Mexico-Facts

General Facts

Population:v110 million     
Language: Spanish           
GDP: $1.563 trillion
Currency: Peso - MXN               
Capital: Mexico City
Time: UTC – 8 to 6
Religion: 89% of population is Roman Catholic

History

Mexico has a very rich history with the earliest human life dating back to 20,000 BC. Chichemec tribes settled down in the Valley of Mexico in 900 AD and started constructing cultures which were passed on to them from their predecessors. The Aztecs and Toltecs followed in the twelfth century. There was constant warfare between the leading tribes that occupied Mexico then. Hernan Cortes, who landed on the Gulf of Mexico on 21 April 1519, was able to use these internal conflicts to his advantage while enriching himself with tons of gold. Soon thereafter, Spanish send more troops and kept control of Mexico for over 300 years. During that period, Mexico’s population decreased from 25 million people to only 6 million mainly due to the diseases that Spanish brought with them.

Mexico declared its independence on September 16, 1810, however the country was under the dictatorship of General Santa Ana. In 1845, USA got most of Taxes, Arizona, New Mexico and California for only $15 million. From the late 19th century to the early 20th, Mexico was under the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, against whom in 1910; revolutionary uprising was led by Francisco Madero. Middle of twentieth century was a period of industrial growth, however under the huge debts that the country took on resulted in collapsed economy in 1980s and very difficult period for Mexico.

Demographics

When volunteering abroad in Mexico, you will have an opportunity to meet people with different ethnic backgrounds. Most of the population is mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, the second largest group is Amerindian 30%, the whites make up 9% of the population, and the rest make up the other 1%. When studying abroad in Mexico, you will have a chance to live in one of the most populous countries in the world, while experiencing this great, full of history culture.
 

Geography

From tropical beaches and mountains to deserts, Mexico has it all. Traveling to this beautiful country will satisfy visitors with all kinds of tastes. Northern part of Mexico is mostly desert, with the Chihuahua Desert covering the center and eastern part of the country. From the center of Mexico all the way to the Pacific Coast, Sonora Desert dominates the landscape. One of the greatest metropolitan areas in the world, Mexico City is surrounded by a series of mountain ranges, raising the elevation of Mexico City to over seven thousand feet above sea level. Mexico's mountain ranges include the Sierra Madre Occidental in the east, the Sierra Madre Oriental in the west, and the Sierra Volcanica Transversal which lies to the south of Mexico City. Mexico possesses some of the most breathtaking coastlines in the world. Its tropical beaches along the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea are some of the most visited destinations by tourists from all over the globe.

Climate

Climate in Mexico is very favorable for a perfect getaway all year long, where on the coastlines the temperature never drops below 20 C. The climate is subtropical in the north and tropical in the south. However, in the northern part of Mexico, where there are mountains, little snow falls in winter. For example, in a very popular destination for tourists Acapulco, the temperature never drops below 22 C in the winter time, and is around 35 C during the summer. Under the influence of tropical cyclones that bring heavy precipitation, and sometimes reach destructive force, distinguishing between dry and wet seasons is important when planning a trip to Mexico. The rainy season is from June to September and is particularly pronounced on the Gulf Coast.