1. Sunmary of Colombian History
2. Geographical Information
3. Topography
4. Hydrography
5. Environment
6. National Parks
7. Bio diversity
8. Flora
9. Fauna
10. General Information About The Colombian Economy
11. General Information
12. Education
13. Arts
14. Literature
15. Painting And Sculpture
16. Music
17. Religion
18. Emblems & Symbols
19. National Hymn Of The Colombian Republic

SUMMARY OF COLOMBIAN HISTORY

15000-10000 Man arrives to Colombian territory

1492 October 12 Columbus discovers America

1499 May 16 Trip of Alonso de Ojeda with Juan de la Cosa and Americo Vespucci. They discover Cape of the Vela

With the arrival of news in May 1810 that southern Spain had been conquered by Napoleon's forces, and that the Spanish Supreme Central Junta had dissolved itself, many Spanish territories made declarations of independence. Quito (1809), Gran Colombia (1810), Venezuela and Paraguay (1811) and other territories, established their own governments.

1810 May 22 The First Republic is formed in Cartagena. On July 20 1810 the newly formed Government takes control of the country and replaces the viceroys Amar and Borbón.

1816 April 28 The Spanish conquer Nueva Granada and re-establishes the viceroyalty. On May 26. Pablo Morillo arrives to Santa Fe and begins the Reign of Terror.

1819 May 23 Begins the campaign to liberate Nueva Granada.
June 15 Begins the ascent of the Andes
July 27 The battle of the Pantano de Vargas
August 7 Battle of Boyaca liberates Nueva Granada
December 17 The Republic of Colombia is created by the Angostura Congress, with three departments: Venezuela, Quito and Cundinamarca.

1903 November 3 Proclaimed independence of Panamá.

1948 Assassination of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, the Military Governor.

1953 June 13 With the backing of different political and social sectors, Lieutenant General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla overthrows President Laureano Gómez

1957 May 10 The General Rojas Pinilla abandons his power, leaving it to the Military that governs until August 7, 1958.
December 1 National Front is approved by the people and a bi-party government is institutionalized.

1991 February 5 National Assembly of the Constitution is installed.
July 4 a new constitution proclaimed.

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Geographical Information

General Information
Area: 1,141,748 Km2
Population: 42.000.000 people
Capital: Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Principal Rivers: Magdalena and Cauca
Highest Point: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 5980 meters (above sea level)
Principal cities : Santa fe de Bogota, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Pereira, Cartagena
Observation: It's the only country in South America with coastlines on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

 

Geographical Situation
The continental territory of the Republic of Colombia is in the North West of South America on the equatorial line. The country stretches as far North as it does South from the equator, though the majority of Colombian territory is located in the Northern Hemisphere. Colombia has coast lines on both the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans.
Colombian territory reaches 12°26'46" on the Northern latitude. The most northerly point being Punta Gallinas in the Guajira Peninsula which is also the most northerly point of the South American Continent.

To the South, Colombia's territory reaches 4° 12' 30", where the San Antonio Creek mixes with the Amazon River.

The far East of Colombia reaches 60° 50' 54" Eastern Longitude on the island of San Jose on the Negro River, in front of the Piedra of Cocuy, that borders the Republic of Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela.
The far West of Colombia reaches 79° 02' 33" which corresponds to Cabo Manglares - where the River Mira flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Colombia also forms part of the archipelago of San Andres and Providencia in the Caribbean SEa between 12°and 16° 30' north latitude and 78°and 82° west longitude of Greenwich. San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina are the principal islands in the archipelago. In the Caribbean, close to the coast, there is Fuerte Island and the archipelagos of San Bernardo and the Rosarios. Finally, the islands of Baru and Tierra Bomba, the islands close to the continent (Cartagena) are part of Colombia's territory.
In the Pacific Ocean 3° 58' north latitude and 81° 35´ west longitude you'll find Malpelo; and closer to the coast, the islands of Gorgona and Gorgonilla.

