal species.  Because of its exceptionally high level of biological diversity, Colombia has earned the distinction of being a global "hotspot" for biodiversity due to its status as one of the world's most ecologically varied countries. In addition to having a rich natural legacy, Colombia also has a diversified cultural heritage.
Its folklore, traditions, food, music, and dance are all influenced by a rich blend of indigenous, African, and Spanish cultures, which can be observed in many aspects of Colombian life. Because of its rich cultural tapestry as well as its breathtaking natural beauty, Colombia is a country that is genuinely one of a kind, fascinating, and full of opportunities to explore and uncover new things.