The relief of the Colombian insular region is formed on a volcanic platform in the western South Caribbean region.
It is a region of volcanoes that geologists say is dormant, but recent data show considerable changes.
The insular region is made up of islands, cays and islets that have elevations of less than 550 meters above sea level.
These land formations in total amount to 52.5 km 2 in surface and are made up of various types of rocks, the majority volcanic.
The entire insular region maritime borders with the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica; its geography and elevations are relatively similar.
The richness and fertility of the volcanic soils of the region have made agriculture important, but not very varied, since the low altitude obstructs the diversification of planting.
Relief of the region
- San Andrés Island: on this there is a hill called La Loma, which is located at the highest point of the island at 85 meters above sea level.
- Providencia Island: the formation of this island is of volcanic origin. Its highest point is known as the Alto Pick, which is 550 meters above sea level.
- Santa Catalina Island: it is separated from Providencia by a channel. On this island there is a ravine that is approximately 133 meters above sea level.
- Gorgona Island: the highest point on the island is Cerro La Trinidad, which is located at a height of 338 meters above sea level.
Types of soil
The soil is closely linked to geographical features. In the case of the islands, the type of rock that makes them up has a lot to do with the elevations found on them.
- San Andrés Island: its soil is formed by sediments of limestone rocks.
- Providencia Island: rocky soils of volcanic origin.
- Santa Catalina Island: like Providencia Island, its soil is of volcanic origin.
- Isla Gorgona: the soils have a clayey composition, they are heavy, with high levels of acidity, not very permeable, mostly rocky, with high possibilities of erosion.
- Keys: they are mostly small reefs, with calcareous sands.
Territorial composition of the island region
-The department of San Andrés and Providencia, covers approximately 52 km 2. It is divided by: The Archipelago of San Andrés with a territorial extension of 26 km 2; Providencia with approximately 17 Km 2 and Santa Catalina with 1 Km 2. It is located in the Caribbean Sea.
-The Archipelago of San Bernardo, located in the Gulf of Morrosquillo, towards the Caribbean Sea, covers an area of approximately 255 km 2.
-The department of Cauca with approximately 26 km 2, is the Gorgona Island, which is made up of several islands and islets located in the Pacific Ocean.
-In the department of Valle del Cauca, with an area of 1.20 km 2, there is an islet of volcanic origin called Malpelo, which is located in the Pacific Ocean.
-To the west of Cartagena there is an archipelago of 0.20 km 2, called Islas Corales del Rosario.
-Between Rosario Islands and Cartagena with 60 km 2 of land area is Isla Barú.
-In the department of Córdoba, with just 3 square kilometers of surface, is Isla Fuerte.
References
- Cultural, CP (23 of 10 of 2017). Island region. Obtained from colombiapatrimoniocultural.wordpress.com
- DANE, C. d. (23 of 10 of 2017). Population distribution in the territory and Urban-Regional relations. Obtained from geoportal.dane.gov.co
- Geographical, IG (1986). Basic Atlas of Colombia. California: The Institute.
- Kline, HF (2012). Historical Dictionary of Colombia. Maryland: Scarecrow Press.
- VARGAS-CUERVO, G. (28 of 10 of 2017). Geology and Geographical Aspects of the Island of San Andrés, Colombia. Obtained from geociencias.unal.edu.co.