City (pop., 1999 est.: 805,757), Colombia.
Located on the northwestern coast, it has a good harbour and is Colombia's principal port for oil exports. Founded in 1533, it became one of Spanish America's chief cities. It was strongly fortified and often attacked, notably by British forces under Francis Drake (1585) and Edward Vernon (1741). It remained under Spanish control until 1815, when it was taken by revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar . Though soon lost, it was retaken by independence forces in 1821. It declined in the 19th century but regained prominence in the 20th century as an oil-processing centre.