Located near the border of Ecuador, the Andes Mountains run through Colombia on a northeasterly axis, starting from the south. The mountain ranges are split into three different parts, each called cordilleras: The Cordillera Occidental, The Cordillera Central, and The Cordillera Oriental. The Cordillera Central and The Cordillera Occidental run parallel to the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, the highest peak of the Cordillera Central is 5,750 meters (18,865 feet). The Cordillera Oriental runs northeastward, and splits into two different branches. The east branch is Sierra de los Andes, and the northern branch is the Sierra Perija. Of this range, the highest peak is Sierra Nevada de Cucuy, which stands at 5,580 m (18,307 ft) above sea level. The Cordillera Oriental also contains Sabana de Bogotá, a massive plateau where Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia, is built. The Andes mountains in Colombia are also home to an abundance of plants and animals. Some examples of animals that live in the cordilleras are the Andean Bear, and the Mountain Tapir. These are some of the largest mammals that live in the tropical Andes. It is also home to over 10% of the world’s bird diversity. Some examples of plants that live here are orchids, palms, ferns, and epiphytes. Epiphytes are plants that grow on top of other plants. All of these plants thrive in the environment proved in the Colombian Andes, because of the climate. The weather and climate of the mountains are generally hot as the country is close to the equator, and there is rainfall in these areas close to every day. The Colombian Andes mountains are the most important mountain range in Colombia.