ColombiaCarlos Rodado Noriega(Minister of Mines and

Energy)

Land & Water Land: 1,038,700 sq km

Water: 100,210 sq km

Climate & Vegetation

Tropical, however cooler in highlands and mountains.

Natural Resources Petroleum

Natural gas Coal

Iron ore

Nickel

Gold

Copper

•Emeralds

•Hydropower

History

Independence Independence from Spain

Simon Bolivar

Declared: July 20th , 1810

Recognized: August 7th , 1819

21st Century Actively trying to eradicate country of Guerilla Groups

Huge wealth divide. Attempting to fix.

Good relations with USA, EU. – Plan Colombia

Attempting to obtain free trade agreement with USA.

Big player in UNASUL

Information

Economic Systems Capitalist

Free Economy – Minimal Government Intervention

Political Systems Republic

First Constitutional Government

Executive Branch Dominates

Leader: President Juan Manuel Santos

Statistics GDP: $435.5 Billion (29 in world)

GDP per Capita: $9,800 (110 in World)

Unemployment: 11.8%

Imports: Industrial equipment, Transportation equipment, Consumer goods, Chemicals, Paper products, Fuels, Electricity.

Exports: Petroleum, Coffee, Coal, Nickel, Emeralds, Apparel, Bananas, Cut flowers

US 42%, EU 12.6%, China 5.2%, Ecuador 4.5%

Statistics Life Expectancy:

Male: 71.27 years Female: 78.03 year

Death Rate:

5.26 deaths/1,000 population

Urban Population:

75% of total population

Culture

Demographics Population: 44,725,543 People: Mestizo 58%, White 20%, Mulatto

14%, Black 4%, Mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%

Cultures & Traditions Mixed European, African & Indigenous

Old Encomienda System Carnival

Food, Music, Language

Official Language: Spanish Cumbia – Latin American Music and Dance, Originated in

Colombia.

Vallenato

Salsa (From Cuba)

Ajiaco(Chicken, Corn, Potato Stew)

Roasted Ants

Indigenous Bananas

Famous People Stella Arroyave – Sir Anthony Hopkins Wife

Shakira

Juan Pablo Montoya

Iván Ramiro Córdoba Sepúlveda Football Player (Inter)

Pablo Escobar

Questions

Region Latin America

Northern South America

Just Below Central America

What Makes It Special?

Separates Central America from Southern America.

Important country in South America Actively trying to pacify Drug Trade.

Strong ally of USA / Neighbor of Venezuela

Similarities Latin American Country

Culture

Language

Strong opposition groups

Problems with Drug Trade

Mining

Differences Very Friendly with USA

Strong Democracy

Strong position against Drug Traffickers

Sources www.cia.gov

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/economy/20884-colombian-ambassador-defends-free-trade-agreement.html

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/126016/Colombia