Cordillera Central (Colombia)

Cordillera Central (Central Ranges)
Highest point
Peak	Nevado del Huila
Elevation	5,364 m (17,598 ft)
Dimensions
Length	1,023 km (636 mi) north-south
Area	129,737 km2 (50,092 sq mi)
Geography
Country	Colombia

The Cordillera Central (English: Central Ranges) is the highest of the three branches of the Colombian Andes. The range extends from south to north dividing from the Colombian Massif in Cauca Department to the Serranía de San Lucas in Bolivar Departments. The highest peak is Nevado del Huila at 5,364 m (17,598 ft).

Significant graphite resources exists in Cordillera Central in the form of graphite-bearing schists.

Geography

The range is bounded by the Cauca and Magdalena river valleys to the west and east, respectively.

The Cauca Valley montane forests ecoregion covers the western slope of the range. The Magdalena Valley montane forests cover the eastern slopes and the northern end of the cordillera. The Northern Andean páramo covers the highest elevations.

Highest peaks

• Nevado del Huila - 5,364 m (17,598 ft) - Cauca, Huila & Tolima
• Nevado del Ruiz - 5,311 m (17,425 ft) - Caldas & Tolima
• Nevado del Tolima - 5,215 m (17,110 ft) - Tolima
• Nevado de Santa Isabel - 5,100 m (16,700 ft) - Risaralda, Tolima & Caldas
• Nevado del Quindio - 4,760 m (15,620 ft) - Quindio, Tolima & Risaralda
• Cerro Pan de Azucar - 4,670 m (15,320 ft) - Cauca & Huila
• Puracé - 4,646 m (15,243 ft) - Cauca & Huila

Protected Areas

• PNN Los Nevados
• PNN Nevado del Huila
• PNN Puracé
• PNN Las Hermosas
• PNN Selva de Florencia
• SFF Otún Quimbaya
• SFF Serranía de las Minas - proposed

Cordillera Central, Antioquia Department

See also

• Geography of Colombia
• Andean Region, Colombia
• Cordillera Occidental (Colombia)
• Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)