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Location:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and
Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and
Panama
Geographic coordinates:
4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references:
South America, Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:
1,138,910 sq km
land:
1,038,700 sq km
water:
100,210 sq km
note:
includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
Area—comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total:
7,408 km
border countries:
Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela
2,050 km
Coastline:
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Climate:
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern
lowland plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Nevado del Huila 5,750 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
1%
permanent pastures:
39%
forests and woodland:
48%
other:
8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
5,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic
droughts
Environment—current issues:
deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution,
especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment—international agreements:
party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping
Geography—note:
only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and
Caribbean Sea
Source: CIA World Fact Book
