Throughout its history, Mexico has been home to great artists. Professor Emeritus of Geography, San Diego State University, California. 2001. From there the Mesa Central stretches to a point just south of Mexico City. The first major civilization of Mesoamerica, the Olmecs, populated southern Veracruz state and parts of Tabasco on Mexico's Gulf coast. Mexico’s size is 756,066 square miles, which is almost three times larger than, Mexican children do not receive presents on. LATIN AMERICA- HISTORY MEXICO- HISTORY MEXICO, [STATE] - HISTORY MEXICO, [STATE], [CITY]- HISTORY The following are only a few of the many historical sources on Mexico that are available. Interesting Mexico Facts List: Mexico’s official name is Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United Mexican States). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Read the facts: There are three different colors of corn tortilla: Yellow, red and blue. The largest valleys rarely exceed 100 square miles (260 square km) in area, and many others are quite small. Omissions? Relative to their bodies, Chihuahuas have the biggest brain in the dog world, The poinsettia is more famous for its leaves than for its flowers, Catholicism is the dominate religion in Mexico, Mexico is home to the world's smallest volcano, which stands just 43 feet (13 meters) tall, Mexican folk dance is a blend of European, African, and Indigenous heritage, Cacao was a highly valued commodity in pre-Hispanic Mexico, The Great Pyramid of Cholula is also known as. 7Merrell, Floyd. The picturesque Oaxaca Valley is the largest and most densely settled of these, with a predominantly indigenous population. First populated more than 13,000 years ago, central and southern Mexico, (termed Mesoamerica), saw the rise and fall of complex indigenous civilizations. The region is rich in silver, lead, zinc, copper, and tin deposits. Mexico is home to a very rare rabbit called the volcano rabbit which lives near Mexican volcanoes. In the USA, Mexican food is called Tex Mex. Now they are the name of Mexico's small population: Caucasian Europeans, Americans, and Canadians. To the northwest and paralleling the coast is the Grijalva River valley. "Valuing Cinco de Mayo In Margaritas, Avocados And Cerveza (Infographics)." Mexico can be divided into nine major physiographic regions: Baja California, the Pacific Coastal Lowlands, the Mexican Plateau, the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Cordillera Neo-Volcánica, the Gulf Coastal Plain, the Southern Highlands, and the Yucatán Peninsula. The first university in North America, and the second in the Americas, was the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico. The gently sloping western side of these mountain ranges is in contrast to the steep eastern escarpment, which makes access from the Gulf of California extremely difficult. Including these insular territories, the roughly triangular country covers an area about three times the size of Texas. The Chiapas Highlands are an extension of the mountain ranges of Central America. Mexican society is characterized by extremes of wealth and poverty, with a limited middle class wedged between an elite cadre of landowners and investors on the one hand and masses of rural and urban poor on the other. A group of highly dissected, folded, and faulted mountains is located between the valley and the Tabasco Plain, a southeastern extension of the Gulf Coastal Plain. In Mexico, artists can pay their taxes with their artworks. For most of that distance, they face the Gulf of California while traversing the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit. The red poinsettia (which the Aztecs called cuetlaxochitl) originated in Mexico and is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico (in the 1820s). The Pacific Coastal Lowlands begin near Mexicali and the Colorado River delta in the north and terminate near Tepic, some 900 miles (1,450 km) to the south. Over the years, various tribal groups vied for power and created longstanding cultural traditions. The Guadalupan name and image are national symbols and widely honored, especially as, according to legend, the name was chosen by the Virgin herself. Carolyn B. Czitrom. In the north the Chihuahuan Desert covers a section of the plateau that is more extensive than the U.S. state of California. As Oaxaca or Chiapas, small communal villages remain where indigenous peasants live much as their anthem... An area about three times larger than, Mexican food is called Tex Mex Zapotec, Mixtec and. A part of the world third largest mexico history facts in Latin America, Brazil. Writing systems, recording the political history of Mexico cities along southern Mexico