Colombia+(Robert)

=Colombia =



Brief history:
The discovery of the country was in 1499, it was discovered and colonized by the Spanish, that played a part in the countries cultural, religious, and political views. In the early part of the 1500s, Spain attempted to control the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, establishing Santa Marta in 1525 and Cartagena de Indias in 1533. In that year, the conquest of the Incas in Peru gave the Spaniards strategic positions in the north and south for the colonization of Colombia.

During this period, the Andes were occupied by a number of indigenous groups that ranged from agricultural to tropical farm villages and nomadic hunter-gatherer groups. The social structures of these groups were destroyed during the conquest, as Indians were forced into slavery to exploit the natural riches of the country. As the number of death in the Indian population increased due to starvation, diseases brought by the conquistadors, and the intense labor. Spain also, imported slaves from Africa for gold and silver mining on the Pacific coast. The tri-ethnic composition of the population during this period led to the ethnic terminology still used today. Spaniards were referred to as //Peninsulars,// while their South-American-born descendants were called //criollos// (Creoles). Miscegenation produced people of mixed race known to the Spaniards as the //castas// (castes). These were //mestizos// from the intermarriage of whites and natives, //mulattoes// from that of blacks and whites, and //zambos// from that of blacks and Indians.

Unfair practices and decrees by the Spaniards created a desire for independence. Most traumatic was the practice of //encomiendas,// an institutionalized system in which Indians were "entrusted" to the care of Spaniards called //Encomienderos// .These "caretakers" provided the Indians with religious instruction and a livelihood in exchange for their labor. In practice, this system amounted to enslavement. In 1781, 20,000 Indians and mestizos attempted to march on the capital, it was known as the //Comuneros// revolt, but the revolt was stopped in its tracks and therefore the leaders were executed. There was little or no support from the Creole population, but some Creoles were appalled by the brutality of the Spaniards and began to spread the rebellious sentiment. The call for vengeance spread to other provinces, as government officials excluded Creoles from high governmental positions. After several minor uprisings, Colombia achieved independence after the influential battle of Boyacá on August 9, 1819 under Simon Bolivar, he was a Creole who joined the patriotic movement in 1810.

Instead of resisting Spanish cultural influences, most indigenous groups embraced them. Rather than having a common culture, Colombia is a country with many distinct regional cultures. Past relations with other regional cultures were based on the hierarchical society imposed by Spain, in which the upper echelon of "white" Spaniards enjoyed wealth, power, and prestige while blacks and Indians were at the bottom of the socioeconomic hierarchy. After independence, Creoles quickly replaced Spaniards in the upper echelons of the new society. Qualified mestizos and mulattoes also ascended to high positions, but their inclusion was based on their level of education, wealth, and "whiteness." Colombians continue to identify themselves according to their regional heritage, physical appearance, and socioeconomic status.

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Capital City

 * Santafe de Bogota

Gained Independence

 * July 20, 1810 (From Spain)

Constitution Established

 * July 5, 1991

Population

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">42.3 Million

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Demographics


<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Colombia is a nation of mixed race. It is estimated that about 75% of the population is of mixed heritage, with 55 % of this group being //mestizos// // ( // // A // // person mixed with ancestry // // of both Native American and European // ) //, // 16 percent //mulattoes// // ( A person mixed with White and black ancestry) , // and 4 percent //zambos// // (A person with African and Amerindian ancestry) //. The other 20% of the population are the separate European, African, and Indian ancestry. Caucasians (Whites), mainly descendants of Spania rds, constitute about 20% of the population. Antioquia and the coffee region are considered "white" departments or states because of the lack of enthusiasm that the European settlers had when it came to mix ing with blacks or Indians. Black p eople represent about 4% of the total population and they live p rimarily on the Caribbean coast which is the historical center of the slave trade. The Indian population, which is estimated to have been between 1.5 and 2 million pe ople in the pre-conquest period now therenumbers, is between 300,000 and 400,000. There are o ver fifty Indian groups, many of which live in isolation.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">National Religion

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Roman Catholic 94%
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">6% is divided into
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 15px;">Protestants
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 15px;">Muslims
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 15px;">Jews

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">National Language

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Spanish
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">English is also spoken

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Major Exports/Industries
=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Monetary System = <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Colombia's monetary policies are formed by the Junta Monetaria, and banking operations are regulated by the Superintendencia Bancaria. The Central Bank conducts policies based on behavior of the financial sector and it determines the amount of money in the system, it also makes other decisions such as inflation.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Petroleum
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Natural gas
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Coal
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Gold
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Emeralds
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Platinum
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Iron ore
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Nickel
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Copper
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Coffee
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Bananas
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Sugar
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Footwear
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Industrial production growth rate: 3%

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Colombian peso has floated freely against the dollar and other currencies since September 25, 1999. Under that system, the Bank intervened in the market by buying or selling dollars to keep the dollar's price in pesos within the band. Soon after abolition of the band—by December 1999—the peso had depreciated 20 percent from the beginning of the year, increasing the competitiveness of Colombian exports to the United States.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Inflation has always been moderate in Colombia, with peaks in the mid-twenty percent range.

