VALLEYS OF COLOMBIA: CHARACTERISTICS AND MAIN VALLEYS - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The valleys of Colombia are areas of the country's geography that form basins between mountain ranges. They occupy large areas of the territory of the Latin American nation, the largest valley being that of the Magdalena River. The watercourses associated with them are of great importance in these formations, since they cross them and almost always bear the same name as the valleys.

Its formation does not have to be due exclusively to the erosion produced by rivers, although this is the main reason for its appearance. Throughout the years, the basins that were formed in the country's territory were filled with layers of ash and dust and this favored the productivity of the soils.

Image of the Cauca valley. Source: Grillobike, via Wikimedia Commons.

Thanks to the present characteristics, its lands are considered some of the most fertile areas in the world. In addition, the Colombian valleys are located at a great height above sea level, which has benefited the presence of a good climate.

In the geography of Colombia the valleys are only one of the reliefs that can be found. There are also mountainous systems and plains, among other elements.

The word valley has its origin in the Latin word vallis. This means "basin between the mountains" or "place where the land area arches." The valleys are made up of a slope and a flat area.

characteristics

The valleys of the Colombian territory have been some of the most vulnerable ecosystems due to the excesses committed by human beings. The continuous development of activities such as agriculture, livestock and the establishment of different communities in them have had negative effects on this relief.

Even a large part of the Colombian valleys, especially in the flatter areas, no longer have a flora that is natural to their region, since it has been devastated to give way to specific crops or livestock activities.

More than 60% of the Colombian territory has a flat relief, but the vast majority of the population, about 70%, is located in the highest areas. It is there where you can find the best living conditions and the most developed cities.

The soils in the valleys are highly dependent on the type of climate and the materials from which the soil has been formed. In general, Colombian valleys have lands that have a large amount of nutrients, high levels of fertility and little presence of aluminum, which can be harmful to vegetation.

The heights of the Colombian valleys vary between 200 meters to 1500 meters, although in some cases this figure may be higher.

There are several ecosystems present in the inter-Andean valleys of the country, which are made up of forests and flora typical of the savannah. This vegetation has the ability to withstand long periods without rainfall, which are relatively frequent in the territory.

If Colombia is compared with other nations, it can be seen that the fauna present in its inter-Andean valleys is very rich in terms of variety.

Protection

In the Colombian valleys there are species that receive special attention in order to guarantee their continuity over time. There are several groups of animals and plants that can only be found in these territories, and that is why their preservation is vital.

The spotted woodpecker, the apical flytrap and the black-browed euphonia are unique birds in this area; as well as the coral snake or plants such as the Mayflower orchid or the zamia.

There are currently more than 20 endemic species in these areas that are at risk of disappearing. Even before, animals such as jaguars and tapirs could be found in the inter-Andean valleys. The white-tailed deer, for example, is listed as one of the endangered animals in the area of ​​Colombia.

Main inter-Andean valleys of Colombia

In Colombia there is a great variety of valleys throughout its territory, but two of them are considered the most important: the Cauca River Valley and the Magdalena River Valley. They acquire great relevance due to the importance of the water courses that cross these areas.

Besides these, some less important valleys are known as minor. Next we will see some of the most relevant.

Aburrá Valley

This valley is located in the Antioquia area, right in the central part of the Andes mountain range. The Medellín River crosses this valley from one end to the other. It is located at an altitude that varies between 1300 and 2800 meters above sea level and has a fairly irregular relief.

Catatumbo Valley

It is located in the northern part of Santander, in the border area between the Colombian and Venezuelan territory. The Catatumbo River is present in this valley and Cúcuta is the main urban population found in this region.

Its basin has an area of ​​24 thousand square kilometers, of which almost 70% is located on Colombian soil. The other party is in Venezuela. It is a region that has thousands of species of animals in this region of the country.

Caesar Valley

This valley is located between the Andes and the eastern mountain ranges, with the presence of the César River giving its name to the valley. It has a dry tropical climate, which means that the rainy season lasts for a very short time, although it usually manifests itself abundantly.

This valley has an area of ​​4,400 square kilometers, with a flat relief with a slight slope. Its altitude varies between 250 and 150 meters.

Laboyos Valley

There are two rivers that cross this valley, the Guarapas and the Guachicos. Both rivers have a current that runs from south to north until reaching the Magdalena River at 1200 meters above sea level.

It is located in the Huila area. The basin is filled with sediments from the Cenozoic age (also known as the Tertiary era). This valley is located about 1,300 meters above sea level and the mountains that surround it do not exceed 2,000 meters.

The mountains around the Laboyos valley are made up of volcanic rocks. While the structure of the valley depends on the area: the western part has small hills and the eastern part is flatter.

Magdalena Valley

It is considered one of the most important valleys in Colombia. It is enough to know its extension that reaches 200 thousand square kilometers to understand its importance, since it is the largest in the country. It is located between the central and eastern mountain ranges.

Due to its great extension, the climates present in this valley are very varied, as is the flora. They divide it into the upper Magdalena valley, the middle Magdalena valley and the lower one.

Patía Valley

It separates the central mountain range from the western mountain range. It is found in the Cauca and Nariño areas. It is a valley where rainfall is not abundant, so its climate and vegetation are characterized by being semi-arid.

Cauca's Valley

It is located a thousand meters above sea level. It is the valley that divides the western and central mountain ranges. It is classified as one of the areas with the highest fertility in Colombia, although due to its large extension it also has swampy areas that are not good for cultivation or the practice of agriculture.

It occupies about 85 thousand square kilometers of the Colombian territory. Sugar initiatives and the practice of livestock are very present in this valley.

Upper Cauca Valley

It is also known as the Pubenza valley. It divides the central and western mountain ranges in the Andes of Colombia in the Cauca area. Its extension is more than 240 kilometers long and depending on the area, its width can be up to 32 kilometers.

Sibundoy Valley

It occupies the south western part of the Colombian territory. It is of great importance at the cultural level due to the presence of two indigenous tribes in the area, the Kamentsá and the Kamsá. It is located more than 2,500 meters above sea level, and has an area of ​​93 square kilometers.

This valley is part of the Upper Putumayo region. Its climate has temperatures that vary between 16 and 27 degrees Celsius.

Tenza Valley

Between Cundinamarca and Boyacá you can find the Tenza valley, whose name means "king of the winds." It averages about 20 degrees Celsius in temperature. Their nights are usually colder and their winters are abundant with rainfall.

It has the characteristics of a humid tropical forest. Its population barely exceeds 60 thousand inhabitants.

Atrato Valley

It has climatic conditions that make the valley a warm and humid place. It is crossed by a river with the same name.

Besides these, in Colombia there are also some valleys that are considered minor or smaller. These valleys are those of Aburrá, Lebrija, Sinú or Zulia. Some are even considered as false valleys because their topology does not present all the characteristic elements that should appear in one of these territories.

There are also other valleys in Colombia, such as San Juan, which are highly relevant due to the possibility of developing mining or forestry activities in them.

References

1. Jaramillo Sierra, B. (1950). Valleys of Colombia. Bogotà: Voluntad Bookstore.
2. Relief of Colombia. Recovered from calameo.com
3. Soils of the inter-Andean valleys. (2010). Recovered from zonificaciondesuelosencolombia.blogspot.com
4. Interandean valleys. Recovered from Cienciageografica.carpetapedagogica.com
5. Inter-Andean valleys of Colombia. Recovered from cultural laboratory.org