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Due to the complex geologic history of the northwestern part of South America, the Colombian coasts include a variety of coastline types, ranging from high-relief, steep-plunging cliffs typical of igneous and metamorphic massifs, to low, sandy barrier islands and extensive mangrove swamps characteristic of deltaic areas of both coasts. The geological variety of coastline types is further augmented by regional climatic differences (ranging from desert conditions to high rainfall of about 10 m/yr), and by regional and local neotectonic influences, including the effects of historical earthquakes/tsunamis and mud volcano eruptions.
Although mostly undeveloped and with a low population density, the recent evolution of the Colombian coastal regions has been strongly influenced by human activities both along the shore and in the watersheds. Channel excavation and river diversions dating back to the 18th century altered the sediment budgets of all the major deltas of the country and induced extensive morphological and biological changes in the littoral zone. Shoreline retreat has been the predominant historical trend along most of the beaches and soft-rock segments. In the past few decades, the use of hard engineering structures became extensive in order to stabilize the main recreational beaches and the inhabited areas of practically all major coastal cities and villages.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank FONDO BID - COLCIENCIAS (Programa de Ciencias del Mar, grants 1216-09-024-99, 1216-09-153-96 and 1216-05-16911), the U.S. Geological Survey, and Universidad EAFIT for supporting the work that made this website possible. We also thank IGAC - INTERA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES (Star 1), OSSO (Universidad del Valle) and Diego Zapata who generously provided radar images and aerial photographs. Assistance with graphics was provided by Betsy Boyton, the website was prepared by Jolene Shirley.
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