Mexico
FAST FACTS
OFFICIAL NAME: United Mexican States
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic of federated states
CAPITAL: Mexico City
POPULATION: 120,286,655
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Spanish
MONEY: Peso
AREA: 758,449 square miles (1,964,375 square kilometers)
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Sierra Madre
MAJOR RIVERS: Rio Grande, Yaqui
OFFICIAL NAME: United Mexican States
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic of federated states
CAPITAL: Mexico City
POPULATION: 120,286,655
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Spanish
MONEY: Peso
AREA: 758,449 square miles (1,964,375 square kilometers)
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Sierra Madre
MAJOR RIVERS: Rio Grande, Yaqui
GEOGRAPHY
Mexico is a land of extremes, with high mountains and deep canyons in the center of the country, sweeping deserts in the north, and dense rain forests in the south and east. Mountains cover much of Mexico. Between the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range in the east and the Sierra Madre Occidental in the west lie small mountain ranges on the Central Plateau. These regions are rich with valuable metals like silver and copper. The stretch of land called the Yucatán Peninsula juts into the Gulf of Mexico from Mexico's southeastern tip. It was once the home of the Maya civilization, an ancient culture whose amazing buildings can still be seen today. Mexican Food
Mexican food has been always considered to be very spicy. Well, that is partially true. Mexican food history shows that Mexico has given chocolate to the world, as well as several other specialties, including peanuts, vanilla, beans, coconuts and tomatoes. The traditional Mexican cooking makes use of these native elements to produce tasteful meals. With the arrival of specialties like pork, lamb, beef, wine, vinegar and cheese from Spain (brought by the conquerors), the Mexican cuisine evolved, by integrating these European elements into their own traditional meals. Corn, an important ingredient in Mexican food Mexican food continued evolving as new products and techniques were introduced into Mexico from different places. We can find recipes and ingredients originally from South America, the Caribbean and even Africa. The Mexican cuisine eventually met the cuisine from the north, and Tex-Mex foodwas created. Tex-Mex food is a blend of flavors and recipes from the Mexican, Texan and American culture. Today we can find several different kinds of foods Mexicans eat, from enchiladas, tacos and burritos to award-winning gourmet creations. Regardless of the foreign elements present in Mexico’s nouvelle cuisine, the main ingredients remain the same recipe after recipe. The most common ingredient used in Mexican food is corn. Like the ancient civilizations that lived in the region, Mexicans have learned how to cook almost every meal with corn. Corn flour is the main component involved in the preparation of the Mexican food, and corn is also used in many forms for a wide variety of meals, including candy. Another typical ingredient is the chili, which has a strong, hot flavor. It is used to condiment several meals, and is the main component of the Tabasco Hot Sauce. “Chili con Carne”, or Chili and Meat, is a typical preparation involving Chili. It’s a sort of stew, with small pieces of meat and some vegetables all mixed together with hot Chili sauce. Perhaps the most famous products of the Mexican cuisine are the desserts. Mexican desserts combine hot elements and sweet elements to produce unique sensations on the mouth, because of both flavor and texture, and the combination of smells is also one of a kind. Mexican candy is not only a piece of Mexican food, but also a piece of Mexican art. The “Calaveras de Azúcar”, or sugar skulls, are specially prepared for the Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Corn-flavored candy is also a typical product. Every tourist will find Mexican cuisine to be an interesting choice. It is commonly said that visiting Mexico and not tasting Mexican food is like not visiting Mexico at all. |
Mexican Sports
Among the most popular Mexican sports we can find softball and, of course, soccer, which is the favorite of the vast majority of the population. Soccer is the king of Mexican sports, and also the one that represents the country the most. Many Mexican soccer teams have won international cups, like the “Copa Libertadores”, which is the Latin American equivalent to the European cup. The national Mexican league is pretty competitive too, as features players of other countries as well as Mexican ones. This league also provides players for other countries, included the US and European countries. The “Chivas” and the “Tigres” are perhaps the most internationally known Mexican soccer teams. But Mexican sports are not limited to “classic” sports. Many people are choosing Mexico as the number one spot for extreme sports, from bungee jumping to skydiving. Motocross, diving and the famous “lucha” (wrestling) are also part of the great offer of Mexican sports available. |