Colombia is a country in South America. It is located at the top of the continent and connects South and Central America. It is the only South American country with an Atlantic/Caribbean and Pacific coastline. Topographically, Colombia is divided into four regions: the central highlands, the Pacific lowlands, the Atlantic lowlands, and Eastern Colombia. The total land area of Colombia also includes the islands of Providencia and Andrés in the Caribbean and the islands of Malpelo, Gorgona, and Gorgonilla in the Pacific. Colombia has many mountain ranges running through it, with its capital, Bogotá surrounded by lofty mountain ranges. The Andes Mountains split into three chains near the Ecuadorian border. These chains are called cordilleras, and the three ranges are Cordillera Occidental, Cordillera Central, and Cordillera Oriental. The western and central ranges run with the Pacific coastline while the third chain runs northeast and splits into two more ranges: the Sierra de los Andes and the Sierra Perija. The Atlantic lowlands are home to the plains north of the highlands and are connected to the highlands through the Cauca and Magdalena valleys. This region is also home to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Maria, a mountain range that is home to some of Colombia’s highest peaks. The Pacific lowlands consist of various swamps and jungles, not to mention the Serranía de Baudo, a mountain range separate from the Andean chains. A major swamp in this region is the Atrato Swamp, an endless sludge that has stopped engineers from constructing the Pan-American highway. Colombia has a massive river system as well, with some of the major rivers being the Magdalena (1549 km) and the Cauca (1015 km). Climatically, Colombia is divided into three zones: Tierra Caliente, which is the hottest and largest zone, averaging between 23.8°C and 26.6°C and taking up 90% of Colombia’s land area; Tierra Templada, which is a cooler and much smaller zone, averaging at 18°C and 23.9°C and only taking up 8% of Colombia’s land area; and Tierra Fría, which is the coldest and smallest zone, averaging at 10°C and 19°C. Colombia is a very diverse country, with many zones and areas with different climates and environments.