Coat of arms of Colombia

The coat of arms of Colombia contains a shield with numerous symbols. Perched on top of the shield is an Andean Condor holding an olive crown and the condor symbolizing freedom.

The national motto, Libertad y Orden (Spanish for Liberty and Order), is on a scroll in between the bird and the shield in black font over golden background. The condor is depicted facing front with his wings extended and looking to the right.

Description

The national flag is draped on each side of the shield. The shield is broken into three portions. In the lowermost portion is a depiction of ships, pointing to the maritime history of Colombia — namely to the Isthmus of Panama — which was part of Colombia until 1903. Nowadays, it represents the two oceans that border the country (Atlantic and Pacific). The sails mean the Colombian commerce with the rest of the world and the rising economy.

In the middle section, over a field of platinum, the Phrygian cap is presented; this being a traditional symbol of liberty and freedom. The topmost section contains a pomegranate over a field of azure, as a symbol of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (early colonial name of Colombia back in 19th century) in the middle, flanked by two cornucopias by Francisco de Paula Santander. It was adopted via Act 3 of May 9, 1834 with later non-essential modifications according to Ordinance 861 of 1924.

Criticism

Some critics have argued that the coat of arms is outdated and anachronistic, being the Andean Condor a very threatened species in the country, with barely 100 creatures soaring the landscape.

It has also been discussed that the condor is still a vulture and feeds of carrion, making it an animal with a low profile that never hunts its own food. In addition, the andean condor is also the national bird of Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

The pomegranate, being a Mediterranean fruit, is not currently cultivated in Colombia and the phrygian cap is of Greek origin. The Isthmus of Panama, no longer belonging to Colombia, has also been suggested to be changed.

Flag of Republic of Colombia

The flag of Colombia was adopted on November 26, 1861.

It was designed by Francisco de Miranda.

It is a horizontal tricolour of yellow, blue and red. The yellow stripe takes up the top half of the flag and the blue and red take up a quarter of the space each.

Symbolism and design

The horizontal stripes (from top to bottom) of yellow, blue and red tricolour have a ratio of 2:1:1. It—together with that of Ecuador, also derived from the flag of Gran Colombia—is different from most other tricolour flags, either vertical or horizontal, in having stripes which are not equal in size. (Venezuela, whose flag is also derived from the same source, opted for a more conventional tricolour with equal strips).

According to the current interpretation, the colours signify:

• Yellow: represents all the gold found in the Colombian land
• Blue: represents the seas on Colombia’s shores
• Red: represents the blood spilled on the battlegrounds by the heroes who gained Colombia’s freedom

Other variations on the interpretation of the colours exist, such as, “Yellow, for the sun and land of the people. Blue, for the water that holds up the people and finally, Red, for the blood shed by the people who fought for the independence of Colombia.”

Although there are no regulations stating the proportion of the flag, it traditionally is established at 2:3.

History

Flag of Colombia on the tall ship ARC Gloria

Francisco de Miranda was the person who originally created the common yellow, blue and red flag of Gran Colombia that Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, with slight variations, share today. Miranda gave at least two sources of inspiration for his flag.

In a letter written to Count Simon Romanovich Woronzoff (Vorontsov) in 1792, Miranda stated that the colours were based on a theory of primary colours given to him by the German writer and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Miranda described a late-night conversation which he had with Goethe at a party in Weimar during the winter of 1785. Fascinated with Miranda’s account of his exploits in the United States Revolutionary War and his travels throughout the Americas and Europe, Goethe told him that, “Your destiny is to create in your land a place where primary colours are not distorted.” He proceeded to clarify what he meant:

“First he explained to me the way the iris transforms light into the three primary colours [...] then he proved to me why yellow is the most warm, noble and closest to [white] light; why blue is that mix of excitement and serenity, a distance that evokes shadows; and why red is the exaltation of yellow and blue, the synthesis, the vanishing of light into shadow.

It is not that the world is made of yellows, blues and reds; it is that in this manner, as if in an infinite combination of these three colours, we human beings see it. [...] A country starts out from a name and a flag, and it then becomes them, just as a man fulfils his destiny.
”

Colombian flag from San Felipe de Barajas’ fortress, Colombia

After Miranda later designed his flag based on this conversation, he happily recalled seeing a fresco by Lazzaro Tavarone in the Palazzo Belimbau in Genoa that depicted Christopher Columbus unfurling a similar-coloured flag in Veragua during his fourth voyage.

