Columbia+-+Olivier+Frenette

=Republic of Colombia= = = = According to an old children song the meaning of each color is : __//yellow//__ represents all the gold found in Colombia’s land, //__blue__// represents all the seas close to Colombia and //__red__// represents the blood that allowed each Colombian to be free =

==

Few interesting facts about Colombia
- The official language is Spanish - Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama. - Colombia’s capital is Bogota

- It's size is 1,141,748 km2
- School life expectancy: 13 years; male and 14 years; female - There are 46,366,364 people in Colombia - Literacy: 90.4% - Principal export: Colombia's primary export commodities include petroleum, coffee,coal,nickel,emeralds, bananas and apperel. - Principal import: Colombia' primary import commodities include industrial equipment, transportation eqipment, consumer goods, chemicals fuel and electricity. - Colombia is actually the 27th largest country in the world by population and has the second largest population of any Spanish-speaking country in the world - Religion: 80% Catholic; 13.5% non-Catholic Christian; 4.5% other religious groups (including Seventh Day Adventist, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Islam, and Judaism); 2% no religion - The head of the state(president) is Juan Manuel Santos - The government is a Constitutional republic - Election: every 4 years - Around 37% of Colombians live below the poverty line

= Facts about his capital = - Bogota is located straight in the middle of the country - There are 6,776,000 citizens in this capital. - The temperature ranges from 9 to 22 degree Celsius - The territory’s surface of this big city is 668.73 square miles

=Attractions in Colombia!= The general activities in Colombia are visiting historical sites, going to music and dance shows, going to the beach, visiting some beautiful islands, going to the museums and biking trails. You can also enjoy nature, the mountains and the good weather. __Bogota's Ciclovia__ (Biking trail)

__Playa Blanca__ (beach) Author: [|Emmanuel Digiaro]

__Islas del Rosario__ (Beautiful Island)

A nice Political map!


=**A geographical map of Colombia!**= = = = = =An incredible I-movie on Cartagena, one of the best city in Colombia.=

media type="youtube" key="yfN78xYSfAg" height="575" width="1012"

=History Timeline=

=Colombia National Anthem= media type="youtube" key="k1gavj8nYbw" height="315" width="560"

=Lyrics=

Coro:Oh gloria inmarcesible ! Oh Júbilo inmortal ! En surcos de dolores El bien germina ya !I I Cesó la horrible noche ! la libertad sublime derrama las auroras de su invencible luz. La humanidad entera, que entre cadenas gime, comprende las palabras del que murió en la cruz. II Independencia grita el mundo americano; se baña en sangre de héroes la tierra de Colón. Pero este gran principio: el Rey no es soberano, resuena, y los que sufren bendicen su pasión. III Del Orinoco el cauce se colma de despojos; de sangre y llanto un río se mira allí correr. En Bárbula no saben las almas ni los ojos, si admiración o espanto sentir o padecer. IV A orillas del caribe hambriento un pueblo lucha, Horrores prefiriendo a pérfida salud. Oh, sí de Cartagena la abnegación es mucha, y escombros de la muerte desprecia su virtud. V De Boyacá en los campos el genio de la gloria con cada espiga un héroe invicto coronó. Soldados sin coraza ganaron la victoria; su varonil aliento de escudo les sirvió. VI Bolivar cruza el Ande que riega dos océanos; espadas cual centellas fulguran en junín. Centauros indomables descienden a los llanos, y empieza a presentirse de la epopeya el fin. VII La trompa victoriosa en Ayacucho truena; y en cada triunfo crece su formidable son. En su expansivo empuje la libertad se estrena, del cielo americano formando un pabellón. VIII La virgen sus cabellos arranca en agonía y de su amor viuda los cuelga del ciprés. Lamenta su esperanza que cubre loza fría, pero glorioso orgullo circunda su alba tez. IX La patria así se forma termópilas brotando; constelación de cíclopes su noche iluminó. La flor estremecida, mortal el viento hallando, debajo los laureles seguridad buscó. X Mas no es completa gloria vencer en la batalla, que el brazo que combate lo anima la verdad. La independencia sola al gran clamor no acalla; si el sol alumbra a todos, justicia es libertad. XI Del hombre los derechos Nariño predicando, el alma de la lucha profético enseñó. Ricaurte en San Mateo en átomos volando, deber antes que vida con llamas escribió.

=History timeline=

__1535__- The Spaniards conquered Colombia and the first settlement has been found at Santa Marta __1538__- Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada decided to found Bogota as the capital of the New kingdom of Granada __1550__- The African slaves are sent to work on Colombian plantations __1564-__ The Spanish government appointed a president to manage the Colombian colony __1700__- Spain decided to combine Colombia with some other territories into a big colony called the Viceroyalty of New Granada. These territories were Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama __1810-__ The area of the Viceroyalty of New Granada created their own independent governments __1810__- The Spain’s king is overthrown by Napoleon __1819__- Colombia succeeded to have his independence from Spain and Simon Bolivar becomes the first Colombian president __1830__- Ecuador and Venezuela became independent from Colombia __1853__- Colombia decided to adopt a new constitution which has the power to abolish slavery __1899__- There is a Civil War of the Thousand Days __1989__- USA began to supply the Colombian government with some military equipment to help rid Colombia of drug dealers __1991__- A new constitution legalizes divorce and guarantees indigenous people’s democratic rights. 1995- Ernesto Samper Pizano is elected president and is charged and cleared of receiving drug-cartel money for his election campaign. 1998- Andres Pastrana Arango elected president, begins peace talks with guerrillas. 2002- Alvaro Uribe was elected as president earning 56% of the vote. 2008-Colombia renews low-level diplomatic relations with Ecuador. 2009- Colombia and USA sign deal giving the US military access to seven Colombian bases. 2010- Juan Manuel Santos takes over as president, he had an easy victory in run-off election in June.

