Mexico – General info

Area:
1,972,550 sq km.

Population:
106.202.900 (2005).

Population density:
54 per sq km.

Capital:
Mexico City (Ciudad de México).

Population:
20.0 million (2005)
Geography:
Mexico is bordered by the United States to the north, the Gulf of California to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Guatemala and Belize to the south, and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east. In the south, Mexico occupies half of the Central American land bridge. Mexico’s landscape diversity ranges from wetlands to deserts and jungle-covered plains to alpine vegetation.

Much of the country consists of a 1000-2500 m high highland, bordered by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans by the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges. The northern part of the plateau, which accounts for 40% of Mexico’s total area, is barren and sparsely populated. In the south of the highlands runs a volcanic mountain range that stretches from the Sierra Volcánica in the west through the valley of Mexico to Veracruz on the east coast. Mighty mountains rise here, some of which, such as the 5700 m high Pico de Orizaba and the Popocatépetl, are still active volcanoes. 50% of the population lives here.

Further south, on the slopes and plains of the sparsely populated Tehuantepec isthmus, agriculture is practiced. The east and the Yucatán Peninsula are flat, 75% of the annual rainfall falls in this area. There are many lagoons and wetlands on the northwest coast, opposite the Baja California peninsula, on the southwest coast of Bahía de Campeche and on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Form of government:
Presidential Federal Republic since 1917, constitution of 1917, last constitutional amendment in 1994. The 128 members of the Senate (Camara de Senadores) are elected for six years, the 500 members of the Chamber of Deputies (Camara Federal de Diputados) for three years. Head of state and government: Vicente Fox Quesada, since 2000. Executive power lies with the president, who appoints the cabinet. His term of office overlaps with that of the Senate. Each state has its own governor and an elected House of Representatives. Proclamation of independence in 1810 (former Spanish colony).

Language:
The official language is Spanish, as a colloquial language it is interspersed with Aztec loanwords. In addition, there are over 80 Indian languages; the most important are Náhuatl, Maya and Mixteco. About 8% of the population speaks only Indian languages. English is spoken in the larger cities.

Religion:
89% Roman Catholic; Protestant, Jewish and Baha’i minorities.

Local time:
Mexico spans three time zones:
Southern, Central and Eastern Mexico, Mexico City (Central Standard Time): CET – 7th First Sunday in April to last Sunday in October: CET – 6 (Daylight Saving Time = Standard Time CET (Winter Time in Central Europe) – 6 hours.

Baja California Sur and the west coast to Puerto Vallarta – (Mountain Standard Time): CET – 8. First Sunday in April to last Sunday in October: CET – 7 hours (Daylight Saving Time = Standard Time CET (Winter Time in Central Europe) – 7 hours.

Baja California Norte – (Pacific Standard Time): CET – 9th First Sunday in April to last Sunday in October: CET – 8 (Daylight Saving Time = Standard Time CET) – 8 hours.

Mains voltage:
110/120 V, 60 Hz; American two-pin flat plugs. Adapter necessary.

Money – Currency:
Mexican Peso

National anthem:
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra

License plate:
MX

Posts and telecommunications:
Phone:
International direct dialing.
Country code:
52. A 24-hour, free hotline is available for tourists, which can be reached at 91 800 903928 (information of any kind in English and Spanish).
Mobile phone:
AMPS network, operator: IUSACELL (Internet: www.iusacell.com.mx). A GSM network (GSM 1900) is provided by Telcel (Internet: www.telcel.com). Mobile phones can be rented.
Fax connections:
Are available in many larger hotels.
Internet/E-Mail:
Internet provider is e.g. Internet Mexico (Internet: www.internet.com.mx). Internet cafes can be found in all regions, especially in the main tourist areas.
Internet TLD = .mx
Post:
Airmail letters to Europe take about six days to travel. Shipping by land and sea takes much longer. An express service is available in the capital (Entrega Immediata), which allows delivery within two to three days.
Deutsche Welle:
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to request the current frequencies directly from Deutsche Welle’s customer service (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de).

In spring and summer, Mexico is very warm, but not extremely hot. Mexico is located at an altitude of 2300 m. The hottest months are March, April, May. 27 to 30 degrees. Light summer clothing is the order of the day.

In the rainy season between August and October, it can get wet and cold. The temperatures will then be around 20 degrees and less. Then you can put on a protective rain jacket and a light sweater.

In winter, temperatures drop to below 8 degrees in the morning and evening. Thick sweaters are appropriate.

