Independence Day of Colombia

TODAY is the National Day of Colombia which commemorates the formation of the country’s first representative council against Spain in 1810. Celebrations during this holiday include flag hoisting, military parades in cities, soccer games, traditional Colombian and folk music, and speeches by government officials.

Located in the northwestern region of South America, the country is the 26th largest nation in the world and the fourth largest country in South America (after Brazil, Argentina, and Peru). Bogota is the country’s capital and largest city.

Original inhabitants of Colombia were the Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona. The modern ethnic diversity of the country is the result of its strategic location and the interaction of various races such as Spanish, the original native inhabitants, Africans, and 20th century immigrants from Europe and the Middle East.

The economy of Colombia is the fourth and third largest in Latin America and South America respectively. It is based on the exports of certain products such as coffee, coal, petroleum, gold, and various other agricultural items. The country is well known for its emerald exports and 70 percent of cut flowers are sourced in Colombia by the United States. Tourism has also picked up significantly in the last several years due to improved security in the country.

Several tourist spots are the walled city and beaches of Cartagena, the historic Candelaria district of central Bogotà, the colonial towns of Santa Fe de Antioquia, Popayàn, Villa de Leyva, and Santa Cruz de Mompox, and the Las Lajas Sanctuary and the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirà.

We congratulate the people and government of Colombia led by President Juan Manuel Santos, on the occasion of its National Day.