Borders and Treaties: Colombia borders the following areas:

North East

• Panamá (266 km.: Vélez - Victoria, August 20, 1920)

East

• Venezuela (2219 Km; López de Mesa - Gil Borges, Apriol 15, 1941, and legal dispositions: Laudo Español. March 16, 1841 and Sentencia del Consejo Federal Suizo of March 24, 1922
• Brazil (1615 Km.; Vásquez Cobo- Martins, April 24, 1907 and García Ortiz - Marabeira, November 15, 1928

South

• Ecuador (586 Km; Suárez - Muñoz Vernaza, July 15, 1916)
• Perú (1626 Km.; Lozano - Salomón, March 24, 1922 and el Protocolo of Río de Janeiro, May 24, 1934)

Marine and Submarine Areas:
The length of the Caribbean Coast is 1600 km and it has a controlled area of approximately 536.574 Km². The Pacific Coast has 1300 km with a controlled area of 339.500 km².

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Topography

The Colombian territory is divided in two regions: the mountainous zone of the west and plains of the east.

The mountainous region is made up of the Andes Mountain Range which enters Colombia via Nariño. In Narino, the Macizo de los Pastos, where one range separates to the left (that is called the Occidental Range) while the other continues until it reaches the departments of Cauca and Huila. Here, once again, the mountains divide at the Colombian Macizo, but this time to the right (therefore called the Oriental Range). Now the Andes have divided in three (The Oriental, Central, and Occidental Ranges). These three ranges along with the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta and the Sierra of the Macarena, define the topographical characteristics of the country.

The plains of Colombia are located to the east of the Oriental Range, to the west of the Occidental range, and the north of the country in the valleys and InterAndes plateaus that are formed by:

The Oriental Plains (Orinoquia and Amazonia)
The Orinoco Apoporis Region of the Precambrian
The Inter-Andes Valleys of the Cauca and Magdalena Rivers
The Aburra Valley
The Sinu Valley

The principal plateaus are in the Valleys of:
Ubae
Chiquinquira
Sogamoso
La Sabana of Bogota and other smaller valleys

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Hydrography

Colombia is a country with abundant water resources that come from the oceans, lakes, swamps, and other still waters, running waters (rivers, creeks, brooks), and subterranean waters.
Colombia borders the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean to the north and west of the country respectively. There is 1.600 km of Colombian coastline on the Caribbean between Cape Tiburon to the east and Cape Castilletes to the west. Colombia enjoys 1.300 km of coastline on the Pacific between Ardita and Cocolito to the north until the Mataje River meets the ocean to the south.

 

Lake-like waters are principally lagoons, located in inter-mountain basins of the different mountain ranges. Marshes and bogs are also commonly found where the rivers run low.
The greatest number of lagoons of different sizes are located in the Oriental Mountain range, the largest being the Tota in Boyaca and the Fuqene in Cundinamarca. There are smaller lagoons throughout the region including Chisaca, Ubaque, Siecha, Guativita, Iguaque, Suesca, Cucunubá and many more.
Among still waters, there are also reservoirs: Tomine, Sisga and Neusa in Cundinamarca; Calima in the Cauca Valley; Guadalupe and Rio Grande in Antioquia; and Prado River in Tolima.
The most famous marshes and bogs are those of the Zapatosa, formed by the Cesar River; the bogs of Chilloa, Sapayán, San Antonio and Simití, formed by the Magdalena; those of Tadía, Opogadó, la Rica, and Tumaradó, formed by the Atrato River; those of Ayapel, Punta de Blanco and Carete, formed by the San JOrge River, those of Betanci and Grande, formed by the Sinú River; and those of San Lorenzo, La Raya and Redonda, formed by the Cauca River. The biggest marsh of all is the Grande Marsh of Santa Marta.
Subterranean waters are found throughout the country. When the springs have water of elevated temperature, they are called hot springs. The most well-known hot springs are found in the spas of Boyaca, Puraca in Cauca, those of the Nevado del Ruiz, and hot springs of Santa Rosa of Cabal and various zones in Cundinamarca.

Hydrographic Paths
Drainage water make up five hydrographic slopes: the Caribbean, Pacific, Amazon, Orinoco and Catatumbo.

