9781422286418

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Colombia

The diverse terrain of Colombia covers 439,733 square miles (1,138,910 square kilometers), which is slightly more land area than the states of California and Texas combined. The fourth-largest country in South America, Colombia is smaller than only Brazil, Argentina, and Peru. Because of its border with the Isthmus of Panama, Colombia is often referred to as the gateway to South America. To reach South America, early Indian tribes traveled southward through Colombia. The newcomers encoun- tered spectacular scenery in a rugged land of many contrasts—highlands and lowlands, rain forests and desert land. Highlands and Lowlands The Andes mountain range, which divides the western portion of South America from south to north, splits into three distinct chains when it reaches Colombia. These high mountain ranges, or cordilleras , and deep river valleys biodiversity— biological variety, as measured by the numbers of different species of plants and animals. cordillera— a long chain of mountains or mountain ranges. fauna— the animal life of a particular region. flora— the plants and vegetation of a particular region. isthmus— a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas. llanos— grassland plains of Spanish America. rain forest— a wooded area with annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters). Words to Understand in this Chapter