The Cordillera Occidental () is the lowest in elevation of the three branches of the Colombian Andes. The average altitude is and the highest peak is Cerro Tatamá at . The range extends from south to north dividing from the Colombian Massif in Nariño Department, passes north through Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Chocó, and Caldas Departments to the

Paramillo Massif The Paramillo Massif (''Nudo de Paramillo'') is a mountain range of the Tropical Andes System, located at the northern end of the Cordillera Occidental (Colombia), Cordillera Occidental (West Andes) range in Colombia. Geography Administratively, ...

in Antioquia and Córdoba Departments. The cordillera is paralleled on the east by the Cauca river. From this massif the range divides further to form the Serranías de Ayapel, San Jerónimo and Abibe. Only to recede into the Caribbean plain and the

Sinú River Sinú River (), is a river in northwestern Colombia that flows mostly through the Córdoba Department and into the Caribbean. It is the third most important river in the Caribbean Region, after the Magdalena River and the Cauca River. It is ...

valley. It is a direct continuation of Cordillera Occidental of Ecuador. Pico de Loro en el PNN Farallones de Cali-Colombia

Geography

The western part of the mountain range belongs to the Pacific region of Colombia, with the San Juan River being the main watershed, while the eastern part belongs to the Cauca River basin. The northern and northwestern parts belong to the Atlantic Slope, with the Atrato and Sinú Rivers being the main watersheds. The Cordillera Occidental is separated from the coastal Baudó Mountains by the Atrato River. A number of

ecoregion An ecoregion (ecological region) is an ecological and geographic area that exists on multiple different levels, defined by type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and c ...

s cover the cordillera. The Chocó–Darién moist forests cover the western foothills below 1000 meters elevation. The Northwestern Andean montane forests cover the humid western slopes of the range. The Cauca Valley montane forests cover the eastern slopes.

Northern Andean páramo The Northern Andean páramo (NT1006) is an ecoregion containing páramo vegetation above the treeline in the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador. In the past, when the climate was cooler, the treeline and the páramo units were lower and the units were c ...

covers the highest elevations.

Highest peaks

* Cerro Tatamá – – Chocó & Risaralda * Azufral – – Nariño * Farallones de Cali – – Valle del Cauca * Farallones del Citará – – Antioquia * Páramo de Frontino – – Antioquia * Cerro Caramanta – – Antioquia, Caldas & Risaralda * Cerro Napi – – Cauca * Alto Musinga – – Antioquia * Cerro Calima – – Valle del Cauca * Cerro Paramillo – – Antioquia * Cerro Ventana – – Valle del Cauca & Chocó

Protected areas

The West Andes have the following nationally protected areas from south to north: * PNN Munchique * PNN Farallones de Cali * PNN Tatamá * PNN Las Orquídeas * PNN Paramillo Other areas under consideration for national protection include: * Serranía del Pinche * Serranía de los Paraguas

Locally protected areas

* Yotoco Forest Reserve * Bitaco River Forest Reserve

Recreation areas

* Dapa * Calima Lake

References