Terrain

Most of Mexico is located on an immense, elevated plateau, flanked by mountain ranges that form cliffs along the narrow coastal plains in the west and in the east. The two major mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre Occidental in the west and the Sierra Madre Oriental in the east, join in the south-east in the "La Junta" region. There, they form the southern Sierra Madre which has several volcanoes, one of which is the Citlaltépetl, Mexico's highest peak at more than 5,600m.

Climate

The southern half of Mexico belongs to the subtropical zone. The climate varies according to altitude. The coastline, which stretches from sea level up to about 915 metres, is located on the "tierra caliente" (hot area). Its climate is extremely humid with temperatures ranging between 15.6 and 48.9°C. The "tierra templada" (temperate area) is situated between around 914 and 1,830 m and has an average temperature of 16.7 to 21.1°C. The "tierra fría" (cold area) extends from about 1,830 to 2,745 m, with temperatures ranging between 15 and 17.2°C. The average temperature in Mexico City is 12.6°C in January and 16.1°C in July. The rainy season is from May to October.

Fauna/Flora

Mexico's wide climatic range means that its flora is very varied. In the north there are cacti, yuccas, agaves, and mesquites. The "tierra caliente" is covered with a great range of plants, which in parts form a thick jungle. The trees of this climatic zone include hardwoods, coconut palms, rubber, almond, fig and olive trees. Oak, pine, and fir-trees grow on the mountain slopes. Mexico's highest climatic zones are home to vegetation that is more like that found in the Arctic. The country's fauna also varies according to the different climatic zones. In the north there are wolves and coyotes; there are ocelots, jaguars, peccaries, bears, and pumas in the forests on the mountain slopes; and there are seals and large numbers of fish at the coast. The large variety of reptiles includes turtles, iguanas, rattlesnakes, and lizards. There is a large bird population that includes sea birds and game birds.

History/Politics

Mexico was the site of some of the earliest and most advanced civilizations in the western hemisphere. The great In Mexico one of the oldest and most advanced civilizations in the western hemisphere developed. The first great Mesoamerican civilization was built up by the Olmecs, who had their heyday between 1500 and 600 BC. According to archaeological research, the Mayan culture reached its peak around the 6th century AD. The belligerent Toltecs came from the north and established their empire in the "Valle de Mexico" in the 10th century AD. In 1325, the Aztecs founded a settlement called Tenochtitlán which was later to become the capital of the Aztec Empire. The first European explorer to reach Mexico was Francisco Fernández de Córdoba, who discovered evidence of Mayan culture in Yucatán in 1517. In 1519, Hernando Cortez conquered the Aztec Empire which was to become the first American viceroyalty (New Spain) in 1535. The first fights for independence took place between 1810 and 1820, and independence was gained in 1821. In 1822, Itúrbide proclaimed himself emperor under the name of Agustín I. Ten months later he was overthrown by another revolt led by his former adviser, López de Santa Ana. Mexico was declared a republic, and Guadalupe Victoria became Mexico's first president.

The years that followed were characterized by internal armed conflict, the war with the United States of America (1847-48) during which Mexico lost land and the war with France (1863-67), whose troops invaded the country and placed Austrian prince Maximilian in power as emperor. In 1867, Benito Juárez's troops drove out the French, executed Maximilian and reconquered the country. Benito Juárez then became President. Except for the period between 1880 and 1884, Porfirio Díaz ruled Mexico from 1877 until 1911. In the 1911 elections Madero was elected president. In 1913, as a result of new internal conficts, Victoriano Huerta became President; soon afterwards the Mexican Revolution occurred, which was to last until 1917. Internal conflicts continued until 1938. In the 1997 elections the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which had been in power since 1929, lost its absolute majority in the Chamber of Deputies as well as its two-thirds majority in the Senate. Vicente Fox of the National Action Party (PAN) won the presidential elections in July 2000 and is still in power today.

Economy

Mexican agricultural products not only cover most of the country's needs, but they are also exported. Mexico's chief crops are maize, sugar cane, sorghum, wheat, oranges, coffee, tomatoes, bananas, and potatoes. About 21% of Mexico is covered with forest, which has good wood, such as turpentine. The major fisheries are situated at the Baja California coast. The most important mineral resources are petroleum, silver, gold, copper and iron ore, natural gas and coal. Mexican industries, among the most developed in Latin America, produce motor vehicles and other commodities for the U.S. market. Other important industries include machinery and electronic equipment factories, paper mills, cotton mills, tobacco processing plants, and sugar refineries. There are also numerous petroleum refineries and foundries. In 2003, the inflation rate was 4.5% and the unemployment rate was 3%.

Culture

Long before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores, Mexico had a rich tradition of painting and sculpture. During colonial times, Mexican artists created remarkable works of art, combining this tradition with Spanish techniques. One of the most important artists of the 20th century is José Guadalupe Posada, who created posters, lithographs, and wood engravings that were representations of modern life. His pupils Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and José Clemente Orozco revived fresco painting. Frida Kahlo blends fantasy, autobiography and traditional Mexican elements. Mexican artists produce a wide range of work, mainly textiles, pottery and silver, which are very sought after by collectors. Mexican artists are also known for their wood, glass, and leather work.