Editing Cesar Department (section)

== Geography ==

{{Main|Geography of Cesar Department}}

[[File:Cesar river.png|thumb|200px|The [[Cesar River]] basin in the department of Cesar.]]

The department of Cesar is located in northern Colombia bordering to the north with the [[department of La Guajira]], to the east with the [[Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela]], to the west with the [[department of Magdalena]], to the southwest with the [[Department of Bolivar]] and to the south with the departments of [[Department of North Santander|North Santander]] and [[Department of Santander|Santander]] covering a total area of 22,905&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=autogenerated4>[http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf {{in lang|es}} Government of the Department of Cesar: The Territory] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023213340/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf|date=October 23, 2007 }}</ref>

The majority of the Department is flat in 57% of the total area and 43% mountainous mainly in the Serranía del Perijá and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain ranges.<ref name=autogenerated4 />

===Ecoregions===

The Department of Cesar contains five [[Ecoregion]]s; the [[Serranía del Perijá]] mountain range, the valley of the [[Cesar River]], the [[Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta]] mountain range, the valley of the [[Magdalena River]] and the [[Cienaga de Zapatosa]] [[marsh]]es complex.<ref name=autogenerated4 />

[[File:Serrania del Perija - Cerro Pintao.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cerro Pintao and the Serranía del Perijá.]]

====Serranía del Perijá mountain range====

The ''[[Serranía del Perijá]]'' mountain range covers most of the eastern side of the Department of Cesar between its border with Venezuela and the [[Department of North Santander]], approximately 300&nbsp;km in length penetrating into the [[Department of La Guajira]] to the north and covering 27% of the total area of Cesar. The Serranía del Perijá covers, partially or totally the area of 17 municipalities in the Department of Cesar; Aguachica, Codazzi, Becerril, Chimichagua, Chiriguana, Curumani, Gonzalez, La Gloria, La Jagua de Ibirico, Los Robles La Paz, Manaure, Pailitas, Pelaya, Rio de Oro, San Alberto, San Diego and San Martin. There are also the indigenous reserves pertaining to the [[Yukpa]]s people; Iroka, Socorpa and Menkue-Misaya-La Pista; and to the Wiwas people; Caño Padilla, El Rosario-Bella Vista-Yucatán and Campoalegre.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf {{in lang|es}} Government of the Department of Cesar: Serrania del Perija] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327182501/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf |date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref>

Approximately 70% of the mountain range preserves unique flora and fauna and some 20 rivers are born in the mountain range among other minor streams, flowing into the Department of Cesar and feeding the Magdalena and Cesar river basins and the Cienaga de Zapatosa marshes. The Colombian government declared it a National Forest Reserve.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

====Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range====

[[File:Valledupar.jpg|thumb|200px|The '''Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta''' as seen from [[Valledupar]].]]

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range is an isolated mountain range located in the northwestern region of the Department of Cesar. The mountain range is shared with by Department of La Guajira, which covers the northern area, the Department of Magdalena to the western side and the Department of Cesar which covers the southern face, covering a total area of 16,615&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (1'661,500 ha) of which 380,000 ha pertain to the Department of Cesar. The Cesar River and the western side of its basin is born on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, including the [[Guatapuri River|Guatapuri]], Badillo, [[Ariguani River|Ariguani]], Cesarito, Los Clavos, Garupal and Rio Seco rivers. The mountains are within the boundaries of the municipalities of Pueblo Bello, Valledupar, El Copey and Bosconia.<ref>[http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf {{in lang|es}} Government of the Department of Cesar: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327182501/http://www.gobcesar.gov.co/admin/files/Ane-Noticia_20070220-112204.pdf |date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref>

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta was declared by [[UNESCO]] as a Biosphere Reserve on October 29, 1993.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/147/ {{in lang|es}} UNESCO: Buritaca 200 - Ciudad Perdida - Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta]</ref>

====Valley of the Cesar river====

====Valley of the Magdalena river====

====Cienaga de Zapatosa marshes====
[[Ciénaga de Zapatosa]]

===Climate===
Climate in the Department of Cesar presents variations in climate depending on altitude, as well as rainfall precipitations. Mountain climate in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía del Perijá become cooler with higher altitude, reaching freezing low temperatures on the snowy peaks. Lowlands average a temperature throughout the year of {{convert|28|°C|1|disp=or}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Climate of the Department of Cesar|publisher=Agustin Codazzi Geographic Institute|language=es|url=http://www.finagro.com.co/colombia/departamento.asp?IDDepartamento=09&Tema=06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031024043532/http://www.finagro.com.co/colombia/departamento.asp?IDDepartamento=09&Tema=06|archive-date=24 October 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref> These lower lands present a hot and drier climate, with annual precipitation less than {{convert|1,300|mm|in|0|disp=or}} a year. The mountainous regions are characterized by low temperatures with snow on high altitude peaks and precipitation reaching more than {{convert|2,000|mm|in|0|disp=or}} a year.

{{Weather box|width = auto
|location = Valledupar
|single line = Yes
|metric first = yes
|temperature colour = pastel
|Jan high C = 34.7
|Feb high C = 35.6
|Mar high C = 35.9
|Apr high C = 35.6
|May high C = 34.0
|Jun high C = 34.2
|Jul high C = 35.4
|Aug high C = 35.1
|Sep high C = 33.8
|Oct high C = 32.6
|Nov high C = 33.2
|Dec high C = 33.6
|Jan high F = 94.5
|Feb high F = 96.1
|Mar high F = 96.6
|Apr high F = 96.1
|May high F = 93.2
|Jun high F = 93.6
|Jul high F = 95.7
|Aug high F = 95.2
|Sep high F = 92.8
|Oct high F = 90.7
|Nov high F = 91.8
|Dec high F = 92.5
|year high C = 35.1
|year high F = 93.6
|Jan low C = 22.4
|Feb low C = 23.1
|Mar low C = 23.6
|Apr low C = 24.1
|May low C = 24.1
|Jun low C = 24.0
|Jul low C = 24.2
|Aug low C = 24.0
|Sep low C = 23.5
|Oct low C = 23.6
|Nov low C = 23.1
|Dec low C = 22.8
|Jan low F = 72.3
|Feb low F = 73.6
|Mar low F = 74.5
|Apr low F = 75.4
|May low F = 75.4
|Jun low F = 75.2
|Jul low F = 75.6
|Aug low F = 75.2
|Sep low F = 74.3
|Oct low F = 74.5
|Nov low F = 73.6
|Dec low F = 73.0
|year low C = 23.6
|year low F = 74.3
|Jan rain mm = 12
|Feb rain mm = 10
|Mar rain mm = 26
|Apr rain mm = 71
|May rain mm = 154
|Jun rain mm = 82
|Jul rain mm = 63
|Aug rain mm = 116
|Sep rain mm = 122
|Oct rain mm = 199
|Nov rain mm = 89
|Dec rain mm = 28
|rain colour = green
|source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name=WorldWeather>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldweather.org/057/c00889.htm= |title=Worldweather: Valledupar, Colombia |publisher=Weatherbase |year=2008 |access-date=2008-04-08 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>*Climatological information is based on monthly averages for the 30-year period 1971-2000. The averaging period for climatological information and the definition of "Mean Number of Precipitation/Rain Days" quoted in this web site may be different for different countries. Care should be taken when city climatologies are compared.</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}