Slope of the Caribbean: Formed by the running waters that spill into the Caribbean -- directly or via the principal rivers. There are 435.000 of running waters to the Caribbean, and its principal river is the Magdalena whose tributaries are the Cauca, Cesar, San Jorge, Carare, Sogamoso, Lebrija, Saldaña, Bogotá, Negro, Sumapaz, Guarinó, Lagunilla, La Miel, Magdalena and Nus Rivers. The Atrato flows into the Urabá Gulf and also receives many rivers, including the Sinú and Ranchería. There are many Colombian Rivers that flow directly into the Caribbean Sea.
Pacific Slope There are 90.000 km of flowing waters that run into the Pacific, among them the San Juan, Patía, Baudó, Mira, Micay, Dagua, Anchicayá, Yurumanguí, Naya, Guapí, Iscuandé and Mataje Rivers.
Amazon Slope This is the greatest running river of the world, 332.000 pertains to Colombia. That said, the Amazon's tributaries are the Putumayo, Vaupes, Caqueta, Guainia, Caguán, Orteguaza, Yarí, Cahuinari and Igara, Paraná Rivers.
Orinoco Slope There are 263.000 km. and is made of the following tributaries: Arauca, Meta, Vichada, Guaviare, Inirida, Ariari, Guayabero, Casanare, Tomo, Cusiana, Tuparro and Guarrojo.
Catatumbo Slope: Formed principally by the Lake of Maracaibo in Venezuela, there are 18.000 km in Colombia and its principal rivers are: Catatumbo, Sardinata, Tarra, Táchira, Cucutilla, San Miguel, Garumito and the rio de Oro.

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Environment

National Parks

Colombia has 42 protected areas covering an area of 9´015.000 hectares, approximately 80% of Colombia's land extension. These areas are comprised of 2 natural reserves, 33 national parks, 6 sanctuaries of flora and fauna, and 1 unique natural area.
Information of national parks and natural reserves in Colombia

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Bio diversity

Colombia has the highest number of plant and animal species per area in all of the planet. There are more than 1800 bird species (more than the sum of birds of North America and Europe combined). The bird species vary from the condor of the Andes to the smallest of hummingbirds. And Colombian botanists have classified more than 130,000 plant species.

 

Flora

In hot regions with permanent precipitation, jungles flourish with high trees and green foliage. Vines and epifits abound -- plants that live within other plants. Moreover, there is another level of vegetation in the jungle floor with a high level of density of plants.

In more humid regions, like the jungles of Choco, the Amazon, the Catatumbo, the Central Valley of the Magdalena, and the low regions of the mountain ranges, the vegetation is exuberant, with a rich variety of species of wood, palm, rubber, and balsam trees.

In the coastal regions with salty waters, mangroves grow. Mangroves are special regions created by trees accustomed to both the fresh and salt waters. You can find mangroves on the coast that borders the planes of the Pacific in the Gulf of Uraba, in the Cienaga Grande of Santa Marta, and to the south of the Bay of Barbacoas.

In regions where the climate is semi-humid, there are two seasons: the dry and rainy seasons (like in the Plains of the Caribbean and Oriental Plains).The vegetation of these zones stands out for its different grasses with spread out trees that don't grow very tall and bushes that grow in thickets from 1 - 2 meters tall. In the Oriental Plains, there's also forests of Galeria that grow near the rivers, with the same aspect of a humid jungle. These forests are populated by big trees of a variety of species: among them the Morche Palms that grow in the high places where the conditions of humidity in the soil are favorable.
In the dry plains, the flora is comprised of desert-like vegetation (small trees, bushes with hard and rigid leaves, grasses, and many other legumes that adapt to the dryness). In this zone spiny plants and cacti abound that form small forests. This type of vegetation is found near the Caribbean, from the Gulf of Morrosquillo to the Guajira, in the Chicamocha, Dagua, Patia, and Magdalena River Basins, and this type of vegetation dominates the Valley of Tristezas and the plateaus of Mercaderes and Entre Rios.

Between the warm and cold steppes, you can enjoy a sub Andean forest, characterized by the great variety of species however fewer in number than found in the tropics. In these areas, the natural forests have been replaced by coffee crops, especially in the Western and Central Mountain Ranges. In lands of higher altitude (between 2.400 and 3.600 meters) you will find the Forest of Fog characterized by a high number of species of smaller trees. These trees have a high number of branches and are filled with aerial plants. This type of vegetation is found in the mountains exposed to high amounts of precipitation where there are zones with high levels of condensation.
Above tree line, the typical vegetation is the frailejón, small bushes and grainy plants, since they are varieties that have adapted to low temperatures, rains, and cold winds.

