Date of independence, or formation date: 1819
Date when current borders were established: 1903
National day: July 20
Vehicle country identifying code: CO
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): -5
International telephone dialling code: +57
Internet country identifying code: .co

Lying in northwest South America, Colombia has coastlines on both the Caribbean and the Pacific. The east is densely forested and sparsely populated, and separated from the western coastal plains by the Andes mountains. The Andes divide into three ranges (cordilleras) in Colombia. The eastern range is divided from the two western ranges by the densely populated Magdalena River valley. The Colombian lowlands are very wet, hot, and fertile, supporting two harvests and allowing many crops to be planted at any time of year. A state plagued by instability and violence, Colombia is noted for its coffee, emeralds, gold, and narcotics trafficking.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004