Page 63 - Key to Social Studies 6

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What Are the Main Sources of Income of Colombia?

What Is the Climate of Colombia Like? Colombia has one of the largest economies in South America. It experienced a historic economic boom

over the last decade. Its main export is
Colombia’s landscape features many di erences in altitude above sea level, and this a ects the climate
petroleum, which represents about 45% of the
throughout the country. Though Colombians do not experience a wide range of temperatures
country’s total exports.
throughout the year, one region can di er greatly from another due to its elevation.

Colombia has a growing information technology
The climate in Colombia can be divided into three regions according to the elevation of the land:
industry and shipbuilding industry, which is
• Tierra caliente, or the hot zone, with elevations under 900 m above sea level.
designing and manufacturing large ships.
• Tierra templada, a more temperate zone, with elevations from 900 m to 1,850 m above sea level.
Colombia is also world famous for its co ee. As
• Tierra fria, the coldest zone, with elevations over 1,850 m above sea level.
you travel around the country, you can see many
Each zone’s climate means a range of crops can be grown throughout the country. Most of Colombia lies co ee farms growing the beans for this
Co ee farm in Colombia
in the hot zone, which has dry summers and wet winters. As a consequence of having a range of internationally popular beverage.

elevations, a day that is hot in one city may be very cool in another. The cold zone is only about 6% of the

total area of the country in the highest mountain areas.

Port of Cartagena, Colombia

Cold sunrise over the Suesca Lagoon San Andrés Island in the Caribbean Sea

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