Mexico Flag,Mexico Map, Mexico Culture : SphereInfo.com

The United Mexican States (Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos), often known simply as Mexico (Spanish: México) is a country located in North America, bordered at the north by the United States, and at the south by Guatemala and Belize in Central America. It is the northernmost and westernmost country in Latin America, and also the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world.

The official name is Estados Unidos Mexicanos, which translates as the United Mexican States. The term State of Mexico (Estado de México) does not refer to the country, but only to one state within Mexico, located near the center of the country adjacent to the Federal District.

Situated in the southwestern part of mainland North America and roughly triangular in shape, Mexico stretches more than 3,000 kilometres (1,875 mi) from northwest to southeast. Its width is varied, from more than 2,000 kilometres (1,250 mi) in the north and less than 220 kilometres (137 mi) at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the south.

Mexico is bordered by the United States to the North, and Belize and Guatemala to the Southeast. Baja California in the West is a 1,250 kilometre (775 mi) peninsula and forms the Gulf of California. In the east are the Gulf of Mexico and the Bay of Campeche, which is formed by Mexico's other peninsula, the Yucatán. The center of Mexico is a great, high plateau, open to the north, with mountain chains on the east and west and with ocean-front lowlands lying outside of them. (See list of mountains in Mexico). Mexico is about one-fourth the size of the United States.

The terrain and climate vary from rocky deserts in the north to tropical rain forest in the south. Mexico's major rivers include the Río Bravo del Norte (Rio Grande) on the northern border and the Usumacinta on its southern borders, respectively, together with the Grijalva, Balsas, Pánuco, and Yaqui in the interior. The Tropic of Cancer effectively divides the country into temperate and tropical zones. Land north of the twenty-fourth parallel experiences cooler temperatures during the winter months. South of the point, temperatures are fairly constant year round and vary solely as a function of elevation.

With an estimated 2005 population of about 106.5 million, Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world.

Mexico is a racially and ethnically diverse country. Its three main ethnic groups are mestizos (mixed European and Amerindian), Amerindians, and Europeans.

Mexico is also home for many other Latin American emigrants, including most numerously Argentines — Mexico being home to the largest Argentine population outside of Argentina - Cubans, Brazilians, and other South and Central Americans. The PRI governments in power for most of the 20th century had a policy of granting asylum to fellow Latin Americans fleeing political persecution in their home countries.

Mexico boasts a wealth of regional cultures that is unique in the Americas. Every region in the country has a distinct culture, languages and arts that create a huge mosaic as a whole.

Dancing and singing are commonly part of family gatherings, bringing the old and young together, no matter what kind of music is being played, like cumbia, salsa, merengue or the more Mexican banda. Dancing is a strong part of the culture, and visitors will find that even people who were thought to be unlikely to dance, do so. Singing enjoys the same popularity and mexicans will sing when they are depressed, in a cantina to a mariachi song, or when they are very happy.

Mexicans in places like Guadalajara, Puebla, Monterrey, Mexico City, and most middle sized cities, enjoy a great variety of options for leisure. Shopping centers are a favorite among families, since there has been an increasing number of new malls that cater to people of all ages and interests. A large number of them, have multiplex cinemas, international and local restaurants, food courts, cafes, bars, bookstores and most of the international renowned clothing brands are found too. Mexicans are prone to travel within their own country, making short weekend trips to a neighbouring city or town.

Although Spanish is the common language of Mexico, English is widely used in business. As a result, English language skills are much in demand and can lead to an increase in the salary offered by a company. It is also spoken along the U.S. border, in big cities, and in beach resorts. Also, the majority of private schools in Mexico offer bilingual education, both in Spanish and English. English is the main language spoken in U.S. expatriate communities such as those along the coast of Baja California, Jalisco and the town of San Miguel de Allende.

Mexico is predominantly Roman Catholic (about 89% of the population). It is the nation with the second largest Catholic population, behind Brazil and before the United States. Also, 6% of the population adheres to various Protestant/Restoration faiths, and the remaining 5% of the population adhering to other religions or professing no religion. Some of the country's Catholics syncretize Catholicism with various elements of Aztec or Mayan religions. The Virgin of Guadalupe has long been a symbol enshrining the major aspirations of Mexican society.

Located in the south end of Mexico, in the southwest corner of the State of Chiapas (just north of the Guatemala), the Tapachula has an excellent airport and good access to attractions around Chiapas via the excellent network of federal highways. Some of the more popular attractions conveniently reached from your base in Tapachula are: Archaeological Museum , Buena Esperanza Temple , Cañon del Sumidero , La Cascada Spa , San Agustin Cathedral , Tapachula Fair .

Popular attractions include:

Castillo de Chapultepec - once the home of Emperor Maximillian and several Mexican presidents, the castle has served as the Museo Nacional de Historia since 1939. Now visitors can see exhibits portraying the rise and fall of Nueva Espana (New Spain) and the evolution of Mexico to today's political state.

Metropolitan Cathedral - oldest and largest cathedral in Latin America. Construction started in 1573 and continued over three centuries. Many, many beautiful paintings, statues, and altarpieces can be viewed in the interior.

Palacio Nacional - the 'home' of the Mexican government. Current fascination is viewing of the display of murals by Diego Rivera consisting of some 1,200 square feet of painting on the second floor walls: Rivera's view of the history of Mexico.

Museo Nacional de Antropologia - considered one of the finest anthropological museums in the world, houses excellent collections spotlighting the native cultures and societies of Mexico before the Spanish conquest and their descendents.

Teotihuacan - ancient Aztec city and first urban center on the North American continent. Once with a population of 200,000, it was the major commercial and political influence but was mysteriously deserted around 700AD when it appears to have been destroyed by fire. Teotichuacan is about 30 miles northeast of Mexico City.

Tula - ancient Toltec city built about the time of the destruction of Teotichuacan seems to have been the last of the 'great' cities until the building of cities by the colonizing Europeans.

Xochimilco - The Floating Gardens was constructed about 700 years ago by the Aztecs. For a welcome change of pace, take one of the available small boats through the canals to view these ancient man-made islands.

MEXICO National Animal : Golden Eagle
MEXICO National Bird : Crested Caracara
MEXICO National Flower : Dahlia
MEXICO National Game : charrería
Mexico National Name : United Mexican States
National Capital : Mexico City
Mexico Area : Approx. 1,964,375n Sq Km (758,449 Sq. Mi), 1.30% of total
Ethnicity in Mexico : mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Mexico Languages : Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages.
Religions in Mexico: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%
Currency : Mexican New Peso (replacement for Mexican Peso) ,MXN (replacement for MXP)
Time Zone :
UTC-08 (Zone 3 or Northwest Zone) - the state of Baja California
UTC-07 (Zone 2 or Pacific Zone) - the states of Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora
UTC-06 (Zone 1 or Central Zone) - most of Mexico

Mexico Culture, Map, Flag, Tourist Places