CAUCA

department, southwestern Colombia, stretching eastward from the Pacific Ocean across the Andean Cordilleras (mountains) Occidental and Central, which are separated by the fertile valley of the upper Ro Cauca. The department, 11,316 sq mi (29,308 sq km), is rich in minerals and forests, but it has made little progress in agriculture because of inadequate transportation. Cattle raising and the cultivation of coffee, bananas, corn (maize), rice, and sugarcane are the main economic activities. A railroad connects Popayn (q.v.), the departmental capital, with Cali, in Valle del Cauca department. The CaliPasto section of the Pan-American Highway traverses the department from north to south. Pop. (1981 est.) 827,199.