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Geography =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mountain Ranges run across the country
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Coast on the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Has various islands

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Location

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Northwestern part of South America
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Bordering the Caribbean Sea between Panama and Venezuela
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Only country in South America with coast-lines on both the Pacific, and the Atlantic Ocean
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">4 35' 56" N, 74 04' 51" W.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Total Area

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">1,141,748 sq km (440,831 sq mi)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">It is the fourth largest country in South America

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Climate

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Tropical along coast and eastern plains
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Cooler and cold in highlands
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Elevation is the climatic factor.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Terrain

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Flat coastal lowlands
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Central highlands
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">High Andes Mountains
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Eastern lowland plains

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mountains

 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Three Andean ranges run North and South through the western half of the country
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Dominate the western two-fifths of the country

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Highest Point

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Cristobal Colon Peak 5,775 m (18,947 ft)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Major Rivers

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Cauca
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Magdalena
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">They both run through the central Andean range

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Islands

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Archipelago of San Andres
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Providencia in the Caribbean Sea
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Islas del Rosario
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">San Bernardo along the Caribbean coast
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Gorgona
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Malpelo

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Economy
>
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Atlantic or Caribbean coastal lowlands receive less rainfall than the area along the Pacific
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Many industries are located within this area, along with 20 percent of the population. The fertile land supports banana and sugarcane plantations along with cattle ranchesLush rain forest and swamps characterize the Pacific lowlands
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Because of the abundant rainfall and poor soil quality, few people inhabit this region.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cauca Valley is Caliwhich has some of the richest farmland
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">This area contains some of the richest mineral deposits in the world, including gold and emeralds. Coffee plantations are plentiful in the mild climate, which also supports banana, cassava, and cocao.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Type

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Republican

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Branches

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Executive
 * President
 * Is the leader of the state and goverment
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Legislative
 * Bicameral Congress
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Judicial
 * Supreme Court
 * Constitutional Court
 * Council of State
 * Superior Judicial Council
 * Prosecutor General
 * Not <span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Affiliated with Executive Branch
 * Independent agency

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Political Parties

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Colombian Conservative Party
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Colombian Liberal Party
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Social Party of National Unity
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Radical Change
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alternative Democratic Pole
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Party of National Integration

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Voting Age

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Age 18 and older

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">President

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Juan Manuel Santos

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Political Climate
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Colombia is mostly controlled by the FARC, the citizens do not trust the goverment for protection because they say that the goverment is corrupt.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Art
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Colombian art ranges from sculptures and paintings of ancient times to the modern-day theater. Colombia has produced many musical icons like Alejandro Obregon and Fernando Botero. Gold work, stonework and pottery were an important part of their culture. The paintings in Colombia mostly came from the Baroque and the Republican periods. Renaissance style type paintings were created in the earlier colonial period. Mexican murals influenced the 20th century Colombian art. This period of Colombian history witnessed the world famous artist Omar Rayo in his prime.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Music
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Music is one of the most beautiful expressions of any culture. The Colombian culture contains a variety of music genres. Song and dance accompany the special events in a common man's life. Cumbia, one of the genres of Colombian music, is a blend of African and Spanish music. Salsa which was born in Puerto Rica and Cuba became popular in Colombia. //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Champeta //, //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Abozao //, //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Juga //, //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Pilon //, //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Porro //, //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Seis //, //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Socca, // and //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Tambora // are some of the other music genres used in various parts of Colombia. The Colombian music of the present times includes hip-hop, pop and rock music. Shakira is a prominent name in the music industry today and she is from Colombia.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Literature** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Colombian literature focuses on religion. Most of the expressions involved in the literature are Spanish influences. Literature of the post-independence period was based on political thoughts and movements. During the nineteenth and the twentieth century, peasant life came to be used in the Colombian literature. Mystery became one of the popular subjects to write on at the time. Children's literature that includes nursery rhymes and folk tales form an important part of the literature of Colombia. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, a Nobel Peace Prize winner is Colombian.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Colombian Cuisine**
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Colombian food is a reflection of the European style of cooking. //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Fritanga // that includes grilled beef, chicken, ribs, and sausage with potatoes, is a Colombian favorite. Tubers and meat form the staple food of the Colombians. The climate of Colombia contributes to the flourish of the variety of crops and fruits. Both fresh and saltwater fish are plentiful in Colombia. Popular dishes vary across the different regions of Colombia. ===<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Colombian Holidays ===
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">New Year's Day - January 1st
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Epiphany - January 6th or the following Monday
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The first event was when the three wise men, or kings, visited infant Jesus.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The second event was when St John the Baptist baptized Jesus
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Saint Joseph's Day - March 19th or the following Monday
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Holy Thursday - April 13, 2006
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Christians venerate St. Joseph
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Labor Day in Colombia - May 1st
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ascencion Day - June 5th or the following Monday
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven according to Christian belief
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Colombia Independence Day - July 20th
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Saints Peter and Paul Day - June 30th or the following Monday
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">St. Peter and St. Paul were put to death on the same day leading to the celebration of these two individuals on the same day.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Christians all over the world celebrate this holiday as the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Battle of Boyaca Day - August 7thColombian Heritage Day / Columbus Day - October 12th or the following MondayImmaculate Conception Day - December 8th
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">On August 7th, 1819, the Colombian people fought the last battle at Boyaca's bridge and the patriot was victorious
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Major Turning point in the war
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Christmas - December 25th
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Celebrates belief in the faultless conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Colombian Sports

