Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Ecuador and Panama

4 00 N, 72 00 W

South America, Central America and the Caribbean

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

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

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

3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448
km)

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes
Mountains, eastern lowland plains

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel,
gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 39%
forests and woodland: 48%
other: 8% (1993 est.)

5,300 sq km (1993 est.)

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
earthquakes; periodic droughts

deforestation; soil damage from overuse
of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
emissions

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping

only South American country with coastlines on both
North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea