departamento, west-central Colombia, on the western slopes of the Andean Cordillera Central. The smallest department in the nation, it is located in one of Colombia's leading coffee-producing (coffee production) regions. Bananas, corn (maize), sugarcane, and beans are among the other crops, and livestock raising is widespread. Quindío has rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, and limestone. Armenia, the departmental capital, has long been important as a transportation centre because it is situated at the western end of the Quindío Pass. Area 712 square miles (1,845 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) 542,752.