Mexico Facts
Mexico is located in North America. To the north, Mexico shares its border with the United States of America; North Pacific Ocean is to the south and west, and to the east lays the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico covers an area of 2 million square kilometres.
In America, Mexico ranks fifth in size of area and is ranked 14th in the world.
Mexico has a population of 103 million, according to the census in 2006. In terms of population Mexico ranks 11th in the world. Mexico is a country with diverse culture and ethnicity. Many people from Central and South America like Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Cuba and Venezuela have settled in Mexico. “Pluricultural nation” is the word used by the country’s constitution to define the cultural diversity. Mexico city is the capital of Mexico. The majority of the Mexican population comprises of Roman Catholics. The language primarily spoken is Spanish while English is also used for business and some rare purposes. Mexico also boasts of rich cuisines.
Facts
The Tropic of Cancer runs through Mexico and divides the country into two separate climatic zones, Temperate and Tropical. Places which fall to the north of the Tropic of Cancer experiences lower temperature in winter and those falling to the south of the tropic do not experience much change in the climate throughout the year.
Free Market Economy is practiced in Mexico and is categorized under “upper-middle income country”. The currency of Mexico is Peso. Mexico is a federal republic that comprises 31 states and a Federal District, which is the seat of the federal Mexico Government. The education system in Mexico has developed and improved over the years. Overall literacy rate was 92.2 per cent, according to a survey done in the year 2004, and the literacy rate among the youths is 96 per cent. Education is free and mandatory in the primary and secondary system, which means that education is a must up to 9 years of age.
Climate of Mexico
Before you visit Mexico you must gather some information on the country’s climatic conditions. Throughout the year the coastal regions remain warm and sultry. On the other hand the uplands are comparatively arid. However during the months between December and February the weather becomes very cold.
If you want to avoid the rain-patched weather while travelling, do not visit the country during the months between June and September. In the winter season frequent snowfalls occur throughout the country.
Physical Map of Mexico
The face of Mexico is very beautiful with various categories of low lands and high lands. The land of Mexico is characterized by uplands, tablelands, hilly areas, coastal regions and also deserts or waste lands. Among the high peaks in the country, Volcan Pico de Orizaba claims the highest altitude. It is almost 5,700 meters high, above sea level. On the other hand, Laguna Salada deserves the category lowest point in Mexico.
Gastronomy
The style in Mexico’s food is recognised for its intensity and variety of flavours, spices and colourful decoration. Many Mexican foods are found on pre-Hispanic, French and Spanish traditions, including the Maya and Aztecs. Some exotic dishes prepared in the Mayan or Aztec style have ingredients coming from spider monkeys, iguanas to rattlesnakes, deer and even some varieties of insects.
The most common Mexico appetizer are the following: calabaza, squash that can be eaten in different styles such as in cakes, candies and stews with tastes that are slightly sweet and smooth; consommé, cooked by combining ground meats or mousselin with tomatoes. Mirepoix and egg whites; pinto bean (mashed a refried spotted bean either fresh or canned and also used as a filling for burritos; and guacamole, mashed avocado with added salt and tomatoes.
Some main dishes in Mexico include the caldo de pollo, cooked with pieces of chicken, sliced onion, carrots, potato halves, minced cilantro, diced tomato, cabbage, and garlic; albóndigas, meatballs with rice and vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, squashes, chayote, onion and seasonings such as salt, cilantro and mind; burrito or taco de harina, consists of a flour tortilla folded around a filling of beans, Spanish rice, salsa, meat, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and cheese.
The usual desserts in Mexico are the Tres leches cake or Pastel de Tres leches, butter cake soaked in three varieties of milk such as condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk or cream); and Dulce de leche, milk candy cooked by slowly heating sweetened milk. Common drinks in Mexico are Pulque or octli, which is an alcohol beverage created from soured juice or the maguey or Agave; and Agues frescas or “fresh (cold) waters” combining cereals, fruits or seeks and water and sugar.