In his military diary, Miranda gave another possible source of inspiration: the yellow, blue and red standard of the Burger Guard (Bürgerwache) of Hamburg, which he also saw during his travels in Germany.

In the 1801 plan for an army to liberate Spanish America, which he submitted unsuccessfully to the British cabinet, Miranda requested the materials for “ten flags, whose colours shall be red, yellow and blue, in three zones.” However, the first flag was not raised until March 12, 1806, in Jacmel, Haiti, during his ill-fated expedition to Venezuela.

Past flags

Provisional Flag of the State of New Granada (1830-1834)

Flag of the Republic of New Granada (1834 – 1858)

Flag of the Granadine Confederation (1857-1861)

Flag of the United States of New Granada (1861)

Flag of the United States of Colombia (1861-1886)

View of Barranquilla's skyline, the Magdalena river flowing into the Caribbean sea in the background. Barranquilla is Considered the capital of the Colombian Caribbean.

The Caribbean Region or Caribbean Coast Region is a natural region of Colombia mainly composed of eight Departments located contiguous to the Caribbean.

The area covers a total land area of 132,288 km2 (51,077 sq mi) including the San Andres Island Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina in the Caribbean sea and corresponding to approximately 1/10 of the total territory of Colombia. The Caribbean region of Colombia is home to approximately 9 million people according to the Colombian Census 2005.

The area is characterized for having a massif plain that extends from the Colombian Andean Mountain range, surrounds the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range and covers the Guajira Peninsula to border the Caribbean sea. In the western side of the region there is also a relative low altitude mountain range, the Montes de Maria which are also separate from the Andean mountain range.

The Caribbean region is crossed by many rivers and contains one of the largest marshes in Colombia, the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta marsh among many others. The main river is the Magdalena River which is fully navigable in the region and a major path for the flow of shipments from and for inland Colombia. The Madgalena river has numerous sub basins within its basin.

The Caribbean region coast extends from the Gulf of Uraba to the Gulf of Venezuela with the main port cities of Barranquilla and Cartagena bordering it. The administration of the region is covered by eight department governments; Atlántico, Bolívar, Cesar, Sucre, Córdoba, Magdalena, La Guajira and San Andrés y Providencia.

These 8 departments also cover approximately 182 municipalities, 1093 corregimientos and 493 caserios according to the 2005 Census by DANE. Most of its inhabitants speak a dialect of Caribbean Spanish with variations within its subregions.

Geographical Sub-regions

The Caribbean region contains 6 subregions which differ in certain natural aspects.

• Guajira Peninsula region
• Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region
• Magdalena river mouth
• Caribbean savanna
• Valley of the Sinú River
• Valley of the San Jorge

Administrative Divisions Within Region

The Caribbean region is formed by the Departments of:

• Atlántico Department
• Bolívar Department
• Cesar Department
• Córdoba Department
• La Guajira Department
• Magdalena Department
• San Andrés and Providencia Department
• Sucre

Partial territory pertaining to:

• Antioquia Department: in the Gulf of Urabá most of the territory of the subregion of Urabá Antioquia
• Chocó Department: covering a small territory in the Gulf of Urabá. Chocó is the only Department of Colombia with coasts on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans

Protected Areas in the Caribbean Region

• Parque Nacional Natural corales del Rosario y San Bernardo
• Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
• Tayrona National Natural Park
• Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
• Parque Nacional Natural Macuira
• Santuario de Fauna y Flora los Colorados
• Flamingos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
• El Corchal Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
• Island of Salamanca Park Way

Demographics

Caribbean region of Colombia colored in tan and the other four Natural Regions of Colombia. Some sources often consider the insular region which is composed by the Colombian islands overseas from mainland Colombia, however these regions are still within the range of the region.

The predominant ethnic group in the region is the mestizo, a mixture of white people of European descent, mainly Spanish, the indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombian.

The region also presented human immigration coming from Europe and the Middle East mostly from Lebanon, Syria and Turkey during the early 20th Century which was followed by a second wave during World War II. Most of the immigrants settled in the main urban centers or trade port towns such as in Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Cartagena, Sincelejo, Santa Cruz de Mompox, El Banco, etc.

The two most populated indigenous ethnic groups are the wayuu in the Guajira Peninsula and the Arhuacos, Koguis and Arsarios. Black population is mostly concentrated near Cartagena predominantly in the town of San Basilio de Palenque which was proclaimed Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO for preserving its African heritage.

