[mag-duh-ley-nuh, -lee-; Sp. mahg-th
ah-le-nah] 
| 1. | a river in SW Colombia, flowing N to the Caribbean. 1060 mi. (1705 km) long. |
| 2. | a female given name. |
| Mag·da·le·na (māg'də-lā'nə, mäg'dä-lě'nä) A river rising in the Andes of southwest Colombia and flowing about 1,601 km (1,000 mi) generally northward to the Caribbean Sea near Barranquilla. |
Magdalena
departamento, northern Colombia, occupying the Caribbean lowlands and bounded by the Magdalena River on the west. Much of its area is swamp, floodplain, or high mountains (including the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in the northeast). The major economic activity is banana cultivation, especially in the vicinity of Santa Marta, the departmental capital, which has an excellent natural harbour. Cattle are also raised in the region, and there are a number of small industries. Area 8,953 square miles (23,188 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) 1,180,703.
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