Vacations in Mexico
UNITED
MEXICAN STATES
Mexico is one of the largest of the Latin American states, possessing a
colorful diversity of cultures. However, rich natural resources and swift
economic growth have been largely offset by the rapid rise in population.
GEOGRAPHY OF MEXICO
Mexico forms a large tongue of mountainous land between the Pacific Ocean
and the Gulf of Mexico. The southern half of the country, which lies
within the tropics, has a wide variety of landscapes.
The land Mexico lies in a geologically unstable part of the world. Many
areas are subjected to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions; a
major earthquake in 1985 devastated Mexico City.
Much of the northern border with the United States is formed by the Rio
Bravo del Norte (Rio Grande). From here the land arcs southeast toward
the borders with Guatemala and Belize. The low-lying Yucatan Peninsula
extends northward from the Belize border. The long and mountainous
peninsula of Baja California runs parallel to the west coast of the
Mexican mainland. Some 500 km (300 miles) out to sea is a group of
volcanic islands called the Islas de Revillagigedo.
The broad coastal plain along the Gulf of Mexico is fringed by swamps,
lagoons and sandbars, while the Pacific coastal plain is narrower and
more interrupted. The area in between is occupied by the massive central
plateau. This rises in the south to the Mesa Central, which is crossed by
a series of mighty volcanoes, including Citlaltépetl and Popocatépetl.
The plateau is bounded to the east, west and south by the mountain ranges
of the Sierra Madre. In the south, beyond the Sierra Madre del Sur, the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec links these highlands to the mountains on the
Guatemalan border.
CLIMATE IN MEXICO
The climate varies both with latitude and altitude. In the far north low
rainfall and extremes of temperature create desert landscapes. In the
south most rain falls between May and August. Rainfall increases
southeastward, with the heaviest falls along the Gulf coast and in the
south.
The coastal plains and the foothills of the Sierra Madre are the tierra
caliente ("hot land"), where temperatures are mostly uniformly high.
Between August and October these areas are vulnerable to tropical
hurricanes from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific. Above 1,000 m (3,000
ft) is the tierra templada ("temperate land"), which extends over much of
the central plateau. The Mesa Central often reaches into the tierra fria
("cold land") above 2,000 m (6,000 ft). Above about 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
is the tierra helada ("frozen land"), where temperatures are always below
10°C.
PLANTS AND ANIMALS
Desert scrub predominates in the deserts of the north, with grasses,
shrubs and succulents on higher ground. Farther south settlers have
destroyed most of the ancient forests, but stands of conifers still
remain on the higher slopes of the western mountains. Much of the central
plateau is covered with grassland. Higher rainfall in the east allows
tropical rainforest to flourish there, with temperate rainforest growing
at higher altitudes. In southwestern areas , deciduous and semi-deciduous
woodland grows along the Pacific coastline.
The rainforests of the south support a great diversity of animals, such
as monkeys, parrots, jaguars, tapirs and anteaters. In the north, and in
settled areas of the central plateau, domestic livestock have been
introduced, taking the place of the native species. However, in the
deserts and steppes native animals such as armadillos, deer, pumas and
coyotes still thrive. The coastal seas abound with numerous varieties of
fish.
