• Source: Cordillera Occidental (Colombia)

The Cordillera Occidental (English: Western Ranges) 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 4,100 m (13,500 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. The cordillera is paralleled on the east by the Cauca river. 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.
It is a direct continuation of Cordillera Occidental of Ecuador.




Geography


The western part of the mountain range belongs to the Pacific region of Colombia, 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.
A number of ecoregions cover the cordillera. The Chocó–Darién moist forests cover the western foothills below 1000 meters elevation. The Northwestern Andean montane forests cover the humid western slopes of the range. The Cauca Valley montane forests cover the eastern slopes. Northern Andean páramo covers the highest elevations.




= Highest peaks

=
Cerro Tatamá – 4,100 m (13,500 ft) – Chocó & Risaralda
Azufral – 4,070 m (13,350 ft) – Nariño
Farallones de Cali – 4,050 m (13,290 ft) – Valle del Cauca
Farallones del Citará – 4,050 m (13,290 ft) – Antioquia
Páramo de Frontino – 3,950 m (12,960 ft) – Antioquia
Cerro Caramanta – 3,900 m (12,800 ft) – Antioquia, Caldas & Risaralda
Cerro Napi – 3,860 m (12,660 ft) – Cauca
Alto Musinga – 3,850 m (12,630 ft) – Antioquia
Cerro Calima – 3,840 m (12,600 ft) – Valle del Cauca
Cerro Paramillo – 3,730 m (12,240 ft) – Antioquia
Cerro Ventana – 3,450 m (11,320 ft) – Valle del Cauca & Chocó




Protected areas


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

PNN Munchique
PNN Farallones de Cali
PNN Tatamá
PNN Las Orquídeas
PNN Paramillo
Other areas under consideration for national protection include:

Serranía del Pinche
Serranía de los Paraguas




= Locally protected areas

=
Yotoco Forest Reserve
Bitaco River Forest Reserve




Recreation areas


Dapa
Calima Lake




See also


Geography of Colombia
Andean Region, Colombia
Cordillera Central (Colombia)
Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Kolombia
• Cincin Api Pasifik
• Kukuta
• Cordillera Occidental (Colombia)
• Cordillera Occidental
• Cordillera Central (Colombia)
• List of mountain ranges
• Cordillera
• Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)
• Geography of Colombia
• American Cordillera
• Cordillera Real (Ecuador)
• Western Cordillera