SAN ANDRES, PROVIDENCIA AND SANTA CATALINA, C0L0MBIA - SOUTH AMERICA
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SAN ANDRES
PROVIDENCIA
SANTA
CATALINA















SAN ANDRES
Inhabitant: Sanandresano

The capital of the archipelago is an island of 27 square kilometres.
Its most important natural attractions are its impressive reefs, beaches and crystal clear blue waters where all kinds of water sports can be enjoyed. Other places worth visiting are The Hoyo Soplador (blowing hole), Morgan's Cave, Jonny Cay and Haynes Cay.
Downtown, known locally as Nord End, you will find government buildings, stores, shopping centres and the main beach area, called Sprat Bight.
La Loma (The Hill) district, a fine display of traditional architecture, is found in the centre of the island.
San Andres has an excellent hotel infrastructure and a great variety of commercial establishments.
It also has a great nightlife, with many places to eat, dance, listen to Calypso, Reggae and Socca music and sample the rum and coconut cocktails.
The population of this small paradise is about 65,000 and its economy is based on commerce and tourism.
The Island was declared a duty-free zone in 1953.



 



SAN ANDRES, PROVIDENCIA AND SANTA CATALINA


This fascinating archipelago with an extent of 250,000 square kilometres comprises the islands of San Andrés (the main island), Providence and Santa Catalina, Albuquereque, Serrana, Bolívar, Roncador y Quitasueño cays, and Alicia and Serranilla sandbanks, among others.
It is populated by 75,000 people. The archipelago is located in the Caribbean Sea, 700 kilometres northwest of the Colombian mainland.
The first settlers were the British, who arrived in these islands accompanied by some African slaves. Later, they were colonized by the Spaniards. Under Spanish rule the islands were recaptured by the English pirates Morgan and Manswelt. In 1793, England recognized Spanish sovereignty over the archipelago but by 1806 the islands were once again controlled by the British. Since 1868 the archipelago has belonged to the Republic of Colombia.
The Colombian Constitution of 1991 gave the islands status as a “Colombian Department” along with other Colombian territories.
Due to their historic and cultural heritage, the Sanandresanos (natives of the islands) have their own culture different from the people of mainland Colombia. Almost all of them speak Spanish, English and a native dialect called patuá.
The island's music has a variety of rhythms: polka, mazurka, schottische, walts, fox trot, pasillo, calypso and mentó.
The “Sea of Seven Colors”, the beauty of the white-sand beaches, Old Providence Natural Park and Haynes Cay Natural Aquarium, attract thousands of Colombian and international tourists every year.
In 2000, UNESCO officially declared the Archipelago a "Seaflower Biosphere Reserve".



Capital: San Andres   (Left column)



Providencia

On this island of great beauty, you will find the Old Providence Natural Park. It is a municipality of the archipelago with an area of 17 square kilometres. It is criss-crossed by small rivers that provide fresh water to the islanders. There are also some small villages.
The tourism industry leads the economy.

Santa Catalina

A volcanic island, tiny Santa Catalina has an area of only one square kilometre. About 400 people live there.


 



The Flag of
the Islands






The Emblem of the
Islands


 
Music


To listen to the songs from this region,
click on the speaker below .

www.colombia-sa.com
Música del departamento












  











National Natural Park

Old Providence Mc Bean Lagoon
Area : 995 hectares of which 905 are marines.








Airports

Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
– San Andres.
Providencia – Providencia.



Annual Events

April
: The festival of the Green Moon brings together the different musical expressions of the region, Other important event is The Crab Festival (San Andrés).

May
: International Triathlon (San Andrés).

November:
The Coconut Carnival – The Parade of Colonies brings together the different national and international groups living on the island with a parade showing their typical customs and traditional meals from the different regions. International and national scuba-diving competitions also take place at this time as well as some other cultural and folk events (San Andrés).



Anthem of the Archipelago
(In Spanish)

Lyrics: Eduardo Carranza
Music: José Rozo

Chorus
Sueñan las Islas como ángeles
sobre el silencio azul del mar.
El día pone entre sus manos
ramos de sal y de coral (bis)
I
Cuando el tiempo pasa cantando,
con él se pone a cantar.
Tiembla la luna que parece
un dátil más en el palmar.
II
En el aire brilla la alegría;
la vida es bella como el mar.
Y hay un olor en la mañana
a paraíso terrenal.





















            




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