Most of its surface is occupied for the western face of the Cordillera Central. Highest mountain: Nevado del Quindío, (Snow Mountain of Quindio) 5.150 m high. The lowest area is the valley of la Vieja River, 1.100 m high.
There are in this department about 1.845 km² of mountain landscapes, with many Rainforests and Guadua bamboo forests. The ground is enriched with ancient volcanic eruptions, rising its fertility, there are also many rivers and minor water streams, including the Quindío River and the Cocora valley located in this river origin.
The weather has a wide range, given the variations on termic floors. It has a high annual rain precipitation (around 2500 mm/year) because the humidity of winds from the Pacific Ocean stopped by the Andes. There are two rainy seasons (April and November). The average of temperature is between 24°C in La Vieja river and 16°C in Salento.
Quindío Wax Palm Tree
Quindio Wax palm tree is the national tree of ColombiaWith law 61 of 1985, the Colombian Congress adopted Quindío Wax Palm Tree [ Ceroxylon quindiuense (Karsten) Wendl.], a local endangered species of high-altitude-adapted palm tree, as the National Tree. As ratified on September 16 for the current president of Colombia, Belisario Betancur, in the following terms: "1º. It's declared as national tree and symbol of our fatherland the species commonly known as quindio wax palm tree, scientific name ceroxylon quindiuense. 2º. National Government Is faculted to buy as many lands as needed to create wildlife sanctuaries with the purpose of preserve this national symbol and its natural environment. 3º. Chopping down the wax palm tree is forbidden and punished with fine and jail"."
The wax palm tree was nearly extincted for the extraction of the resinous substance that it exudes. Furthermore, its leaves were widely used for the celebration of Holy Week processions, especially Palm Sunday.
Economy
Economy is mainly based in the harvest of coffee plant. It is one of the most important producers of Colombian coffee. The department belongs to the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis which is the centre of production and export of the highest quality coffee in Colombia. Plantain, cassava, Salentune potato and sugarcane are also cultivated, mostly for consume in the local markets.
In recent years, due to instability in the international coffee market, and attacks on the coffee fields by plagues such as Roya (Hemileia vastatrix) and Broca (Coffee borer beetle) (Hypothenemus hampei), interest has been directed to alternative options like citrus fruits and macadamia nuts. There is, however a growing tourism industry based in the interest of traditional peasant culture, natural resources, and typical landscapes.
Nevertheless, since the Tourism industry is seasonal and the agriculture is debilitated, there is lack of steady jobs and sources of income, and as result the department has the highest rates of unemployment in the country (data from the National department of Statistics DANE 2003).
Tourism
Quimbaya museum
Colombian National Coffee Park
PANACA park
Cocora Valley
Mariposario (Butterfly vivarium)
National Bamboo and Guadua Investigation Center
Peñasblancas
Snow Mountain of Quindio
Culture
Cuisine
Some of the typical food and drinks are:
The Salentune Patacón, which is made with plantain, smashed in a thin layer, fried and covered with grinded cheese and pineapple sauce.
The Quindian arepa filled with shredded chicken and pieces of pig chicharrón.
The Cocora baked trout.
The Maduro is a broiled plantain filled with cheese and Bocadillo (thick guava jam).
The roasted gurre
The guatin stew
The coffee wine (obtained from fermentation of coffee berries) with kahlua-like flavor
The coffee arequipe
The corn chicha fermented in a large pottery recipient containing a horseshoe to enhance the flavor.
The Carajillo, typical cocktail made of one part of hot coffee, one part of sugarcane aguardiente and cinnamon sticks.
Festivals and celebrations
Quindio department is the main exponent of traditional Cultura Cafetera (coffee culture) in the country, and there are several events all aroun the year that attracts a large number of visitors to this region. With the purpose of preserve this cultural expressions, the regional government promotes the declaration of Patrimony of Humanity by the Unesco
Among other events:
Paper lanterns in Quimbaya, Quindío candlelight festivalThe National Coffee Party is the main event of the department. It is celebrated each year since 1960 in Calarcá, the last days of June. The event includes the national beauty contest of coffee.
The international fair of handcrafts, each may in Armenia.
The day of St. Isidro (July-all the municipalties).
The National festival of kites (august- La Tebaida).
The anniversary of Armenia (October), with the Yipao or jeep parade.
The candlelight festival of Quimbaya (December) .
The Bullfighting season of La Macarena (January- Armenia).
Fauna and Flora
Odontoglossum
cruentumQuindio is the natural habitat of 520 species of birds and about 60 species of mammals. Many of them are endemisms. The area has the largest number of heliconia species in the world and a large numbers of species of orchids, mainly of the genera cattleya, odontoglossum, miltonia, phragmipedium and peristeria. Due to agricultural activities the amount of natural forests typical of the area, such the páramo, the cloud forest are decreasing progressively. This has caused that many of the endemic species are threatened, endangered or critically endangered. Some of them are:
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