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Mexico History Geography Facts Points of Interest Britannica Browse Search Quizzes Games On This Day Login Subscribe nbsp Now Entertainment Pop Culture Travel Health Medicine Lifestyles Social Issues Literature Philosophy Religion Politics Law Government Science Sports Recreation Technology Visual Arts World Biographies Week In Review Topic Summaries Infographics Demystified Lists WTFact Companions Image Galleries Spotlight Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia s archives in find what happened this week or any history Explains explains a variety topics and answers frequently asked questions Videos has all the to your burning shares some most bizarre facts we can Article Media Additional Info Contents Introduction amp Quick FactsLandReliefGeologic originsPhysiographic regionsDrainageSoilsClimatePlant animal lifePeopleCultural regionsEthnic groupsLanguagesReligionSettlement patternsDemographic trendsEconomyAgriculture forestry fishingAgricultureForestryFishingResources powerManufacturingFinanceTradeServicesLabour taxationTransportation telecommunicationsGovernment societyConstitutional frameworkLocal governmentJusticePolitical processSecurityHealth welfareHousingEducationCultural lifeCultural milieuDaily life social customsClass divisionsFamily gender issuesFood drinkHolidays festivalsThe artsCultural institutionsSports recreationMedia publishingHistoryPre-Columbian MexicoEarly Middle Late Formative periodsClassic PeriodPost-Classic PeriodThe rise AztecsConquest MexicoExpansion Spanish ruleColonial period IndependenceThe Mexican Empire The early republicThe age Santa Anna Texas Mexican-American WarLa ReformaFrench interventionThe restored Porfirio D azPrecursors revolutionThe Revolution its aftermath military constitution northern dynasty Obreg n CallesResurgence under C rdenasWorld War II since Prosperity repression PRIBeyond single-party rulePe Nieto return PRI ruleThe election L pez Obrador shift leftwardPresidents Home Countries Print print Please select which sections you would like Table Of Cite Share media Facebook Twitter URL https www britannica com place More Give Feedback External Websites Corrections Updates Omissions Let us know if have suggestions improve article requires login Type Select type Required Factual Correction Spelling Grammar Link Information Other Your Submit Thank for feedback Our editors will review ve submitted determine whether revise Join Britannica’s Publishing Partner Program our community experts gain global audience work Jewish Virtual Library – Central Intelligence Agency Factbook Articles Encyclopedias elementary high school students Children’s Ages Student up WRITTEN BY Michael Meyer See All Contributors Professor Emeritus University Arizona Tucson Author Huerta A Political Portrait Co-author Course Last Updated Nov Alternative Titles Estados Unidos Mexicanos M xico United States country southern North America third largest Latin after Brazil Argentina society is characterized by extremes wealth poverty with limited middle class wedged between an elite cadre landowners investors on one hand masses rural urban poor other But spite challenges it faces as developing chief economic political forces It dynamic industrial base vast mineral resources wide-ranging service sector world population speakers about two half times that Spain Colombia As official name suggests incorporates socially physically diverse states Federal District Encyclop dia Inc Mayan pyramid at Chich Itz Mex diegograndi iStock Quiz Historical Smorgasbord Fact Fiction Did Diary Anne Frank originally different title Was paper money first issued because shortage coinage From million dollar parties iron bridges Britain sort fact fiction historical smorgasbord than people live centre whereas areas arid north tropical south are sparsely settled Migrants impoverished poured into cities nearly four-fifths Mexicans now City capital populous metropolitan experienced series booms leading periods impressive gains followed busts significant declines living standards lower classes remains economically fragile despite forging stronger ties Canada through American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA MexicoEncyclop Explore picturesque Tulum experience fascinating cultureOverview Quintana Roo Contunico ZDF Enterprises GmbH MainzSee growing pains sharp counterpoint traditional lifestyles prevail more-isolated such Oaxaca Chiapas small communal villages remain where indigenous peasants much their ancestors did cultural remnants great pre-Columbian civilizations Teotihuac pyramids provide contrast colonial towns Taxco Quer taro turn appear relics when compared modern metropolis Yet even bustling city been continually built rebuilt rubble past reveals wide range struggles renowned poet intellectual Octavio Paz observed Past epochs never vanish completely blood still drips wounds ancient Sometimes remote hostile beliefs feelings found together soul superimposed almost always conceal others tremendous diversity