Geomorphological Landscapes and Landforms of Colombia

Abstract

Colombia is an equatorial country located in the western corner of South America, where young, high mountains permit the existence of a large range of climates: they form sub-desertic to rainy forest in the lowlands to permanent snow and ice in elevations more than 5000 m a.s.l. A complex geological history also contributes to give the country a great diversity of rocks, landscapes, soils, and biota. Numerous natural processes are active including tectonics and volcanism, glacial processes, mass movements, and river erosion and transport. From multiple natural landscapes emerging from this situation, 17 have been selected to give the reader a comprehensive idea of the complexity of the country’s natural environment. These geomorphosites are in the mountainous areas and are located from the Caribbean Sea to near the Ecuadorian border.