Despite being the country of the legend of “El Dorado”, towards the end of the late 20th century, the gold rush did not reach Colombia. Armed conflict and the harsh conditions of the land stopped foreign exploration and investment. At the turn of this century, the appointed government decided to undertake mining, especially mining for gold. In this context, Canadian multinational companies entered Colombia, transforming the mining industry and in many cases defining the country’s regulations. Some claim  that this new gold rush brings economic development and growth, others say it brings violence and an environmental impact which won’t be easy to recover from. This is open for discussion.