distributed over enormously complex varied physical environment gives unique character Get exclusive access content First Edition subscription today Land Sharing common border throughout extent bounded west Pacific Ocean east Gulf Caribbean Sea southeast Guatemala Belize also administers islands archipelagoes Tres Mar Cozumel Mujeres off coast Yucat Peninsula Including insular territories roughly triangular covers area three size While more miles km across northwest width varies less Isthmus Tehuantepec Relief Geologic origins located Earth tectonic part circum-Pacific Ring Fire region active volcanism frequent seismic activity Among towering volcanic peaks Citlalt petl called Orizaba forms highest point feet metres volcano Popocat rises These volcanoes young geologic terms Paleogene Neogene years ago examples central parts situated western edge huge Plate whose interaction Cocos plates given numerous severe earthquakes well earth-building processes produce rugged landscape often unstable Physiographic regions be divided nine major physiographic Baja California Coastal Lowlands Plateau Sierra Madre Oriental Occidental Cordillera Neo-Volc nica Plain Southern Highlands peninsula northwestern isolated strip extremely land extending Cortez Unevenly Sur long but seldom core granitic fault block above sea level San Pedro rtir de Ju rez gently sloping side mountain ranges steep eastern escarpment makes difficult Sonoran Desert extends onto along end gulf begin near Mexicali Colorado River delta terminate Tepic For distance they face while traversing Sonora Sinaloa Nayarit Bounded steep-sided lowlands coastal terraces mesas basins interspersed riverine deltas restricted strips Although dominates section irrigated transformed highly productive farmland densely populated inland flanked plateau consists Mesa del Norte Northern smaller heavily An huac begins U S stretches Chihuahua Coahuila Durango Zacatecas Jalisco Aguascalientes ends Luis Potos there just tilts upward toward Throughout relatively flat intermontane bolsones ephemeral interior drainage interrupted mountainous outcrops Chihuahuan extensive state large Michoac Guanajuato Hidalgo Its vicinity moister generally flatter fairly separated eroded valleys rarely exceed square many quite fertile Baj o El Basin breadbasket Many were once sites lakes drained facilitate European mestizo settlement Around weak structurally soils caused colonial-era Metropolitan Cathedral buildings foundations list sink unevenly ground snowcapped peak Iztacc huatl overlooking harvested corn agricultural Puebla Chip Rosa Maria la Cueva PetersonMexico CathedralMetropolitan night Geoff Tompkinson GTImage MexicoMetropolitan Rafael Ben-Ari Fotolia largely average elevation incised westward-flowing streams formed gorges barrancas spectacular known Copper Canyon Barranca Cobre southwestern Kerrick James folded mountains shales limestones Often considered extension Rocky Mountains cut Rio Grande continue New runs before merging elevations similar those deposits copper lead zinc Neo-Volcanic Axis Trans-Volcanic geologically smoldering cinder cones link crosses Cape Corrientes Xalapa Veracruz backdrop Guerrero Morelos includes Ixtacihuatl among One youngest Par cutin emerged violently fields rich silver tin hot dry Balsas Depression takes river draining immediately depression irregular hilly give distinctive Peak Digital Vision Getty Images wider counterpart Tamaulipas Tabasco southeastern portion plain lagoons low-lying swampy reaches tapers port Tampico outlier interrupts continuity South narrow widening dissected plateaus including approximately Puerto Vallarta low collectively crystalline achieve reach create margin Riviera Several Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Acapulco Escondido become alluring tourist destinations However less-hospitable peasant farmers Farther northeast stream-eroded ridges Valley predominantly poorest Panoramic view resort Jeremy Woodhouse Bisecting constriction descends plains Within highlands Soconusco lies To paralleling Grijalva valley group faulted destroyed several northward forming divider limestone karst terrain pockmarked uneven exceeds There little surface subterranean erosion produced caverns sinkholes cenotes latter being cavern roofs collapse lie northeastern tip boomtown Canc flag MexicoNational anthem Official nameEstados Form governmentfederal republic legislative houses Senate Chamber Deputies Head governmentPresident Andr Manuel ObradorCapitalMexico CityOfficial languageSpanishOfficial religionnoneMonetary unitMexican peso Currency Exchange Rate USD equals pesoPopulation est Population rank projection Total sq mi Density persons per Urban-rural populationUrban Rural Life expectancy birth Male yearsFemale yearsLiteracy percentage literateMale Female GNI capita struggling artists pay taxes artwork warriors threw hornet nests enemies Aztecs sacrificed various gods th century army officer Antonio Lopez held funeral his severed leg Load Next Page 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