Coastline:
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
More Climate Details

Terrain:
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)

Elevation:
mean elevation: 593 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 37.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 1.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 34.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 54.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 8.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
10,900 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
the majority of people live in the north and west where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated

Natural hazards:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

volcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace

Environment - current issues:
deforestation resulting from timber exploitation in the jungles of the Amazon and the region of Chocó; illicit drug crops grown by peasants in the national parks; soil erosion; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea