by Lisa Rosenkranz

Created on: December 15, 2010

Mexico is located on the continent of North America in the realm referred to as Middle America.  It is bordered on the north by the United States and on the south by Guatemala.  It encompasses 761, 606 square miles (1,972, 550 square kilometers), making it the 14th largest country in the world.  With a population of 109,955,400 people, Mexico is the 11th most populated country in the world.

Mexico is one of the eighteen “megadiverse” countries of the world, being the home to over 200,000 different species of flora and fauna, this because of the countries diverse geography which gives birth to a multitude of ecosystems.  Within its borders you will find nine different deserts: The Baja Californian Desert, the Chihuahua Desert, the Colorado Desert, the  Gran Desierto de Altar, the Sonora Desert, the Vizcaíno Desert, the Yuha Desert and the Yuma.  The Marisma Nacional (National Marsh) is located south of Mazatlan, where you can find bayous like in south Florida. 

The Laguna Madre, which stretches from Texas and well into Mexico, is an enormous shallow bay that is home to numerous species and ports.

The country’s diverse geographical features have evolved from the diversity in the climate.  There are temperate areas in the south that experience cooler winters; there are tropical areas, and arid desert areas in the north.  There are four mountain ranges within its borders: the Oriental and Occidental, which are the extension of the Volcanic Belt, and the Sierra Madre del Sur.

The capital of Mexico is Mexico City, with a population of 19,231,829 people.  Other famous cities include Guadalajara, Tijuana, and Acapulco.  The dominant ethnicity is Mestizo, at 60-75%.  There is also an indigenous population of 12% and white population of 17%.  Afro-Mexicans make up a small percentage and the  area is also home to many immigrants.  The countries official language is Spanish.  However indigenous languages are also recognized. 

The population is mostly Roman Catholic. Other religions in the area include Protestant, Jewish, and Jehovah’s Witness. There is also a small number of Muslims.

Mexico has a Federal Presidential Republic with three major parties: the Party of the Democratic Revolution, the National Action Party, and the Institutional Revolution Party. The country's official currency is the Peso.

The area is rich natural resources, particularly oil and

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