There are 9.746.886 inhabitants in the Colombian Caribbean Region of Colombia in 2010, with a population density of 73.71 inhabitants per square kilometers. According with Dane population projection there will be 10.441.463 in 2015 and 11.142.852 in 2020.

The principal metropolitan area is Barranquilla Metropolitan Area with 1.836.331 inhabitants.

Economy

The economy of the Caribbean region is based mainly in the exploitation of natural resources such coal and natural gas, salt, agricultural products mainly bananas, coffee and oil palm, cotton, tropical fruits among many other products, livestock raising which is practiced extensively in almost all the territory, in Córdoba, Sucre, Atlántico, Magdalena, Bolívar, Cesar and southern La Guajira.

There is also a service industry and a local import-export industry mainly in the ports of Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta. Another major part of the economy is tourism, which concentrates also in Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta along with San Andres and Providencia Islands.

Culture

Monument to the dance and music of cumbia

Known for its peacefulness and easygoing demeanor, the inhabitants from the region enjoy a warm climate and a clean and calm seaboard which is the main pillar of their identity. The men and women of the region are festive, easygoing and very peaceful, often choosing to ignore or refuse confrontation whilst keeping a healthy attitude of debate and passionate argumentation without violence. However, the region is known for giving the country its most prominent fighters and also for harboring some communities which pursue human excellence through the academic and physical endeavors and undertakings.

The inhabitants are also hard-working and the cities are very festive but also very committed to progress and development in several areas, particularly educational ones as the interest of the latest administrations has been to develop technology and science as a tool for increased productivity and sustenance as well as economical development and progress.

It has been always a basis of the culture the cultivation of intellectual traits and virtues. It is why taxicab drivers are known to be well-versed in many religious and/or philosophical themes and topics and why people can easily start conversations with strangers on a waiting line to debate topics that can range from politics to science, a particular point of interest to the city and especially to the last generations who are avid readers of scientific material which has propelled the social and cultural development through academia and intellectual activities. The city is known to many for this and it is said that “even the poorest man in the city is rich in wisdom in the country” for this cultural trait.

Sports

Like in the rest of Colombia, Soccer is by far the most popular sport in the zone, with teams like Junior of Barranquilla, Real Cartagena and Union Magdalena competing in the first and second divisions of the country. The Caribbean region has been the home of succeful Soccer players, many of them world famous like Carlos Valderrama and Radamel Falcao.

Unlike in rest of the country and shared with Venezuela, Baseball is an important sport in the region, although its popularity has been fading in the last few years. Nevertheless, the region has produced major league players like Edgar Rentería and Orlando Cabrera.

The region also is known for its love of combat sports. Boxing is a popular sport in certain zone and the region had produced many world champions like Miguel “Happy” Lora.

Music and Dance

The Sombrero Vueltiao is the most representative element of the Caribbean region of Colombia, it was later adopted as a symbol of the national identity of Colombia.

The most popular local rhythms are the cumbia and vallenato however, there is a great musical influence from the rest of the Caribbean nations with Salsa, merengue, more recently reggaeton and many Afro-Caribbean rhythms. This influence also developed the Champeta which has similarities with reggaeton. Other genres include porro.

Traditional dances are mostly of Afro-Colombian origin with the influence in cumbia and the mapalé.

Myths and Legends

The Caribbean region has a rich tradition of myths and legeds that include La Llorona, El Hombre Caimán, La Ciguapa, the Vallenato Legend, La Madre Monte, El Simborcito, la Mojana Legend, El Lucio, etc.

Celebrations

The most popular and known celebration in the Caribbean region is the Carnival of Barranquilla celebrated every year in February. The Miss Colombia Pageant in Cartagena, the Vallenato Legend Festival in Valledupar, Feast of the Sea in Santa Marta and the Corralejas Festivities in Sincelejo.

Cuisine

The typical food of the Caribbean region varies according to the geographical location in the sabanas the typical meal is the sancocho made with rabo (cow’s tail) and accompanied with Coconut rice. In the coast the typical meal is fish, sometimes fried or sometimes cooked in coconut milk.

A popular soup is also prepared with the head of the Sabalo, yuca, plantain, coconut milk, lime and salt. The arepa is also a popular dish with numerous variations like arepa limpia (plain arepa), arepa e’ queso (arepa with cheese) and arepa e’huevo (arepa with egg.

