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 |
| Area: | total: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
water: 100,210 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly less than three times the size of Montana |
| Land boundaries: | total: 6,004 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km |
| Coastline: | 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.42%
other: 95.91% (2001)
permanent crops: 1.67% |
| Irrigated land: | 8,500 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts |
| Environment - current issues: | deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
| Geography - note: | only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
Source: CIA World Factbook
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