Gold mining has always been an important activity in northwestern Colombia, but it has surged in recent years. The recent rise in gold prices and the country's measures against coca cultivation have driven an unprecedented demand for the valuable mineral, making gold the new cocaine. In response to the growing demand for gold, illegal mines have multiplied, and environmental pollution has become one of the most serious problems in this part of Colombia. Mining destroys mountains and the environment, drying up rivers and releasing dangerous pollutants in the process. Today, nearly 80% of the gold produced in Colombia comes from these mines, many of which fund guerrilla groups, paramilitaries, or criminal organizations.