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Fauna

The bio diversity of Colombian fauna is enormous. For example, there are 1300 species of mammals, 1800 species of birds and more than 35000 species of insects. This doesn't include the variety of amphibians, fish, and the abundance of marine fauna in Colombian seas.

Information about national parks and natural Colombian reserves

More information about the Colombian environment

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLOMBIAN ECONOMY:

2001 Population: 42,3 million
Urban population (2000): 75%
Area : 1.138.900 km2
Population Density: 40,7 inhabitants per km2
Population Growth (2002): 1,8% annual
Life span (2000) : 72 years
PNB per capita : US$ 2.020
PIB : US$ 85,3 billion
PIB per sectors : Agriculture 13.5%, Industry 29.8%, Services 56.8%(2000) .

Annual Inflation : 8.7% (2001)
Most Important Products: Coffee, Oil, Coal, Emeralds, Sugar Cane, Textiles, Flowers, Bananas.
Important Commercial Associates: USA, EU, Venezuela
Unemployment: 17%

 

The following are the most important economic entities of the country:

Ministry of Interior

Banco de la República (Bank of the Republic)

Commercial and Business Information:

Confecamaras : Chambers of Commerce of the Country.

Proexport Colombia : Entity in charge of facilitating Colombian exports.

Corferias : Primary place for expositions and fairs in Colombia.

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General Information

2001 Population : 42,3 million
Urban population (2000): 75%
Population in Bogota: 8.500.000 inhabitants
Population Density: 40,7 habitants per km2
Population Growth (2002): 1,8% annual
Life Expectancy (2000) : 72 years
Birth rate per woman (2000): 2.6

Child Mortality in children 5 years or younger: 2.34%
Malnutrition in children under 5 years old: 6.7%
Distribution for Race: 58% Mestizo (Mix between Caucasian and Indigenous), 20% Caucasian, 14% Mulatto (mix between black and white), 4% Black, 3% Zambo (Mix between black and indigenous), 1% Indígenous
Structure of the society according to age:
0-14 years: 33% (Men 6,474,927; Women 6,321,404)
15-64 years: 62% (Men 11,725,078; Women 12,333,982)
Older than 65 years old: 5% (Men 780,486; Women 945,072) (July 1998 est.)
Footprints and its South American Handbook describes Colombians in the following way:

"Colombia has many beautiful landscapes and places, but this is only half of the story. The greatest attraction of Colombia is its people. Its people are total optimists, insanely exuberant, terribly romantic and it's impossible to not fall in love with Colombians. If you ask people who know and visit Latin America what is their favorite country in the region, 9 out of 10 will say it's Colombia."
South American Handbook

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EDUCATION:

2001 Population : 42,3 million
Urban Population (2000): 75%
Literatacy rate (15 years old +)):
91.3% Men
91.7% Women
91.5% Total (2000 estimate)
Primary Education: 90.7% of the population ( 2000 est )
Secondary Education: 61% of the population ( 2000 est )
People with personal computers: 3.6% of the population( 2000 est )
Internet Users: 878.000 ( 2000 est )
Source: Indicators of Development in the world, World Bank (April 2002)

More information in the Colombian Ministry of Education

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ARTS

Colombia is an ethnic mosaic and this richness is reflected in its culture and folklore. The mix of different Indigenous cultures, Spanish and African influences have produced interesting fusions in all artistic expressions of the country.

LITERATURE

Colombia has been the cradle of great writers. The most famous are:
Gabriel García Márquez. Novelist and Nobel Prize winner.
Works: 100 Years of Solitude, The Coronel Doesn't Have Anyone to Write Him, The Smell of Guayaba, Chronicle of a Death Announced, Love in the Time of Cholera.

 

Alvaro Mutis. Novelist and poet
Works: The Snow of the Admiral, Ilona Arrived with the Rain, A Beautiful Death, The Last Stop of the Tramp Steamer, Amirbar, Abdul Bashur

 

 

Rafael Pombo. Poet and storyteller
Works: The Hour of Twilight, Prelude to Spring and Rhyming Stories for Children like Simon the Silly, The Little Shepherd Girl, The Car, The Poor Old Lady, the Bandit Cat, The Owl and the Dove, The Boy and the Butterfly, Mirringa Mirronga, The Dolled-Up Pig, Cutufato and his Cat

Jose Asunción Silva. Poet
Work: Nighttime, Bitter Drops

 

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PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

The most important Colombian artists are:

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MUSIC

Music lives and breathes in Colombia -- it's part of the essence of daily Colombian life, with hints of African rhythm from the Caribbean and touches of Andean influence, not to mention its Spanish feel.