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Soccer
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Basketball
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baseball
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Golf
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Skiing
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tennis
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bicycle

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Colombian Clothes
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These are the different kinds of popular attire that are worn by the Colombians:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trousers
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shirts
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blouses
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shorts
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Skirts
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Robes
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gowns
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Swim Trunks
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Polo Shirts
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jackets
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tank Tops

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bogota **
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Is the capital of Colombia, it has been recently made a very safe environment for tourist and residents. If you are an individual that is into jewelry they have a gold museum. You can go visit the historical churches and look at the glorious carvings in the altar. La Candelaria is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the town; it has the wonderful architecture, colonial houses, some museums and some governmental buildings, such as the presidential palace.



**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cartagena **
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is the most beautiful town in Colombia, it is home of the Palace of the Inquisition, a cathedral which is the Convent of Santa Clara and a Jesuit college. It is one of Colombias popular tourist sites.



**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) **
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is a hikers main destination in South America. The path takes you through coca plantations (people have gotten kidnapped a few years ago so get as much information as you possibly can before you go) and through lowland jungle. After 3 days you reach the thousand stairs that take you into the city.



**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Villa De LeyvaIt **
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The town is seen as taking a trip back in time, because, it is a colonial town that is well preserved. It is also a place where you want to go if you just want to get away and just relax. But it attracts people on their honeymoons, retirement, and the people who love prehistoric fossils because the town has one of the two <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">pliosauro fossil.

San Agustin
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This tourist site is mostly for the people who enjoy prehistoric objects and discoveries. It contains their very own <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Archaeological Park, which consists of statues; it even is the home for several ceremonies and burial sites which are scattered through the whole site.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Current Events
===<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Continental Coal Combing Colombia for Coking Coal.] ===

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The ASX-listed miner expects to strike a deal for a coking coal asset in Colombia this year as part of a strategy to diversify its portfolio and boost its share price, which has been weighed down by a political debate in South Africa about nationalizing mines. Like South Africa, Colombia has established infrastructure for transporting coal. However, coal operations in Colombia are mainly small or family-owned and lack the mechanization needed to produce higher volumes.

===<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|Colombia’s Peso Falls on Speculation Government Measures May Curb Rally] ===

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Colombia’s peso fell, the government may announce new measures to curb a rally that has made the currency among the best performers in emerging markets. The peso weakened 0.1 percent to 1,776.25 per U.S. dollar at 9:56 a.m. Bogota time. It touched 1,770 on Feb. 9, its strongest intraday level since August. The peso has jumped 8.4 percent in the past three months, the second-most among 25 emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg, after the Mexican peso. Foreign direct investment into Colombia may rise to $16 billion this year, from a record $14.5 billion last year, Trade Minister Sergio Diaz said Feb. 9 in Bogota. Foreign direct investment in January reached $1.6 billion, the second-biggest monthly flow in at least 12 years, according to statistics on the central bank’s Web site.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Citations
"Colombia." //Countries and their Cultures//. Np, nd. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. []. "Colombia." Np, Web. 20 Feb. 2012. []. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">"Colombia - Social and Political Background ." //Colombia Solidarity Campaign//. Np, 31 Aug. 2006. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. []. "Colombia Sports." //Maps of the World//. Np, nd. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. []. Oak, Manali. "Culture of Colombia." //Buzzle//. Np, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. []. "Travel Colombia." //TASA//. Travel Amazing South America, 2005. Web. 1 Jan. [].