Flora and Fauna

Because of Colombia’s geographic diversity, 33% of its flora and 12% of its terrestrial vertebrates are not found anywhere else on Earth. Colombia has mountain ranges with peaks of over 18,000 feet, deep valleys, forests, and wide flat grasslands called llanos. The Magdelana River flows through the heart of Colombia. It rises in the Andes Mountains and empties into the Caribbean Sea at Baranquilla. Tributaries of the Amazon and Orinco rivers flow though the grasslands and the Amazon forests. There are tropical beaches, coral reefs, coastal lagoons, marshes and swamps. Since Colombia has both Atlantic and Pacific coastlines, and highlands and lowlands, as well as tropical, desert and temperate climates, it is home to an amazing array of plants and animals. 

The flora of Colombia is affected by altitude and rainfall. The coastal areas contain palms, succulent plants, and scrub forest. As the altitude increases, cacti and bushes that can withstand the hot dry winds thrive.

Coffee, one of Colombia’s most important crops, grows in the cooler, greener altitudes. Coffee is embedded in Colombia, in its people, in the farmers, in the industry, in the national production, and in the economy. It has always been the main product of the Colombian economy.

Roses, orchids, daisies, roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums are grown in Colombia. Mangos, papayas, limes, melons, avocados, bananas, zapote, lulo, curuba, uchuva, fraijoa, granadilla, mamey and pitahayaand figs are some of the fruits one might find in this country.

The humpback whale migrates each year from the Antarctic to the Pacific through the waters of Colombia. Colombia is home to monkeys, wild cats, bears, deer, tapirs, armadillos, raccoons, sloths, anteaters, crocodiles, vicunas, eels and piranhas. Colombia also has the world's largest variety of butterflies.

Colombia possesses 1,885 bird species, more than any other country in the world, and more than 50,000 plant species.

A new species, the Yarigules brush finch, was discovered in 2006 in the remote Yarigules mountains, and was named  for the indigenous tribe that once inhabited the mountainous area where it was discovered. Macaws, toucans, jacamars, and cotingas inhabit Colombia’s tropical rainforests. The Andean condor is Colombia’s national animal. It is also the world’s largest bird of prey.

There are many threats to the Colombian ecosystems. These include deforestation, damage to soil and water quality from the overuse of pesticides, air pollution, coral bleaching, water pollution, erosion, over-harvesting, and logging.

The main agricultural products of Colombia include coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables, forest products, and shrimp.

Colombia has substantial oil reserves and is a major producer of gold, silver, emeralds, platinum and coal. Its natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, copper, and hydropower.