Colombia, UNITED

STATES OF. Republic in n. w. portion of South America. The w. part is traversed by the Andes, leaving along the w. coast and in the n. small areas of lowland. E. of the Andes are plains stretching toward the llanos of the Orinoco. The country is covered with forests of valuable tropic woods. Agriculture is rudely practiced, and some cotton, sugar, coffee, indigo, etc., are produced. The country abounds in undeveloped mineral wealth. The area is ab. 514,000 sq. miles; the capital is Bogota. The coast was traced 1499-1500. By 1536 the natives were mostly subdued and Spanish government established. After long connection with Peru, the viceroyalty of New Granada was formed 1740. Independence was declared 1810 and secured 1819 under Bolivar, in union with Venezuela and Ecuador; these states withdrew 1831, and the country was called New Granada. The present name was a umed 1861, and a new constitution adopted 1886. Pop. ab. 4,000,000.