A northern view of the Aburrá Valley from Barrio Buenos Aires, Medellín

Aburrá Valley (in Spanish Valle de Aburrá), is the natural basin of the Medellín River and one of the most populous valleys of Colombia in its Andean Region with near 3 million inhabitants. The valley is located on the Central Range, over the Antioquian Mountain just between the Magdalean and Cauca valleys from east to west.

The name “Aburrá” comes from an ancient language spoken in the place by the “Aburreans” (Aburraes) before the Spaniards settled the place during the 16th century.

The valley is oriented from south to north being the south the highest level and the north the low level. The altitudes of the mountains around the valley (west and east mountains), can reach up to 2,800 meters above the sea level. The lowest level is 1,300 meters above the sea level.

From its north natural limit to its southern part, the valley is 60 kilometers long, while there are several varieties in its wide, being the wider part the one that corresponds to the municipality of Medellín with 80 to 90 kilometers and the narrowest the part that corresponds to the municipality of Copacabana with 30 kilometers.

History

Aborigines

There are archaeological evidences of human settlements in the Aburrá Valley since 10,500 years by hunters and collectors.

Map of Valle de Aburrá, Colombia

The Spaniard conquers of the Valley found groups like Aburrá, Yamesí, Pequé, Ebejico, Norisco and Maní that were in the Valley since about the 5th century. The Aburrá people gave the name to the Valley. They lived from agriculture (maize, beans and cotton), textile weaving and decoration, commercialization of salt and goldsmith.

Under the Spaniard rule they lost the possession of the land and were located in mines and feudalist systems. Sickness brought by the Europeans, the heavy work and mistreatments caused their extinction, at least from the Valley.

Descendants and peoples related to the Aburrá Valley ancient ancestors could be found today in other regions of the Antioquia State like Urabá and the West and South regions.

The Spaniard Who Discovered the Valley

In August 1541 Marshal Jorge Robledo was in what is today Heliconia, when he saw at the distant what he thought was a valley. He sent Jerónimo Luis Tejelo to explore the territory and Tejelo arrived during the night of August 23 to a plain field.

Marshal Jorge Robledo

The Spaniards gave the name of Valley of Saint Bartholomew that was to be changed for the Aboriginal one of Aburrá that is translated as the “Painters” due to the textile decorations of the natives. However, the conquerors did not feel attracted by the valley due to the lack of wealth and the bellicosity of the aborigines.

In 1574 Gaspar de Rodas asked to the Antioquia’s Cabildo four miles of land to establish herds and food stays in the valley. The Cabildo granted three miles.

In 1616 the Colonial Visitor Francisco de Herrera y Campuzano founded a settlement with 80 aborigines naming it “Poblado de San Lorenzo” in what is today “El Poblado Square”.

In 1646 a racist Colonial law ordered the separation of aborigines from mestizos and mulattos and for this reason the colonial administration began the construction of a new town in Aná, where is today the Berrio Square and where was built a place called Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Aná (Our Lady of Candelaria of Aná). Three years later they started the construction of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria, which was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century.

The Development of Medellin

In 1674 Medellín became the provincial capital of Antioquia. The new provincial capital would become during the next years the hub of development in the valley. The new city was located until the 19th century in what was known as El Sitio de Aná (nowadays the Berrio Square along the Santa Elena Creek and the Medellín River. Places like El Poblado, Barrio La América, Barrio Robledo, Barrio Manrique, were just rural townships. Other towns like Envigado and Bello were very small villages.

During the first part of the 20th century Medellín would start its industrial revolution attracting a great number of farmers from different regions of Antioquia. The small provincial capital became an overpopulated city by the 1960s with more than 1 million inhabitants. This had a direct effect over the other villages in the Aburrá Valley: many of them were integrated in the growing city like Robledo, La América, La Floresta, El Poblado, Manrique and others became themselves cities to be a part of the Metropolitan Area of Medellín by the 1970s.

The Aburraen Cities

The Aburrá Valley has ten cities within its mountains:

• Barbosa, located in the lowest level of the Valley


The Aburrá Valley from the Quitasol Mountain in Bello — Bello in foreground and Medellin in background

• Bello, the second most populous city after Medellín
• Caldas, located in the highest level of the valley
• Copacabana, the narrowest part of the valley
• Envigado
• Girardota
• Itagüí
• La Estrella
• Medellín, the flattest, widest and most populous part of the valley
• Sabaneta

Description

All the flat areas of the valley are completely populated. The majority of the people live in Medellín and the density is less toward south and toward north. The Central Range makes two branches to form the valley and it is crossed by the Medellín River that has its beginning in Caldas and ends in the Porce River.