Day 98: Sierra Nevada de Santa (6/27/2008)

One of the most interesting mountain ranges in South America are the Sierra Nevada de Santa Martas in Colombia. This is the highest mountain range in the country and the only mountain range this close to the ocean. It is created by the confluence of three tectonic plates intersecting at the same time. My interest in the region is that a number of Chibchan populations live on the slopes of the mountain range and at the time of Spanish contact in the region this area was densely population.

I wrote my Master's thesis on four Native American populations from this region (the Kogi, Arsario, Ijka, and the Wayuu). It is a fascinating region and this picture shows the great vertical relief in the region.