HOW IS THE CLIMATE OF THE ANDEAN REGION OF COLOMBIA? - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The climate of the Andean region of Colombia is temperate and mountainous. It is characterized by its low temperatures, especially in areas near the high mountains and in them as such.

The Andean region of Colombia is one of the natural regions that make up the Republic of Colombia, a country located northwest of the South American subcontinent.

This region owes its name to the Andes mountain range, which is a chain of mountains that originates in the west of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, crosses the Colombian territory and borders the entire Pacific coast of Peru and Chile, also passing through Bolivia and Argentina. This mountain range reaches the southern tip of the American continent and extends to Antarctica, in a mountain range called Antartandes.

In Colombia, the Andean region is divided into the Colombian Massif, made up of the Western, Central and Eastern mountain ranges, as well as the Nudos de Pasto.

The Colombian Andean region divides the country in two and is situated as a large strip of diagonal lines that connects the northern border with Venezuela to the border with Ecuador.

The area it occupies is 282,540 km², which is approximately 30% of the national territory.

The departments that make up the Andean region are Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Huila, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima and Valle del Cauca.

Although the climate in the region is mostly temperate, the mountainous physical characteristics are very different from each other, being able to present different types of climate.

The climate and its factors of the Colombian Andean region

Climate is defined by a number of geographic factors, such as latitude. Colombia is a country that is located very close to the Equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so its temperature is hot all year round, because the sun reflects its rays directly, vertically.

The cold present in Colombia is mainly due to the altitude and has in the Andean region its main differentiating element with respect to the rest of the territory.

The following will briefly explain what are the climates present in the Andean region of Colombia, based on thermal floors and according to classifications derived from the approach proposed by Wladimir Peter Köppen at the beginning of the 20th century.

Mild weather

Although the Andean region is mainly a mountainous area, being so extensive and comprising so many departments, it has a temperate initial climate.

This thermal floor corresponds mostly to the foot of the mountain, where many population areas are settled.

The range in which the temperate climate is found is between 1000 and 2000 meters above sea level, so its temperature can range between 10 ° C and 24 ° C.

This climate is unique to the Andean region. The populations that enjoy this climate are important in industry and commerce.

In addition, agriculture is favorable in these areas, especially in the departments of the coffee region, which are Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío, Tolima and Valle del Cauca, being also present in Antioquia, Huila and Cundinamarca.

The second most important city in Colombia, Medellín, can be classified within the temperate climate.

Cold weather

It occupies only 7.5% of the national territory, although in addition to the Andean region it can also be found in the Pacific Region.

The height range that defines this thermal floor ranges between 2000 and 3000 meters above sea level, and the temperatures that occur there are between 12 ° C and 17 ° C.

This climate begins to appear as the mountain rises and the vegetation varies, but it is still very present.

In Colombia, there are different populations that are settled in a cold climate. The most important of them is Bogotá, the capital of the Republic, which is located at 2,600 meters above sea level.

This city is an economic and industrial pole. Here the institutions of the country's public power are established.

In addition, it is a multifaceted city, which receives tourists from all over the world and is home to more than eight million inhabitants.

Another territory where the cold climate is present is in the departments of Boyacá and Nariño, where different artisan products that serve as decoration are frequently sold, as well as food products such as Paipa cheese.

Precisely because of this climate, in these departments, which include Cundinamarca, the gastronomy stands out for its boiled and soups.

Quinoa is also a grain harvested in these areas, which has its origins in pre-Columbian America.

Páramo climate

The fourth thermal floor that is present in Colombia can only be found in the Andean region.

To be able to classify a certain territory as a páramo, it must be located between 3,000 and 4,000 meters above sea level.

Due to these heights, the temperature moves between six and twelve degrees Celsius. The vegetation in these areas begins to be scarce, becoming smaller and reduced.

The páramo is also the most important freshwater water reserve in Colombia. In this climate most of the rivers that surround the country are born.

In addition, the biodiversity of this region is protected by the borders of its inhospitable temperature.

In the department of Cundinamarca there are the glacial lagoons of Siecha and Chingaza, large reserves of fresh water.

Regarding the vegetation, the moss and the frailejón are present in the moor, decorating the entire ground with their presence.

perpetual snow

There are only six in Colombia. Inhospitable and very difficult to access, the perpetual snows stand as custodians of the national territory, being only visited by the bravest and most prepared.

Their presence in the national territory is barely 0.1% and they can begin to appear from 4000 meters above sea level.

The temperature is going to be less than six degrees Celsius. Despite these heights, the condor has perpetual snow as its home, radiating with its flight by spreading its wings over three meters high.

In the Andean region, the perpetual snows that stand out the most are those of the Los Nevados National Natural Park, especially those of Ibagué and Manizales.

References

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