Why is Colombia the Most Biodiverse Country on the Planet?
Colombia is one of the countries with more richness in terms of fauna and flora in the world. It is one of the most recognized for its beauty and everything related with biodiversity and nature.
When we talk about the biodiversity that a country possesses, we refer to the quantity and variety of species and ecosystems that a nation has, so the question is:
HOW MANY RECORDED SPECIES ARE IN COLOMBIA?
*Calculated from the species with at least one biological record in SiB Colombia (Sistema de información de biodiversidad de Colombia / Colombia´s Biodiversity information system). This figure is only an approximation to the known biodiversity richness that our country has and is constantly updated.
With 58,312 species, Colombia has earned this recognition of megadiverse country, this recognition as one of the most diverse countries in the world is thanks to many reason like: a strategic location in South America, which makes it a tropical country, with access to two seas (Caribbean and Pacific), the three branches of the Andes (Western Central and eastern), the portion of Amazon forest, the Orinoco river basin ecosystems, the Pacific area and the biogeographical Chocó and the isolated mountain ranges like Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, at the end is the complex geography which is reflected in different ecosystems and habitats is home of a large number of living beings.
In a global level Colombia is ranked first in birds and orchids, second in freshwater fishes, plants, amphibs and butterflies, third in palms and reptiles, sixth in mammals and the list goes on. It is also recognized for having the largest number of hummingbirds on the planet.The country also has between 10% and 14% of the planet’s diversity in an area equivalent to 0.8% of the world’s emerged lands.
Among the most impressive natural wonders of the Colombian territory are: the Amazon, with its extensive river and rainforest; the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a isolated mountain range, the highest coastal mountain in the world; La Guajira with semi-dry and dry ecosystems; and Chocó, an area of high rainfall, where it rains almost ten thousand millimeters a year and don’t forget the impressive Andes and the inter andean valleys a mountain systems which domain the interior of the country with large and impressive rivers like the Magdalena. In its 2,070,408 km2 of geographical extension, nature prevails with a wide variety of climates, soils and plants (between 40,000 and 45,000 species of plants) .
To know Colombia is to be surprised by the local diversity, its cultural expressions and its people, it is to watch new and incredible species of birds that are hidden here waiting for us. It is also to contribute to the local conservation processes by visiting sites and places that do not appear on the map but that we support on each trip.
We really want to show all our biodiversidity, in every detail, you will fall in love!
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