Colombia Area 1,141,748 sq. km (440,831 sq. mi.) Capital City Bogota Population 2004: 43,000,000 Life expectancy at birth in : 72 Life expectancy at birth in : 62

The Concordat of 1973 defined relations between the Colombian government and the Vatican. The concordat replaced the clause in the Constitution of 1886 that had established the Catholic Church as the official religion with one stating that "Roman Catholicism is the religion of the great majority of Colombians." In the late 1980s, Colombia remained an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country. More than 95 percent of the population had been baptized in the Catholic Church, Oldest church in Colombia

Colombia became independent under the name of `Republic of the New Granada`. It consisted of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama. Cartagena was the Colombian city which became centre for the slave trade during the colony. Slaves would be brought from Africa and would be traded for other good at the walled city Panama gained independence from Colombia in The strategic location of Panama helped in getting support from Washington. Who was the first president of Colombia? Simon Boliver and Boliver. He also fought for the independence of Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Boliver. He was born in Venezuela and died in Santa Marta, a city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. What country did not belong to Colombia when if first became independent? Peru, although Bolivar wanted Peru to be part of Colombia, Peru never did and was a different country from the beginning. who founded Bogota? Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Twelve houses and one church were built right on top of the Andes. Bogotá has 8 million people nowadays.

Bogota Colombia (Spanish:Carnaval de Bogotá on August 6 th for the citys centenary of Hispanic foundation. Rock at the park (Spanish:Rock Al Parque) in October, second largest rock festival in Latinamerica after “Rocking in Rio”. Carnival of Blacks and Whites (Spanish:Carnaval de Negros y Blanos) held from January 4 to January 6 in Pasto Carnival float in the Black and Whites Carnival in Pasto, Colombia. Manizales Fair (Spanish: Feria de Manizales) celebrated in the city of Manizales the first weeks of the year. Riosucio’s Carnival (Spanish: Carnaval de Riosucio) held in Riosucio Caldas from January 2 to January 8 each two years. Barranquilla’s Carnival (Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla), with a century long recorded history it holds the second largest carnival parades in the world after Rio de Janeiro’s. Bambuco y Sanjuanero Festivals in Neiva held on June 28 and June 29 for Saint Peter’s and Saint Paul’s days. Cali Fair (Spanish: Feria de Cali), held in Cali from December 25 to New Year's Eve. It is famous for its Salsa marathon concerts attended by renown salsa bands. The Flowers Fair (Spanish: Feria de las Flores), is held during August in the city of Medellin with its flowers parade and the main attraction called the Desfile de Silleteros. Iberoamerican Theatre Festival held in Bogotá every two years. It’s the biggest theatre festival in the world.Bogotá

Population = 43million GNP (US $) = GNP per Capita (US $) = 2186 Life expectancy = 72 Combined gross enrolment ratio for primary, secondary and tertiary schools (%) = 73

There are many organizations which control the distribution of illegal drugs, One of Colombia's most powerful drug barons, Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela Was freed after serving a 15 year sentence in November ‘The Independent reports that Colombian drug barons could replace Afghan traffickers as the leading suppliers of heroin to Britain and the rest of the world. Burmese heroin producers could also move in to fill the vacuum left by poppy-growers and traffickers in Afghanistan who presently supply Britain and the rest of the world with about 80% of the drug. ( Colombias most powerful drug baron, Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela

Demands for drugs has remained high for many years in the United States, despite the Government's Best efforts to eradicate coca leaf plantations. But the influence of drug lords contaminated the country. In the 1998 presidential election, Conservative candidate Andrés Pastrana ran on a peace platform, promising to reduce conflicts with guerrilla groups and drug cartels. Four years later, crime and violence had increased and the influence of cartels had grown. The United States developed a strategy (known as Plan Colombia) with the Pastrana government to aid the Colombian military to combat the illegal production of cocaine. Implementation of the multiyear plan began in 2001, but critics claimed that it would lead to a civil war and to the occupation of Colombia by U.S. troops. The 2002 presidential elections were primarily about strategies to put an end to violence and to effectively combat the growing influence of drug cartels in Colombian society. Colombian soldier inspects a coca plant