Mexico | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of Mexico
History of Mexico:
Rich in history, tradition and culture, Mexico is made up of 31 states and 1 federal district. In Latin America she is the third largest country and one of the largest with a population of over 100 million people. It has more Spanish speakers than any other country in the world.
Despite the political and social changes that have taken place over the centuries, traces of past cultures and events can be found all over Mexico. Many of Mexico’s rural areas are still inhabited by indigenous peoples who closely resemble their ancestors’ lifestyles.
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In addition, there are many pre-Columbian sites throughout Mexico, including the ancient city of Teotihuacan and the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza and Tulum. The architecture of cities such as Taxco and Queretaro is clearly reminiscent of its colonial past.
Information about Mexico:
| Capital | Mexico City (Distrito Federal) |
| Population | 128,590,541 (Source: 2023 worldometer) |
| Major Cities | Ciudad de México, Tijuana, Puebla, Guadalajara |
| Borders | United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the south |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $491.6 billion (2019 wikipedia) |
| Currency | Mexican peso (MXN) |
Flag of Mexico:
Mexico Economy Key Industries:
Mexico Major Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Mexico Agricultural Products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Mexico Natural Resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Mexico Major Exports: manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton
Mexico Major Imports: metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
The Geography of Mexico:
Total Size of Mexico: 1,943,950 Km2 (source: 2022 The world factbook)
Geographical Low Point of Mexico: Laguna Salada -10 m
Geographical High Point of Mexico: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Climate of Mexico: varies from tropical to desert
General Terrain of Mexico: high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert
Major Landforms of Mexico: Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains, Trans-Mexico Volcano Belt, Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre del Sur, Mexican Plateau, Baja Peninsula, Yucatan Peninsula, Pico de Orizaba
Major Bodies of Water: Rio Grande, Grijalva River, Usumacinta River, Culiacan River, Lake Chapala, Lake Texcoco, Gulf of California, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean
World Region or Continent of Mexico: North America
Geographical Coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
The People of Mexico & Culture
Mexico Government Type: federal republic
Mexico Nationality: Mexican(s)
Mexico National Holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Mexico Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)
Mexico National Symbol:
- Animal – Jaguar
- Bird – Golden eagle
- Dog – Mexican hairless dog
- Marine mammal – Vaquita
- Reptile – Green sea turtle
- Arthropod – Grasshopper
- Flower – Dahlia
- Colors – Green, white, red
- Coat of arms – A golden eagle holding a snake while perched on a prickly pear cactus.
- Other Symbols – Prickly pear cactus, El Angel, Mariachi
Mexico National Anthem or Song: Himno Nacional Mexicano (National Anthem of Mexico)
Mexico Languages Spoken: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages
Mexico Famous Places: Chichen Itza, Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Teotihuacan Pyramids, Chapultepec, National Palace, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Acapulco, Riviera Maya, El Arco de Los Cabos, Palenque, Cabo San Lucas
Mexico Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%
The Famous People of Mexico:
| Names | Professions |
| Miguel Hidalgo | Priest who led the Mexican Revolution |
| Benito Jaurez | President of Mexico |
| Frida Kahlo | Painter |
| Diego Rivera | Painter |
| Carlos Santana | Guitarist and musician |
| Fernando Valenzuela | Baseball player |
| Pancho Villa | Revolutionary war hero |
| Emiliano Zapata | Leader of the Mexican Revolution |
| Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) | Soccer player |
| Salma Hayek | Actress |
| Placido Domingo | Singer |
| Porfirio Diaz | President for nearly 30 years |
| Julio Cesar Chavez | Boxer |
| Felipe Calderon | President of Mexico |
Interesting Facts about Mexico:
With a population of 21.8 million, Mexico City is the fifth largest city in the world.
Mexico City is the largest city in North America and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world.
The state of Mexico surrounds Mexico City on three sides. He is one of 32 states in Mexico with a population of 17 million. People and things in this state are called mexiquenes to distinguish them from mexicans/mexicanos, which refer to the country as a whole.
Mexico City has an elevation of 2,240 meters (7,349 feet), roughly the same height as Mount Olympus in Washington. As a result, some visitors experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness upon arrival.
People from Mexico City are officially called Capitalinos (female Capitalina). The slang term for them is Chirangos/Gas, which some may find pejorative, but others welcome.
Since 2016, Mexico City’s official name has been Ciudad de Mexico, often abbreviated to CDMX. Before that he was defender Distrito Federal.
The original city of Tenochtitlan was built on an island in Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. The lake was drained by the Spaniards. Mexico City is now sinking up to 50 centimeters into the clay lake bed each year.
The city frequently floods due to the lack of drainage from the Mexico Valley.
Ancient farmers of the Mexico Valley invented chinampas, or floating gardens. These can still be seen today in Xochimilco, one of his 16 districts of the city.
The Valley of Mexico is surrounded by the Neovolcanica Mountains (New Volcanic Chain). Popocatepetl, one of the county’s most active volcanoes, is just 43 miles (70 kilometers) from the city.
Mexico City has the Historic Center and his three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Xochimilco, Ciudad University and Luis Barragán’s home and studio.
Since 1908, it has snowed three times in Mexico City.
Air pollution levels in Mexico City are similar to Los Angeles. Mexico and LA are also sister cities.
Mexico City has 18 other sister cities or sister cities.
Mexico City’s metro is among the cheapest in the world. Tickets cost 5 pesos (US$0.25).
Excavations of the subway system have uncovered many Aztec ruins. Today, Pino Suarez Station is a mini-museum displaying artefacts unearthed during the construction of the metro.
Due to traffic jams, cars in Mexico City are traveling at an average speed of 20 km/h (12 miles).
Mexico City has over 140,000 taxis. But these days many people opt for sites (individual tax) or app taxis such as his Uber.
Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juarez (Mexico City International Airport) is the busiest in Latin America.
The Mexican Bullring in Mexico City is the largest bullring in the world. The number of seats is 41,262.
Mexico City has over 170 museums, more than any other city in the world. These include museums dedicated to drug crimes, chocolate, shoes, Deathly Hallows, torture, mezcal and tequila, and antique toys.