Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)

The Cordillera Oriental (English: Eastern Ranges) is the widest of the three branches of the Colombian Andes. The range extends from south to north, dividing from the Colombian Massif in Huila Department to Norte de Santander Department where it splits into the Serranía del Perijá and the Cordillera de Mérida in Venezuelan Andes. The highest peak is Ritacuba Blanco at 5,410 m (17,750 ft) in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy.

Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Ranges)
Highest point
Peak	Ritacuba Blanco
Elevation	5,410 m (17,750 ft)
Listing	Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Serranía de los Yariguíes, Serranía de las Quinchas, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Serranía del Perijá
Dimensions
Length	1,200 km (750 mi) SW-NE
Area	144,252 km2 (55,696 sq mi)
Geography
Country	Colombia
Parent range	Andes
Geology
Rock age	Neoproterozoic-Holocene
Mountain type	Andean Subduction-related orogen

Geography

The western part of the Cordillera Oriental belongs to the Magdalena River basin, while the eastern part includes the river basins of the Amazon River, Orinoco River, and Catatumbo River. Within it, the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy (with the only snowy peaks in this mountain range) stand out. The mountain range contains the most páramos in the world.

The Cordillera Oriental montane forests ecoregion covers the eastern slopes of the cordillera and its northern end. The Magdalena Valley montane forests cover the western slopes. The Northern Andean páramo covers the highest elevations.

Protected areas

• Cueva de los Guácharos
• Chingaza National Natural Park
• Yariguíes National Park
• Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
• Sumapaz Páramo
• Tamá National Natural Park
• Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area
• Lake Iguaque
• Guanentá Alto Río Fonce Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
• Catatumbo Barí National Natural Park
• Los Picachos National Natural Park
• Pisba National Natural Park

See also

• Geography of Colombia
• Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Bogotá savanna, Tenza Valley
• Cordillera Central, Occidental, Andean Region, Venezuelan Andes, continuation of this mountain system