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
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 1,038,700 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 100,210 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank
country comparison to the world: 27

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Area comparison map: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 6,672 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (5): Brazil 1,790 km, Ecuador 708 km, Panama 339 km, Peru 1,494 km, Venezuela 2,341 km

Coastline:
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
More Climate Details

Terrain:
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)

Elevation:
mean elevation: 593 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 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:
agricultural land: 37.5% arable land 1.4%; permanent crops 1.6%; permanent pasture 34.5%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 54.4%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 8.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
10,900 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
the majority of people live in the north and west where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated

Natural hazards:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
volcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace

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 the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea