departamento, west-central Colombia. It is situated in the Cordillera Central of the Andes Mountains and is bounded by the Magdalena River on the east and the Cauca River on the west. Penetrated by Spaniards early in the 16th century, Caldas gained prominence as a gold-mining region. It was created a department in 1905. Coffee is the chief product, but other agricultural products and industry are growing in importance. Mercury, gold, silver, coal, sulfur, zinc, and other minerals are still produced. Caldas is served by railroads, highways (including the Pan-American Highway), and airlines, centring on Manizales, the departmental capital. Area 3,046 square miles (7,888 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) 973,226.