Typical Colombian music varies depending on the region in Colombia and where you travel. The most typical Colombian rhythms are: La Cumbia, el pasillo, el torbellino, el bambuco, Los vallenatos and El mapale.

Some of Colombia's most important musicians are:

Shakira. Born in Barranquilla, Shakira is the most famous Colombian singer in the world whose Latin and English Pop has won many Grammies. Her more famous songs are: Si te vas, Antología, Pies descalzos, Donde estas corazón, Estoy aquí, Ojos así, Suerte.

Carlos Vives, or Carlitos as people call him, was born in Santa Marta and brought the folkloric rhythm of vallenato back to life for all to enjoy. The vallenato is the typical Caribbean Coast rhythm. Vives has won various Grammies for his Vallenatos, Latin Fusion Pop. His most famous songs are: La gota fría, La tierra del olvido, Fruta fresca, Dejame entrar, El amor de mi tierra.

Aterciopelados consistes of Andrea Echeverry and Héctor Buitrago who managed to fuse rock with the rhythms of Colombia. Their Rock Pop Latin Fusion has won many Grammies. Their most popular songs are: Bolero Falaz, Florecita rockera, Baracunatana, No necesito, Cosita seria.

Juan Esteban, also known as Juanes, is from Medellin and was originally the lead singer for Ekhymosis. When Ekhymosis broke up Juanes began his career as a soloist where he mixes mixes Colombian rhythms with classical rock instruments. Juanes has won many grammies for his Latino Pop Fusion. His most famous songs are:Fijate bien, A Dios le pido, La Camisa Negra, Mi Tierra (Ekhymosis)

Toto la Momposina is the most famous singer of Colombian Folklore in the world.

Niche is the most popular salsa group in Colombia

 

 

Listen to Colombian music live and some of the most popular Colombian radio stations:
(click on the logo)

 

More information about art and culture in Colombia

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RELIGION

As in any Latin American country, the country is primarily Catholic. In the last several years other Christian religions have started to grow in Colombia. Approximately 4,000,000 Colombians have abandoned Catholicism and incorporated themselves in Anglican, Lutheran, Mormon and other Christian congregations.

 

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EMBLEMS & SYMBOLS

 

NATIONAL BIRD OF COLOMBIA

The condor (vultus gryplus) was chosen in 1834 to represent liberty and sovereignty on Colombia's national crest. Today the condor is facing extinction and there are many campaigns to increase its population.

Though the majestic condor hasn't been chosen to be Colombia's "official" bird, it has always been associated with the glory of Colombia's patriotism. It is engraved on the national Coat of Arms. It is the bird that flies higher than any other, and its majesty and nobility are proverbial while its life span mythical. It's been called "the eternal bird." The strength and power of the condor are formidable.

They say a condor can fly up to 200 leagues in a day. It only flies on sunny days. It's feathers are black with seemingly blue appearance -- much like oil. Its powerful wings are lined in white as well as its majestic throat. It lives in the highest peaks of the Andes mountains.

NATIONAL TREE OF COLOMBIA

The Cera Palm Tree of Quindío (Ceroxilon quindiuense) was chosen to be Colombia's National tree by scientists in the Latin American Botanical Congress in 1949 (celebrated in Bogota). Later it was officially adopted as a symbol of Colombia by law in 1961 and 1985.

The Cera Palm Tree is a palm of great beauty, extraordinary strength, and legendary life span. It's exclusive to the Andes Mountains in Colombia and can reach up to 70 meters tall.

 

NATIONAL FLOWER OF COLOMBIA

The National Flower of Colombia is the orchid Catleya Trianae. This epifit plant has meaty leaves and originated in Colombia where it flourishes on the temperate Andean jungle floor.
Called Catleya Trianae in honor of the naturalist Jose Jeronimo Triana, this orchid was chosen as the National flower by the Colombian Academy of History in 1936, although this has never been officially determined by law. Colombian orquids are considered the most beautiful orchids in the world, and the Catleya Trianae is no exception.

JUAN VALDEZ

Juan Valdéz. Character created by the National Federation of Coffee PLantations to promote coffee sales. Juan Valdez represents the typical farmer from the Colombian Coffee Region, that walks through the mountains accompanied by his mule (Conchita) who helps him transport Colombian coffee.

NATIONAL DANCE OF COLOMBIA

La Cumbia is a rhythmic Caribbean dance with African roots interpreted by couples that dance in circles to the sound of drums. It's typical to carry a candle in one hand.

FLAG OF COLOMBIA

Colombia's flag design is contributed to Francisco Miranda. Simón Bolívar adopted the tri-color flag in 1813 as the emblem of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. According to the vision of the revolutionary, the flag symbolized "the rich (yellow)" people of Colombia, separated by the "blue" of the seas and the "red" of the Spanish people.
During President Pedro Nel Ospina's presidential reign in 1924, he decreed that the composition of the yellow, blue, red flag would be the official flag of the Republic of Colombia (Decree 861 March 17, 1924). The colors would be distributed horizontally with yellow in the upper 1/2 of the flag, followed by horizontal lines of blue and red, each distributed equally (1/4 of the space) in ther remaining half.

COAT OF ARMS OF COLOMBIA

The Colombian Coat of Arms was introduced May 17, 1924 by Decree 861.

 

 

 

THE NATIONAL HYMN OF COLOMBIA

The National Hymn of Colombia was composed in 1887. It was written to commemorate the Independence of Cartagena on November the11. On October 28, 1920 President Marco Fidel Suárez sanctioned the song as the national hymn of Colombia. It has one chorus and on November 11, 1887, the hymn was sung for the first time in public in a small theater in the old public school of the Cathedral.

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The Colombian National Hymn

 

Chorus

¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
¡Oh júbilo inmortal!
En surcos de dolores
El bien germina ya.
I
Cesó la horrible noche,
La libertad sublime
Derrama las auroras
De su invencible luz.
La humanidad entera,
Que entre cadenas gime
Comprende las palabras
Del que murió en la cruz
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
II
"¡ Independencia!" grita
el mundo americano;
se baña en sangre de héroes
la tierra de Colón.
Pero este gran principio:
"el rey no es soberano".
Resuena, y los que sufren,
Bendicen su pasión.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
III
Del Orinoco el cauce
Se colma de despojos;
De sangre y llanto un río
Se mira allí correr.
En Bárbula no saben,
Las almas ni los ojos,
Si admiración o espanto
Sentir o padecer.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
IV
A orillas del Caribe
Hambriento un pueblo lucha.
Horrores prefiriendo
A pérfida salud.
¡Oh si!, de Cartagena
la abnegación es mucha,
y escombros de la muerte
desprecia su virtud.
¡¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
V
De Boyacá en los campos
El genio de la gloria,
Con cada espiga un héroe,
Invicto coronó.
Soldados sin coraza
Ganaron la victoria;
Su varonil aliento
De escudo les sirvió.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
VI
Bolívar cruza el Ande,
Que riegan dos océanos:
Espadas cual centellas
Fulguran en Junín.
Centauros indomables
Descienden a los llanos,
Y empieza a presentirse
De la epopeya el fin.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
VII
La trompa victoriosa
En Ayacucho truena;
Que en cada triunfo crece
Su formidable son.
En su expansivo empuje
La libertad se estrena
Del cielo americano
Formando un pabellón.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
VIII
La Virgen sus cabellos
Arranca en agonía,
Y de su amor viuda,
Los cuelga del ciprés.
Lamenta su esperanza
Que cubre losa fría,
Pero glorioso orgullo,
Circunda su alba tez.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
IX
La patria así se forma
Termópilas brotando;
Constelación de cíclopes
Su noche iluminó.
La flor estremecida,
Mortal el viento hallando,
Debajo los laureles
Seguridad buscó.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
X
Más no es completa gloria
Vencer en la batalla,
Que al brazo que combate
Lo anima la verdad
La independencia sola
El gran clamor no acalla:
Si el sol alumbra a todos,
Justicia es libertad.
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
XI
Del hombre los derechos
Nariño predicando,
El alma de la lucha
Profético enseñó.
Ricaute en San Mateo,
En átomos volando,
" deber antes que vida",
con llamas escribió.