| Area |
1,959,248 sq km (758,449 sq miles). |
| Population |
101,965,000 (2002). |
| Capital |
Mexico City- population 8,605,239 (2000). |
| Climate |
Climate varies according to altitude. Coastal areas and lowlands (tierra caliente) are hot and steamy with high humidity, while the central plateau is temperate even in winter. The climate of the inland highlands is mostly mild, but sharp changes in temperature occur between day and night. The cold lands (tierra fría) lie above 2000m (6600ft). Rainfall varies greatly from region to region. Only the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the state of Chiapas in the far south receive any appreciable amount of rain during the year, with the wet season running between June and September. All other areas have rainless seasons, while the northern and central areas of the central plateau are dry and arid. There is some snow in the north in winter. The dry season runs from October to May. |
| Language |
Spanish is the official language (spoken by more than 90 per cent). English is widely spoken. 8 per cent speak indigenous languages, of which Nátinate is most widely spoken. |
| Religion |
90 per cent Roman Catholic. |
| Time |
Mexico spans three different time zones: 5 GMT-8 GMT.
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| Highlights |
Mexico really has too many highlights to mention. One of the fascinating reasons to visit Mexico is the fact that it has had some of the region's oldest civilisations, the Olmecs - the huge Olmec head sculptures are still standing and well worth a visit, to get a slight hint of how powerful these people were. What is also very visible and truly amazing to see are the remains of the Mayan ruins - also one the region's oldest and extremely creative civilisations, where one would only be blown away by their sense of originality. For a more modern yet authentic feeling of this country, a visit to Mexico City or 'Mexico' as the locals prefer to call it is certainly an adventure. It is regarded internationally as one of the busiest and most interesting cities in the world today - since the days of the Aztecs, it is certainly a pleasant and a fun town to visit where you can wonder around and taste some red-hot tacos. Mexico is without a doubt a country with much to offer including the stunning beaches on the Caribbean coast where one can relax and enjoy the perfect view. Mexico really does have everything!
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| Country Facts |
Mexico can be divided into two distinct areas, the Highland and Lowland. The two mountain ranges of the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre Occidental run parallel to the coast from north to south. The lowland areas to the west hug the western and southern coast lines. To the east the lowlands creep inland some 200 miles to the north, whilst in the south the flat low level area of the Yucatan protrudes out into the Caribbean Sea. |