=Main sports= __Football__: The football is the most popular sport in Colombia. Colombia’s world ranking is 23th.

__Boxing__: Professional Boxing in Colombia is mostly practiced in Caribbean region and in poor areas of the western regions of Colombia.
 * By Brett Garamella**

__Cycling:__ Professional Cycling in Colombia became very popular after the triumphs of Martín Emilio "Cochise" Rodríguez in European cycling competitions. It helped a lot to develop the Colombian Cycling Federation.
 * Photo: Barry Koblenz **

=Colombia!= media type="youtube" key="3HILiLN2wJU" height="315" width="420"

=Famous athletes:= __//Abel Enrique Aguilar Tapias//__: (born 6 January 1985 in Bogotá) he is a Colombian footballer who plays for Hércules CF in Spain, as a midfielder. [] __//Adelmo Achito Vivas//__: (born 1 March 1934) he is a retired Colombian international footballer. He competed for the Colombian national football team at the 1962 FIFA World Cup which was held in Chile. [] //__Tomas Molinares__:// He was the world Boxing champion, welter Jr division (WBA) in 1988 []

//__Prudencio Cardona__:// He was the World Boxing champion, light division in 1982 (WBC) []

//__Martín Emilio "Cochise" Rodríguez__:// Hour competition world champion and world Champion in 4000 m pursuit. []

//__Lucho Herrera__:// Champion of the Dauphiné Libéré 1988, 1991 and Vuelta a España, 1987 []

=Main holidays:=

-Año Nuevo (January 1): ([|New Year's Day]) -Día de los Reyes Magos (January 6): ([|Epiphany]) -Día de San José (march 19): ([|Saint Joseph's Day]) -Jueves Santo ([|Maundy Thursday]) and Viernes Santo ([|Good Friday]) (Variable dates in March or April) -Primero de Mayo (may 1): ([|Labor Day]) -Ascensión ([|Ascension of Jesus]) - [|Corpus Christi] (observed the Monday nine weeks and a day after Easter Sunday) -Sagrado Corazón ([|Sacred Heart]) (observed the Monday ten weeks and a day after Easter Sunday) -San Pedro y San Pablo (June 29) ([|Saint Peter and Saint Paul]) - [|Declaration of Independence] (July 20) -[|Battle of Boyacá] (August 7) -La Asunción (August 15): ([|Assumption of Mary]) -Día de la Raza (October 12): ([|Columbus Day]) -[|All Saints’ Day] (November 1) -Independence of Cartagena (November 11) -La Inmaculada Concepció (December 8): ([|Immaculate Conception]) -Navidad (December 25):([|Christmas Day])

=Famous Colombians= __Shakira__: She is a Colombian singer and a songwriter very popular in all the world. She has won two Grammy Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Latin Music Award and she has been Golden Globe nominated. She is also the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time. ([])

__Margarita Rosa de Francisco Baquero:__ She is a Colombian, movie actress, singer and TV presenter. ([]) __Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez:__ He is a Colombian musician who was a member of a band, but he is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album won three Latin Grammy Awards. According to his record label, Juanes has sold more than 15 million albums in the world. []

Sources: "Google Images." //Google Images//. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Bogota D.C. BogotÃ¡ D.C. - SantafÃ© De BogotÃ¡ - Colombia." //Bogota D.C. BogotÃ¡ D.C.// Web. 24 May 2012. . "Colombia." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 May 2012. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Colombia Native Anthem Text Lyrics." //MetroLyrics//. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Colombia." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 May 2012. Web. 24 May 2012. . Factbooks, CIA World. "Religions Statistics - Countries Compared Worldwide." //NationMaster.com//. NationMaster. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Background Note: Colombia." //U.S. Department of State//. U.S. Department of State. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Colombia." //- Country Profile//. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Congress of Colombia." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 May 2012. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Economy Watch - Follow The Money." //Colombia Trade, Exports and Imports//. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Education in Colombia." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 July 2012. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Bogota Attractions: What to Do & Places to Visit in Bogota." //Things to Do in Bogota: Check out 96 Bogota Attractions//. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Public Holidays in Colombia." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 Dec. 2012. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Colombia." //FIFA.com//. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Famous Athletes from Colombia By ReferenceÂ ." //Ranker//. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Sports in Colombia." //Sports in Colombia//. Web. 24 May 2012. . "Colombia History Timeline." //Colombia History Timeline//. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/places-timelines/11-colombia-history-timeline.htm>. //"Colombia Timeline."// BBC News//. BBC, 04 Mar. 2012. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1212827.stm>.