Gersyko postcards: COLOMBIA

Colombia's history began well over 13,000 years ago,

as evidence of human occupation dates to that era.

Over time, many Andean and Caribbean cultures inhabited the area,

including the Tayrona, Sinú, Muisca, Quimbaya, Tolima, Calima,

Tierradentro, San Agustín, Nariño and Tumaco peoples.

The Spanish arrived along the coastal areas of Colombia in the early 1500s
and the country became Spain's chief source of gold ;

Cartagena and Bogota were founded by mid-century.

Spain eventually increased taxation of the colonists
to fund their home-front war expenses,

and the subsequent anger and uprising

that occurred were the seeds of the revolution to come.

In 1819, Simon Bolivar (a national hero) and his armies defeated the Spanish,

and the independent Republic of Gran was formed ;

it included Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.

By the early 20th century,

all of the original partners had withdrawn from the association, and in 1905,

Colombia was finally on its own.

Since then it has survived a hurricane of political assassinations,

internal governmental conflicts, guerrilla activities and drug wars.

After all of that it remains one of the most attractive

and mysterious countries on the South American continent.

Political and internal unrest, has for the most part,

limited tourism to the Caribbean coastal resorts and towns,

with special emphasis on Cartagena.

International business travel is commonplace (to and from)

the country's major cities.

Flag of COLOMBIA

The current flag of Colombia was officially adopted on December 17, 1819.

The flag features three horizontal bands of yellow (double-width), blue and red. Colors of the flag are commonly interpreted in two ways :

One version indicates that the yellow symbolizes sovereignty and justice, blue as loyalty and vigilance, and red represents the valor shown and the victory achieved during the battles for independence from Spain.

A very popular children's song claims that yellow represents the gold Colombia once owned until the arrival of the Spanish, blue indicates the country's contact with two oceans and red represents the blood that Colombians spent in their struggle for independence from Spain.

National Anthem of COLOMBIA :

Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia) is the official name of the national anthem of Colombia.

The official announcement came in the form of Act 33 of October 28 of 1920. The law 198 of 1995, which legislates national symbols, its distribution became mandatory in all radio and television in the country both at 6:00 am as at 18:00 h (the latter half, at various times for private open signal and not applicable to national TV channels by cable), and public intervention in the President of the Republic and other official events.

Lyrics :

