Cordillera Occidental (Colombia)

Cordillera Occidental (West Andes)
Highest point
Peak Cerro Tatamá [1]
Elevation 4,250 m (13,940 ft)
Dimensions
Length 1,200 km (750 mi) north-south
Area 86,239 km2 (33,297 sq mi)
Geography
Country Colombia

The Cordillera Occidental (English: West Andes) is the lowest in elevation of the three branches of the Colombian Andes. The average altitude is 2,000 m (6,600 ft) and the highest peak is Cerro Tatamá at 4,250 m (13,940 ft). The range extends from south to north dividing from the Colombian Massif in Nariño Department, passes north through Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Chocó, and Caldas Departments to the Paramillo Massif in Antioquia and Córdoba Departments. From this massif the range divides further to form the Serranías de Ayapel, San Jerónimo and Abibe. Only to recede into the Caribbean plain and the Sinú River valley.

Pico de Loro (Parrot Peak) in the Farallones de Cali
Munchique's Mountain
Cumbal Volcano

Geography

The western part of the mountain range belongs to the Pacific region, with the San Juan River being the main watershed, while the eastern part belongs to the Cauca River basin. The northern and northwestern parts belong to the Atlantic Slope, with the Atrato and Sinú Rivers being the main watersheds. The Cordillera Occidental is separated from the coastal Baudó Mountains by the Atrato River.

Highest Peaks

Protected Areas

The West Andes have the following nationally protected areas from south to north:

Other areas under consideration for national protection include:

Locally Protected Areas

Recreation Areas

References

  1. ↑ "Cordillera Occidental (Colombia)". Retrieved 8 August 2012.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, January 17, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.