The many faces of Colombia is a country of natural and man-made wonders. Amazing with a huge variety of landscape species, it attracts everyone who is not indifferent to exotic. The land of extraordinary beauty is still little explored by Russian tourists, so if you have a unique opportunity to visit it, do not miss your chance.
Where is the country of fabulous wealth?
Travelers who plan to be in a real tropical paradise want to know where Colombia is located on a world map. It can be found in the northwest of South America. A mysterious country washed by the waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, borders with Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama and Brazil.
Colombia's largest river
Nature untouched by man is a good reason to make an unforgettable trip to an amazing country, the sights of which made its appearance unique. In Colombia, the Magdalena River flows, which is considered the largest waterway in the state.
The discoverer of the national symbol is Rodrigo de Bastidas - the famous Spanish conquistador. In 1501, he landed on the coast of South America and discovered the mouth of a mighty river, named in honor of Mary Magdalene.
Rugged Magdalena originates in the majestic Andes and flows into the Caribbean. Its length is admirable, because it is about 1550 kilometers. And tourists who want to find a river on a map will be able to do this very easily, since it flows through the entire western part of the country.
The basin formed by Magdalena and its tributaries covers 24% of the country's mainland, and the total length of waterways is 4 thousand kilometers.
A shipping channel has been built in its lower reaches, starting from Cartagena - a large port city. In the middle of the last century, a dam appeared in its upper part, which formed the Betania reservoir with a volume of 3 cubic kilometers.
Ecological problems
In recent decades, there has been a rapid increase in the population of a country that is rich in natural resources. Unfortunately, the development of land used for agricultural production has already led to large-scale deforestation in the Magdalena Valley in Colombia. This does not have the best effect on the ecology of the aquatic artery and its environs.
And the statements of the Omimex oil company, which plans to start drilling in the middle reaches of the river, made ecologists alarmed. The consequences of developing a new oil field will be very detrimental to the environment. After all, even the construction of a reservoir has already led to a decrease in the number of fish, since it limited the possibilities for its migration.
Danger for tourists
Tourists who want to see the stormy blue artery should remember that it is filled with rainwater. In early spring and autumn, the Magdalena River overflows, flooding the coastal territories. And then an orange hazard level is declared in the region. Those villages and cities located along the channel of the waterway fall into the high-risk zone. So that trouble does not happen, one must be extremely careful.
What to see?
Despite everything, the Magdalena River attracts tourists because it flows through the most picturesque places with a unique flavor. And the most interesting excursion is a boat trip or a motor boat.
In addition, you can visit one of the oldest historical monuments in South America, located at an altitude of 1800 meters, in the San Agustin area. On the plateau located on both sides of the canyon, which is formed by the upper reaches of the Magdalena River, an archaeological park is hidden. There are scattered over 500 stone giants resembling sentinels of a long-vanished culture. Scientists believe that sculptures of gods, people and animals, resembling the gloomy idols of Easter Island, appeared in the so-called pre-Columbian period, however, some researchers are inclined to earlier dating. The Valley of Statues is an amazing corner, the secrets of which have not been solved to this day.