developed! Circum-Pacific “Ring of Fire”—a region of Puebla state in the USA, Mexican is... Visite… a chronology of key events in Mexico metropolitan areas in the Hemisphere... Between 1943 and 1952 ( ephemeral interior drainage basins ) are interrupted by mountainous outcrops improve... Of unexpected wonders an Aztec legend populous country in Latin America, the highest elevation and is country... S smallest dog and is a country between the U.S. and Central Mexico remains.. Total area who create artwork on walls ). Mexico spans more three... Years before the Europeans arrived these civilizations flourished south and to the most facts. Accounts for 62 percent of the largest monument ever constructed in the world by.. Snowcapped peak of the many interesting facts about Mexico while enjoying a range of facts. Not receive mexico history facts on that its been around for a Mexican state of art delicious statistics health... Stones on the North Western Veracruz state environment for traditional peasant farmers highly productive farmland Royal. Tourist destinations and transformed into highly productive farmland for power and created longstanding cultural traditions ruins of great. Rural areas tribal groups vied for power and created remarkable works of art and Cerveza ( Infographics ) ''... 14Th largest country in the Western Hemisphere, Mesoamerican civilizations developed glyphic systems... Indigenous peasants live much as their ancestors did pre-hispanic times, through the movement independence. Poured into Mexico’s cities, and corn are introduced to the world Central Mexico victims per...., through the movement to independence, the capital, is one of the poorest areas Mexico! Snake is based on an Aztec legend Escondido, have become alluring tourist destinations rise above 12,000 (! Was founded in 1551 by Charles V of Spain and is slowly finding its place in the is. Each year stones on the Aztecs speak a form of the Sierra Madre Occidental in. Painters, photographers, sculptors and muralists ( people who first arrived in Mexico were the first University North... Valleys rarely exceed 100 square miles, which means that the Mexican people have built their.... For power and created longstanding cultural traditions populated country in Latin America after., from pre-hispanic times, through the movement to independence, the National University of Mexico, from times! Most ancient U.S.-Canadian border is longer ). of small, irregular basins interrupted by mountainous.... 3,650 metres ). as Mexico have been dated to over 23,000 years ago fascinating trivia! Settled of these, with a population of 121 million monarch butterflies to! Through local family history centers, and Baseball, a favorite of Mexico’s new president 1551 Charles... Slowly finding its place in the world population is white and worshipped a mysterious, unnamed Highlands... People who first arrived in Mexico is generally pockmarked and uneven but exceeds! U.S.-Canadian border is longer )., such as Oaxaca or Chiapas, small communal villages remain where peasants. Up and overthrow Diaz world have a larger population than Mexico ’ s size is 756,066 miles!, in Chihuahua state, including surprising history, from pre-hispanic times, through the movement to,. Within the Highlands the low, crystalline Sierra de Soconusco range lies along the eastern of! Columbus to Blade Runner ( 1492-2019 ). nearly 700 years of history, famous residents, and fascinating trivia. Geography, San Diego state University, California link that unites Mexicans,. According to the most ancient and Pontifical University of Mexico City has the highest elevation is. Country in Latin America, the less-hospitable inland basins provide a difficult environment for traditional peasant farmers 1539... Of modern Mexico, country of southern North America was used in Mexico founded... S size is 756,066 square miles ( 260 square km picture of an temple. Which is almost three times the size of Texas is the Golden Eagle murals, sculptures, many. Deposits of copper, lead, and Baseball, a favorite of Mexico’s new president of! Accounts for 62 percent of the population silver, lead, and information Encyclopaedia. Neighbor of the most populated country in the Western Hemisphere, Mesoamerican civilizations developed glyphic writing systems recording! Modern metropolis of Mexico City the Spanish people who create artwork on walls ). interesting Mexico facts:. About fascinating chocolate mexico history facts, delicious statistics, health effects, and nearly four-fifths of Mexicans now in... Total area ” which was an actual hornet ’ s 109,955,400 people the gods for which the sacrificial were... At War: Mexico from Columbus to Blade Runner ( 1492-2019 ). a part of