9 things you didn’t know about Colombia

What else is there to learn about Colombia?

1. Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world. It’s first on the list for birdlife, with more species of bird than all of Europe and North America combined. Brazil tops the list for biodiversity at ten times the size of Colombia.

2. Colombia has the largest amount of unique wildlife in any part of the world. Not only diverse, Colombia has more than 9,100 endemic species, including the pink river dolphin. An endemic species is one native to a single geographic location, and with mountains, rivers, rainforests, deserts and swamps within its borders, Colombia offers many different habitats for wildlife to thrive.

3. The Colombian flag tells a story. The tricolor flag represents different aspects of the country’s history. The yellow  represents the country’s riches, the blue represents the seas and rivers that support the population, and the red represents the blood spilled for independence.

4. Colombia is known for having the highest quality emeralds. Between 70% and 90% of the world’s emeralds are estimated to have been exported from Colombia, where the stones are the brightest deep green. Outside of Colombia, emeralds can cost anywhere between 200 USD and 18,000 USD per carat. Some of the world’s rarest emeralds have come from Colombia, where low iron levels mean the stones have less fractions.

5. Flowers are another of Colombia’s biggest exports. Boasting over 4,000 species of orchid, Colombia is also home to one of the world’s biggest floral festivals. But it’s not just about orchids. Roses are a flower species which grow directly toward the sun, so because the country sits on the equator, the roses that grow in Colombia are some of the straightest stemmed and the most coveted; perfect for Valentine’s Day.

6. Carnaval de Barranquilla lasts four days. Speaking of February, the second largest carnival in the world (after Rio) is held in the city of Barranquilla every year. Lasting four days, with a parade, folk dancing, masquerades and live music, the carnival is one of the most important celebrations of the year.

7. Colombia has both a Pacific and a Caribbean coastline. As well as five land borders (with Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela), Colombia has 1,000 miles of Caribbean coastline to the North, and 800 miles of Pacific coastline to the West, divided by Panama in between.

8. You can hear the National Anthem twice a day, every day. By law, ‘Oh Gloria Inmarcesible (Oh unfading glory)’ is played on the radio at both 6am and 6pm. The full anthem is eleven verses long, but typically only one verse and chorus are played.

9. Colombia has the only rainbow river in the world. Caño Cristales, also known as the river of 5 colours, contains plants and algae which change the colour of the water from red, to blue, orange, yellow, and green.

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