Friends who enjoy looking at maps might have an intriguing thought when viewing a map of Latin America:
If there were a country on this vast land that could simultaneously possess the expansive northern territories of South America and the crucial waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans—the Panama Canal—how powerful would this country be?
Have you ever had such a thought?
In fact, about 200 years ago, there was indeed such a country in Latin America that perfectly met these conditions: the Republic of Gran Colombia.
The Republic of Gran Colombia, though its name sounds grand, had a tumultuous fate:
In 1819, under Bolívar's leadership, the army defeated the Spanish and occupied most of Venezuela and New Granada. Subsequently, the two regions united to form a single nation.
In 1821, the first constitution of the Republic of Gran Colombia was formulated and promulgated.
In 1822, the Quito region (today's Ecuador) joined the Republic of Gran Colombia.
However, the good times did not last long. Due to irreconcilable internal conflicts, Venezuela declared its secession in November 1829, and in May 1830, the Quito region declared its secession and established the Republic of Ecuador.
In 1831, the remaining territory was renamed the Republic of New Granada, leading to the dissolution of the Republic of Gran Colombia.
As can be seen, from its establishment in 1819 to its dissolution in 1831, the Republic of Gran Colombia existed for only 12 years, a brief moment in history, preventing it from showcasing its potential influence.
If the Republic of Gran Colombia existed today, how powerful would it be?
We can boldly imagine:
Firstly, its size would be considerable.
The territory of the Republic of Gran Colombia covered 2.42 million square kilometers, with a population exceeding 100 million, ranking among the top three in both North and South America.
Its territory would encompass what are now Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.
These four countries have a combined area of approximately 2.4 million square kilometers, ranking third in Latin America, only behind Brazil's 8.51 million square kilometers and Argentina's 2.78 million square kilometers.
The combined population of these four countries exceeds 103 million, also ranking third in Latin America, behind Brazil's 215 million and Mexico's 128 million.
Secondly, the Republic of Gran Colombia had very favorable natural conditions.
It possessed South America's largest lake—Lake Maracaibo, with an area of 14,000 square kilometers, and a pleasant climate.
All four countries are located near the equator, in low-latitude regions, with unique natural landscapes.
1. The Republic of Gran Colombia had the Orinoco River, a world-renowned river that originates in the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
It stretches 2,740 kilometers with a basin area of 948,000 square kilometers and an annual flow of 7,947 billion cubic meters.
The main course and basin of the Orinoco River are almost entirely within Venezuela and Colombia, making it a true inland river for the Republic of Gran Colombia.
Globally, few countries can wholly possess a world-class river, perhaps only China with the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, Russia with the Ob, Yenisei, and Lena Rivers, and Canada with the Mackenzie River.
2. The Republic of Gran Colombia had a large plain—the Orinoco Plain, formed by the Orinoco River, covering an area of 600,000 square kilometers.
Compared to the Amazon Plain and the Pampas Plain, the Orinoco Plain is fertile and very suitable for agriculture, making it one of South America's important agricultural and pastoral areas.
3. It also had a world-class large lake—Lake Maracaibo, located in northwestern Venezuela, covering an area of 14,300 square kilometers, with a water volume of 280 billion cubic meters, making it one of the world's large lakes.
While other countries, though vast, lack large lakes within their territories, the Republic of Gran Colombia did not have this problem.
4. The Republic of Gran Colombia had the rare landscape of tropical rainforests and snow-capped mountains coexisting.
Most of the country had a tropical rainforest and savanna climate, with high temperatures and an annual average temperature of around 25°C, along with abundant rainfall.
Additionally, the Andes Mountains run through its western region near the Pacific, with numerous snow-capped peaks such as Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Pico Bolívar, creating a unique tropical snow-capped mountain landscape.
Moreover, the Republic of Gran Colombia's geographical location was extremely important.
It was surrounded by sea on three sides, with a coastline of 9,631 kilometers, and controlled the global shipping hub—the Panama Canal.
Its geographical advantages were nearly unparalleled.
Finally, the Republic of Gran Colombia was rich in natural resources. Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, with proven reserves of 302.8 billion barrels.
Additionally, there are vast reserves of bauxite, gold, natural gas, and iron ore. Colombia is the world's largest producer of emeralds, and its coal reserves are the highest in South America.
Panama is rich in copper resources, while Ecuador has abundant oil and gas and copper resources.
Overall, the conditions of the Republic of Gran Colombia were very favorable in all aspects.
If it existed today, this country could become a significant force in changing the international landscape.
Although its existence was brief, it leaves behind a vast space for imagination.
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