International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela
in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in
highlands
Terrain: 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
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel,
gold, copper, emeralds
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 29%
forest and woodland: 49%
other: 16%
Irrigated land: 5,150 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of
pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
emissions
natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
earthquakes; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: only South American country with coastlines on
both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
People ———
Population: 36,813,161 (July 1996 est.)