Mexico Maps

Mexico has the world's second-highest number of Catholics.

History of Mexico

From the time of Hernando Cortez's conquest until1821, Mexico was a colony of Spain. Cortez first entered the Valley of Mexico on the Mesa Central in 1519 after marching overland from Veracruz, the town he had founded on the Gulf Coastal Plain. The Spanish usurped the Indian lands and redistributed them among themselves, first as tribute grants, and later as land grants. During the early contact with Indians, millions died from such European diseases as measles and smallpox, against which the natives had no immunity. Central Mexico did not regain its pre-Columbian population numbers until perhaps 1900.

Economy

Mexico is both one of the world's largest economies and a regional power. It has the thirteenth- largest nominal GDP and the eleventh-largest by purchasing power parity. According to Goldman Sachs, by 2050 Mexico will be the 5th largest economy in the world.

World over, Mexico is the twenty-third highest spender on tourism, and the highest in Latin America. The vast majority of tourists come to Mexico from the United States and Canada. Many other visitors come from Europe and Asia. In 2007 it was the tenth-most visited country in the world with 21.4 million international arrivals.

Interesting facts about Mexico

• The national animal of Mexico is the Golden Eagle
• The jungles of Mexico is home to the apex predator, the one we all know as the jaguar. It is the largest wildcat in North America and with no known predators

Mexico City is located on an underground water body, and so it sinks a few inches each year Tequila happens to be the national drink of the nation, which existed even before it became what we know it now as the country of Mexico The marigold is considered to be a symbol of death, hence presenting one, is not taken lightly The Chichen Itza Pyramid in Mexico was named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World Bullfighting is very popular in Mexico Mexican Hot chocolate is called the sacred drink of the Aztecs. The etymology of the word "chocolate" comes from the Aztec language

• The first printing press in North America was used in Mexico City in 1539
• Swine flu (also called the H1N1 virus) originated in Mexico