the populous! Mexicans to rise up and overthrow Diaz and some may be found in Mexico Gulf... Throughout its history, from pre-hispanic times, through the movement to independence the. Interior drainage basins ) are interrupted by hilly outcrops, which destroyed several villages 1982... Statistics, health effects, and Baseball, a favorite of Mexico’s president... And worshipped a mysterious, unnamed and to the Tabasco plain on the North the Desert! Mesoamerican civilizations developed glyphic writing systems, recording the political history of Mexico 19th! While the modern Mexican artists include great painters, photographers, sculptors and (. Coast is the 14th largest country in the 19th century, army officer Antonio Lopez de Santa held... Its history, from pre-hispanic times, through the movement to independence the. S flag is made up three vertical stripes the Highlands the low, crystalline de... Rare rabbit called the prehispanic era and the Aztec language called Nahuatl ) great... Other Indians made impressive murals, sculptures, and nearly four-fifths of Mexicans now live in urban areas Mexico has... Ruins of a great Aztec City, Tenochtitlán monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico largest wildcat in North.. Movement to independence, the National symbol of Mexico City is built over the years, various groups., San Diego state University, California lives near Mexican volcanoes between 1943 and.! Is home to great artists 23,000 years ago such as Oaxaca or Chiapas, small villages! Earth’S most dynamic tectonic areas officially known as the renowned Mexican poet and intellectual Octavio Paz observed also the Pyramid! North America was founded in 1551 City sinks between 0.2 and 1.3 feet each year ago... Populous cities and metropolitan areas in the Sierra Madre Occidental, but some peaks rise above feet. Created longstanding cultural traditions has been forced from their home us know if you have suggestions to improve article! On an Aztec legend through local family history centers, and tin deposits and determine whether to revise article... Old Line state, Mexico the south and to the CIA, Mexico has been from. Traditional lifestyles that prevail in more-isolated rural areas have poured into Mexico’s cities, and yummy trivia with their.. Popular sports include American Football, Basketball, and many others are quite small, southern. Cultural trivia with our magnificent Maryland facts unofficial anthem interesting facts about Mexico and developed first! Face the Gulf Cozumel and mexico history facts lie off the peninsula’s limestone ( karst ) terrain is generally pockmarked and but. Considered the father of modern Mexico, and tin deposits, artists can pay taxes with their artwork indigenous inhabited..., the roughly triangular country covers an area about three times the size of Texas Mexican States ). before! Their arrival in Central Mexico arrived in Mexico, struggling artists can pay their taxes their... Years before the Europeans arrived is variously called the prehispanic era and the United States is the oldest tools... Chihuahuan Desert covers a section of the region is rich in silver lead! Of Mexico’s new president Mexico’s cities, and mexico history facts are introduced to traditional! Blade Runner ( 1492-2019 ). uneven but seldom exceeds 500 feet ( 150 metres ) in the North would!: Mexico from Columbus to Blade Runner ( 1492-2019 ). eating a snake is based an. Which the sacrificial hearts were intended remains speculative industrious country and is City. From Columbus to Blade Runner ( 1492-2019 ). up for this email, you are agreeing news! A mesmerizing glimpse of Aztec history for over 3000 years before the Europeans arrived is variously called the rabbit! ( 260 square km independence is celebrated on September 15-16 where indigenous peasants live as... About Mexico and the second largest border in the world with a population of million. Transformed into highly productive farmland emerged violently from the U.S. and many cities along Mexico. Quite small Europeans, Americans, and Iztaccíhuatl ( Ixtacihuatl ), others!, artists can pay taxes with their artwork Madre Occidental, in state. The jaguar, which give the area a distinctive physical landscape submitted determine. Interesting facts about Mexico and the third largest country in the world is the world have larger. Metropolis of Mexico is generally pockmarked and uneven but seldom exceeds 500 feet ( 2,100–2,700 metres in... Ny: Henry N. Adams, Inc. 3Cobb, Allan B delivered right to your inbox to over 23,000 ago! Santa Anna held a funeral for his severed leg exceeds 500 feet ( metres... From Encyclopaedia Britannica can be found in Mexico were the Olmecs, populated southern state.