Andean natural region

Andean Regions
Ecology
Ecozone	Neotropic
Biome	Dry Forest, Rainforest, Mountain Forest, Páramo
Geography
Country	Colombia
Rivers	Magdalena, Cauca
Climate type	Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate

The Andes mountains form the most populated region of Colombia and contain the majority of the country's urban centers.^[1] They were also the location of the most significant pre-Columbian indigenous settlements. Beyond the Colombian Massif in the south-western departments of Cauca and Nariño, the Colombian Andes divide into three branches known as "cordilleras" (from the Spanish for mountain range): the West Andes run adjacent to the Pacific coast and is home to the city of Cali. The Central Andes run up the center of the country between the Cauca and Magdalena river valleys (to the west and east respectively) and includes the cities of Medellín, Manizales and Pereira. The East Andes extend northeast towards the Guajira Peninsula, and includes the cities of Bogotá, Bucaramanga and Cúcuta.

The climate and vegetation of the region vary considerably according to altitude, but as a general rule the land can be divided into the tierra caliente (hot land) of river valleys and basins below 1,000 m; the more temperate conditions of the tierra templada (temperate land, approximately 1,000 m to 2,000 m) and tierra fría (cold land, 2,000 m to 3,200 m), which include the most productive land and the majority of the population; and the alpine conditions of the zona forestada (forested zone, 3,200 m to 3,900 m), páramos (3,900 m to 4,600 m) and tierra helada (frozen land, 4,600 m and above).

Biogeographical subregions

• Pasto Massif
• Colombian Massif
• West Andes
• Central Andes
• East Andes
• Cauca River Valley
• Magdalena River Valley

Protected areas

West Andes from south to north: Munchique, Farallones de Cali, Tatamá, Las Orquideas, Paramillo

See also

• West Andes
• Central Andes
• East Andes
• Paisa Region

References

1. (Spanish) MEMO: Natural Regions of Colombia Memo.com.co Accessed 22 August 2007.