City (pop., 1999 est.: 1,861,265), northwestern Colombia.
It is the country's second largest city and is heavily industrialized. Founded in 1675 as a mining town, it grew rapidly after the completion of the Panama Canal and the arrival of the railroad in 1914. It is now noted for its textile mills, clothing factories, and steel mills. It is one of Colombia's largest trading centres for coffee. It also became a centre for the illegal international distribution of narcotics (mainly cocaine) in the late 20th century.