Colombia has been home to many
indigenous peoples and cultures since at least 12,000 BCE. The Spanish first landed in
La Guajira in 1499, and by the mid-16th century, they had colonized much of present-day Colombia, and established the
New Kingdom of Granada, with
Santa Fé de Bogotá as its capital.
Independence from the
Spanish Empire was achieved in 1819, with what is now Colombia emerging as the
United Provinces of New Granada. The new polity experimented with federalism as the
Granadine Confederation (1858) and then the
United States of Colombia (1863), before becoming a republic—the current Republic of Colombia—in 1886. With the backing of the United States and France,
Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903, resulting in Colombia's present borders. Beginning in the 1960s, the country has suffered from an asymmetric low-intensity
armed conflict and political violence, both of which escalated in the 1990s. Since 2005, there has been significant improvement in security, stability, and rule of law, as well as unprecedented economic growth and development. Colombia is recognized for its
healthcare system, being the best healthcare in
Latin America according to the
World Health Organization and 22nd in the world. Its
diversified economy is the third-largest in South America, with macroeconomic stability and favorable long-term growth prospects.
The aircraft involved in the accident, pictured on 14 August, 2006
Centurion Air Cargo Flight 164 was a chartered international cargo flight, flying from
Bogota's
El Dorado International Airport while en route to
Miami International Airport. The flight was operated by
Kalitta Air and the aircraft was wet leased by
Centurion Air Cargo. On 7 July 2008, the aircraft, a
Boeing 747-209BSF registered as N714CK, crashed shortly after takeoff. All aboard suffered injuries, but none were killed. Two people on the ground were killed after the plane slammed into a farm. The crash was the second crash of a Boeing 747 in 2008 in Kalitta Air service, after a previous accident at
Brussels in May.
An investigation was launched by Colombian authorities and concluded that the crash was caused by dual engine failures. During its take-off phase, engine #4 and then engine #1 suffered loss of power. The flight crews could not recover the plane, which subsequently crashed into a ranch house. (Full article...)
Born in
Rionegro and raised in
Medellín, Escobar studied briefly at
Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana of Medellín, but left without graduating; he instead began engaging in criminal activity, selling illegal cigarettes and fake lottery tickets, as well as participating in
motor vehicle theft. In the early 1970s, he began to work for various drug smugglers, often
kidnapping and holding people for
ransom. (Full article...)
... that Encanto character Bruno Madrigal was originally named Oscar, but his name was changed due to the number of real-life Oscar Madrigals in Colombia?
... that none of the actors in Poppy Garden, a film depicting a father and son's struggle for survival during the
Colombian conflict, had previously acted in a film?
... that Colombian singer Juanita Lascarro became a
soprano at the
Oper Frankfurt, where she appeared as both Calypso and Penelope in a new production of Dallapiccola's Ulisse?
... that Colombian-born Susan Bernal is developing new cements that can reduce the substantial CO2 emissions currently caused by concrete?
Image 5Cutlet "
Valluna", a typical dish of the
Valle del Cauca region of Colombia and the Afro-Colombian culture of the area near the Pacífic Ocean. It includes a
milanesa, usually prepared with a lean pork loin beef or chicken can also be used. Traditional accompaniments include rice, sliced tomatoes, onions, chopped fried plantains or fries and a drink called "
Lulada" made with
lulo fruit, water and sugar (from Culture of Colombia)
Image 17The
PastoLacquer is a decorative handicraft of
precolumbian origin, that uses a type of natural rubber (the
resin of the
Mopa-mopa tree, Elavagia pastoensis Mora) which is colored and then stretched over woodwork pieces. (from Colombian handicrafts)
Image 18The
Teatro de Cristóbal Colón (The Christopher Columbus Theatre), also known as the "Teatro Colón", is located in Bogotá, Colombia and it is the nation's National Theatre. (from Culture of Colombia)
Image 19The main leader of the Muisca on the
Bogotá savanna at the time of conquest was Tisquesusa. He led numerous efforts to resist Spanish invasion but was eventually killed in battle. His nephew.
Sagipa. succeeded him and soon submitted to the conquistadors. (from History of Colombia)
Source: Wills, Fernando; et al. (2001). Nuestro patrimonio – 100 tesoros de Colombia [Our heritage – 100 treasures of Colombia] (in Spanish).
El Tiempo. pp. 1–311.
ISBN958-8089-16-6.
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List of Colombian departments by elevation - A comprehensive list, like the equivalent article for the U.S., should include each department's high point, low point, the elevation range between the highest point and lowest point, and the average elevation.