Spanish lyrics	English translation
CORO	CHORUS
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! ¡Oh júbilo inmortal! En surcos de dolores el bien germina ya.	O unfading glory! O immortal joy! In furrows of pain the good now germinates.
I	I
Cesó la horrible noche, la libertad sublime derrama las auroras de su invencible luz. La humanidad entera, que entre cadenas gime, comprende las palabras del que murió en la cruz.	The horrible night has ceased, the sublime liberty spills the auroras of its invincible light. All humanity, which moans within chains, understands the words of He who died on the Cross.
II	II
"¡Independencia!" grita el mundo americano; se baña en sangre de héroes la tierra de Colón. Pero este gran principio, "El rey no es soberano"^[1] resuena, y los que sufren bendicen su pasión.	"Independence!" cries the American world; soaked in blood of heroes the land of Columbus. Still, one great principle, "The king is not sovereign", resounds, and those who suffer bless their passion.
III	III
Del Orinoco el cauce se colma de despojos, de sangre y llanto un río se mira allí correr. En Bárbula no saben las almas ni los ojos, si admiración o espanto sentir o padecer.	The Orinoco's bed fills with the remains, of blood and tears a river is there seen flowing. In Bárbula they don't know the souls nor the eyes, if admiration or horror feel or suffer.
IV	IV
A orillas del Caribe, hambriento un pueblo lucha, horrores prefiriendo a pérfida salud. ¡Oh, sí!, de Cartagena la abnegación es mucha, y escombros de la muerte desprecia su virtud.	On the shores of the Caribbean, famished the people fight, horrors preferring to treacherous health. O, aye! for Cartagena the abnegation is much, and the shambles of death its courage despises .
V	V
De Boyacá en los campos, el genio de la gloria, con cada espiga un héroe invicto coronó. Soldados sin coraza ganaron la victoria; su varonil aliento de escudo les sirvió.	From Boyacá in the fields, the genius of glory, for every ear a hero undefeated crowned. Soldiers without breastplate won victory; their virile breath as shield served.
VI	VI
Bolívar cruza el Andes que riegan dos océanos, espadas cual centellas fulguran en Junín. Centauros indomables descienden a los llanos, y empieza a presentirse, de la epopeya el fin.	Bolivar crosses the Andes that two oceans bathe, swords as sparks shine in Junín. Untameable centaurs descend to the plains, and a prescience begins to be felt, of the epic the end.
VII	VII
La trompa victoriosa en Ayacucho truena, que en cada triunfo crece su formidable son. En su expansivo empuje la libertad se estrena, del cielo americano formando un pabellón.	The victorious trumpet in Ayacucho thunders, that in every triumph grows its formidable sound. In its expansive thrust Liberty is worn for the first time, from the American sky a pavilion forming.
VIII	VIII
La virgen sus cabellos arranca en agonía y de su amor viuda los cuelga del ciprés. Lamenta su esperanza que cubre loza fría, pero glorioso orgullo circunda su alba tez.	The virgin her hairs pulls out in agony and from her beloved widowed hangs them on a cypress. Regretting her hope covered by a cold headstone, but glorious pride hallows her fair skin.
IX	IX
La patria así se forma, termópilas brotando; constelación de cíclopes su noche iluminó. La flor estremecida mortal el viento hallando, debajo los laureles seguridad buscó.	Thus the motherland is formed, Thermopylaes are breaking forth; constellation of cyclops its night brightened. The trembling flower finding the wind mortal, underneath the laurels safety sought.
X	X
Mas no es completa gloria vencer en la batalla, que el brazo que combate lo anima la verdad. La independencia sola el gran clamor no acalla; si el sol alumbra a todos, justicia es libertad.	But it's not complete glory to defeat in battle, that the arm that fights is encouraged by truth. Independence alone The great clamour doesn't silence; if the sun illuminates everyone, justice is liberty.
XI	XI
Del hombre los derechos Nariño predicando, el alma de la lucha profético enseñó. Ricaurte en San Mateo, en átomos volando, "Deber antes que vida," con llamas escribió.	From men the rights Nariño's preaching, the soul of struggle prophetically taught. Ricaurte in San Mateo, in atoms flying, "Duty before life," with flames he wrote.

Location :

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

Maps :

Area :

Total : 1 138 914 sq km
Land : 1 109 104 sq km

Water : 100 210 sq km

Note : includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank.

Coastline :

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

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

Terrain :

Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains.

Natural resources :

Petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower.

Climate :

Current weather : tropical along coast and eastern plains, cooler in highlands.

Population :

44 205 293 (Estimation 2010)

Nationality :

Demonym : Colombian

Ethnic groups :

Mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%.

Religions :

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%.

Languages :

Spanish.

Country name :

Conventional long form : Republic of Colombia

Conventional short form : Colombia

Local long form : Republica de Colombia

Local short form : Colombia

ISO country code :

co

Government type :

Republic. Executive branch dominates government structure.

Capital :

Bogotá (population of the city : 7 332 788 - 2010 census ; colombian largest city)

Other major cities :

Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena.

Administrative divisions :

32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada.

Independance :

20 July 1810 (from Spain).

National holiday :

Independence Day, 20 July.

Constitution :

5 July 1991 ; amended many times.

Executive branch :

Chief of state : President Francisco SANTOS Calderon (elected on 20 June 2010) ; Vice President (coming soon).
Note : the president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Head of government : President Francisco SANTOS Calderon.

Cabinet : Ministries of the Government or "Government" are composed of the premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other individuals ; all are appointed by the president.

Elections : president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term) ; election last held on 20 June 2010.

Election results : coming soon.

Legislative branch :

Bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats ; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats ; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms).

Judicial branch :

Four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law ; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms) ; Council of State (highest court of administrative law ; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms) ; Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution ; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties) ; Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms).