Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)
Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Ranges) | |
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orogen |
The Cordillera Oriental (English: Eastern Ranges) is the widest of the three branches of the
Colombian Andes. The range extends from south to north dividing from the Colombian Massif in Huila Department to Norte de Santander Department where it splits into the Serranía del Perijá and the Cordillera de Mérida in Venezuelan Andes. The highest peak is Ritacuba Blanco at 5,410 m (17,750 ft) in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
.
Geography
The western part of the Cordillera Oriental belongs to the
Orinoco River, and Catatumbo River. Within it, the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy (with the only snowy peaks in this mountain range) stand out. The mountain range contains the most páramos in the world.[citation needed
]
The Cordillera Oriental montane forests ecoregion covers the eastern slopes of the cordillera and its northern end. The Magdalena Valley montane forests cover the western slopes. The Northern Andean páramo covers the highest elevations.
Protected areas
- Cueva de los Guácharos
- Chingaza National Natural Park
- Yariguíes National Park
- Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
- Sumapaz Páramo
- Tamá National Natural Park
- Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area
- Lake Iguaque
- Guanentá Alto Río Fonce Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
- Catatumbo Barí National Natural Park
- Los Picachos National Natural Park
- Pisba National Natural Park
Regional geology
See also
- Geography of Colombia
- Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Bogotá savanna, Tenza Valley
- Andean Region, Venezuelan Andes, continuation of this mountain system
References
- ^ "Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)". Retrieved 20 February 2013.