Some curiosities about Colombia are that it has 4,000 species of orchids, it is one of the megadiverse countries on the planet, it is the rainiest country, it has what is considered the best coffee, it has the tallest palm trees in the world, it was not always called Colombia, it has the largest number of bird species, it is the largest producer of emeralds, it has the most populated city in Latin America, it has a cathedral made of salt, it has a lost city: Teyuna, they base their tourism in nature and has a museum dedicated to gold.
One of the best-known Latin American countries is Colombia, which stands out for the joy of its colors in nature, in addition to its culture and history. If you would like to know some curious facts about Colombiawe invite you to read this Evidence Network article.
It has 4,000 species of orchids
The orchid is the national flower of Colombia and there are about 4,000 registered species. More than 1,500 species are endemic and that is why it is the number one country in production of said plant. These play an important role in ecosystems by being part of the pollination process and interact with bumblebees, bees and various insects. This plant usually occurs naturally on the branches of trees, which are called epiphytic plants.
In this article you can learn about some Types of orchids.
It is one of the megadiverse countries on the planet
It is the country with more diversity per square kilometer. Has 311 types of ecosystemsboth continental and marine. Approximately 53% of its territorial extension is covered by forests of different types, contributing to a wide variety of habitats.
You may be interested in this post about Types of ecosystems.
It is the rainiest country
Pick up 3,240 mm of rain per year. His department of Chocó is the rainiest place in the world. In addition to the fact that it is constant rain throughout the year. Rain is a very important part of the water cycle, since thanks to it, the water that is in the sky comes down to the earth and fills lakes and rivers, goes to the underground aquifers and benefits animals and plants that need it.
They have what is considered the best coffee
It produces some of the best coffee in the world, and it is famous for its flavor, aroma and body. The seed was imported 300 years ago and since then it has been one of the most popular crops in the region. Currently, 11 million bags of 60 kilos each are produced per year.
It has the tallest palm trees in the world
One of its most striking tourist attractions is located in the Cocora Valleywhere the tallest palm trees in the world grow, known as wax palm. They grow by the thousands and can reach 60 meters high. Cocora is crossed by the Quindío River, located in the central mountain range of the Andes.
It was not always called Colombia
The current name is result of a historical evolution. First it was called New Granada, then the Grenadine Confederation, the United States of Colombia and finally, the Republic of Colombia, its current name.
They have the largest number of bird species
Colombia is the country that has the greatest diversity in these animals and is known as “the country of birds”. The most representative and emblematic species are: the Andean condor, the hummingbird, the yellow-eared parrot, the harpy eagle and the golden quetzal.
It is the largest producer of emeralds
They have other green jewels besides plants or birds. It is the largest producer of emeralds and tosupplies 70 to 90% of world production of this precious stone. Its quality is very purewhich is why they are the best on the market: they have almost no traces of other minerals and have extraordinary shine. Emeralds are minerals from the beryl group of silicates and have been appreciated since pre-Columbian times for jewelry making.
You may be interested in reading this article about the natural resources of Colombia.
It has the most populated city in Latin America
One of the curiosities that attracts the most attention about Colombia is that Its inhabitants live 75% entirely in large cities. Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Pereira, Barranquilla, Puerto de Cartagena and Puerto de Buenaventura are the cities that are most home to Colombians. In fact, its capital, Bogotáis one of the most populated cities in Latin America, in addition to being the third highest capital in the world, with its 2,640 meters above sea level.
It has a cathedral made of salt
The new Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá It began to be built in 1991 and was completed in 1995, by architect Roswell Garavito Pearl, on an old church where miners went before starting their work day. These salt mines date back 200 million years. The cathedral is a work of engineering that It includes salt and marble sculptures inside.. The cathedral is part of the “Salt Park”, a thematic cultural space that informs about the importance of natural resources, mining and geological activity.
It has a lost city: Teyuna
inside a inhospitable jungle where the paths blurthere is a lost city called Teyuna. To get there you need three days of hiking along open trails in a well-preserved humid jungle. Along the way there are no traces of modern civilization, but there are waterfalls, cliffs, all kinds of green tones, rivers, blue sky and sightings of animals and birds that do not exist in urban areas.
Teyuna is 1,300 meters above sea level. It is an archaeological settlement that was possibly built in the 8th century. Currently, it is protected with the National Park designation and is open to the public 24 hours a day. Abandoned by the Tayrona culture, the jungle covered it for centuries, until its discovery in 1976.
They base their tourism on nature
Tourists who come to Colombia do so looking for the natural and wildlife that characterizes the country. It is interesting the whale watching in the Pacific Ocean, and visits to Caño Cristales, one of the most beautiful rivers in the worldalso known as the Rainbow River or the River of Colors. More than crystals in its background, what provides the incredible nuances is an aquatic plant called Macarenia clavigerawhich upon contact with the sun’s rays, “colors” Caño Cristales. There are also trips to deserted beaches and the sea of seven colors.
It has a museum dedicated to gold
In Bogotá there is the Gold Museum of the Bank of the Republic of Colombiaa public institution that aims to preserve, sell and exhibit pieces of goldsmithing and pottery, coming from indigenous cultures. This impressive museum is free on Sundays and tells the history of cultures such as Quimbaya, Calima, Tairona, Zenú, Muisca, Tolima, and Tumaco, through pieces made of gold, but also stone, textiles, and ceramics.
Now that you know some curious facts about Colombia, you may also be interested in knowing the Animals in danger of extinction in Colombia and the natural regions of Colombia.
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