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The official name of Colombia is the Republic of Colombia and is derived from the surname of the explorer Christopher Columbus. The name of the country is pronounced Col-o-mbia, not Col-u-mbia, which is a common misconception among non-Spanish-speaking visitors.
Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world (after Brazil, which is 10 times its size) and one of 17 “megadiverse” countries. It has the largest number of species per area in the world, including more bird species than all of Europe and North America combined.
The traditional national sport of Colombia is called Tejo, a team sport that consists of throwing objects at a target. The most popular sport in Colombia is soccer. The Colombian team won the 2001 Copa América.
Colombia is the third largest coffee exporter in the world after Brazil and Vietnam.
Colombia has 60 National Parks that combine many different types of terrain. From the forest, aquatic, mountainous, desert, and more, it has something for every nature lover.
Colombia has the second most celebrated holidays in the world, they celebrate 18 national holidays a year. Although most of the 18 holidays are religiously affiliated, all Colombians participate in Christmas celebrations. What is unique about the Colombian festive cycle is that it changes every year. This is because it follows the lunar cycle. But there are exceptions to the lunar cycle, such as Christmas, Easter, Colombian Independence Day, and the Immaculate Conception, which are celebrated on the same day each year.
70-90% of the world’s emeralds come from Colombia! The Colombian emerald is highly prized in the gemstone world due to its deep, brilliant green hue. It is the standard for quality gemstones.
In 2013 and 2014 Colombia claimed the title of “#1 Happiest Country in the World” according to the Barometer of Happiness and Hope Foundation survey.
Colombia also has the longest cycling route in South America, with more than 300 km, this route is perfect for cycling lovers. But it is not a trail for beginners. It is also known for being one of the toughest climbs in the world for cyclists.
Aracataca, the birthplace of author Gabriel García Márquez, once held a referendum to change the city’s name to ‘Aracataca-Macondo’ after the fictional city of Macondo from his famous book One Hundred Years of Solitude. Unfortunately, the referendum failed due to low turnout.