When the rainy season is over, it will be sunny and during the day the temperatures can climb to 23 to 25 degrees.

Up to 1,000m altitude it is tropical, from 1,000m to 2,000m it becomes subtropical and above 2,000m the temperatures are moderate.

in the north there are cold winters and hot summers. In the central plateau, strong thunderstorms are to be expected in the rainy season from May to September. The hottest months in Mexico City are April to June.

Mexico’s wildlife is just as rich in species as its flora. The fauna includes many species of monkeys such as howler monkeys and spider monkeys.

Then there are bears, beavers, flamingos, deer, jaguars, iguanas, lynxes, coyotes, crocodiles, ocelots, peccaries, pelicans, prairie wolves, pumas, herons, giant ants, scorpions, spiders, green sonora toads, turtles, tapirs and snakes.

There are thirteen different species of rattlesnakes alone. The birds are particularly diverse and species-rich. You can find many seabirds here because the coastal waters have a great abundance of fish.

Wolves and coyotes, for example, can be found in the north of the country. The forests on the mountain slopes are home to ocelots, jaguars, pumas, coatis, peccaries and monkeys.

In lagoons and swamps you can meet crocodiles and turtles.

Seals, flamingos, herons and pelicans can be found on the coasts.

In the tropical rainforests, the various bird species such as parrots and hummingbirds are extremely numerous.

FLORA:

Mexico is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity. Due to the size of the country and the different altitudes and the various climate zones, the vegetation is very diverse.

There are over 30,000 species of plants. Of the 6,000 species of cacti known worldwide, about 4,000 species exist in Mexico. The nopal cactus is the symbol of Mexico. The north of the country is home to the candelabra cactus. It grows up to 15 m high and up to 70 centimeters thick.

Slash-and-burn agriculture and timber utilisation as well as the diversion of many rivers and agriculture and livestock farming are causing major changes in vegetation. The tree populations have been decimated in the past, but there are still large and wide forest areas. The tree line in Mexico is about 3,500 m.

Different regions of Mexico have a predominant form of vegetation. Particularly noteworthy here are the rainy slopes of the Cordillera as well as the rainforest, which at higher altitudes turns into mixed forests such as pine, oak, juniper and then coniferous forests. Then there is Baja California, which is characterized by its cactus steppe.

In the north of the country, thorn bush vegetation prevails with countless species of cacti, agaves, yucca palms and mesquite plants.

In the south of the country (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco) there is the tropical rainforest and jungle. Here you can find precious woods such as the mahogany and zapote tree.

In the state of Chiapas, there are about 200 different types of oaks and 40 different types of pine. In the lowlands of Tabasco, wide swamps predominate. The Yucatán Peninsula shines with predominantly dry forest and thorn bush savannahs.

The “Tierra Caliente” (hot land) can be found at an altitude of up to about 900 meters. There are temperature differences of 15 to 48°C.

In the south, palm trees and mangroves predominate. In the north you will find coniferous forests and savannahs. Bananas, tropical fruits, cocoa, vanilla, sugar cane, tobacco and cotton are grown here.

The “Tierra templada”, the temperate land, ranges from about 900 to 1800 meters altitude. Here, the average temperatures of 16 to 21°C are predominant. This climate zone is home to most of all Mexican states. Here you will find deciduous forests, sugar cane cultivation, cotton cultivation and coffee cultivation.

The “Tierra Fria” is the cold land. It ranges from an altitude of about 1800 to 2700 meters above sea level. The average temperatures here are 15 to 17°C. This is also true of Mexico City and Chiapas.

The first Spanish expeditions under Francisco Hernández de Córdova and Juan de Grijalva reached the Yucatán Peninsula in 1517 and 1518 .

The newly discovered advanced civilizations and the abundant gold objects make the mainland interesting for the Spaniards.

In the years 1519 to 1521, Hernán Cortés succeeded in overthrowing the Aztec Empire with the help of numerous allied Indians. Mexico becomes the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

In 1815, independence from Spain was declared. This resulted in a long war. It led to final independence in 1821.

After that, the Mexican territory lost size, partly due to sales to the USA and also due to the American invasion.

In the 1860s, the country was occupied by France. During this time, the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico was installed. President Benito Juarez, who had been expelled by the French, ended the imperial era by executing Maximilian.

The dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz led to the Mexican Revolution in 1911. The revolutionary forces defeated the army, but lost themselves in internal strife. The country fell into constant turmoil for twenty years. At the end of this revolution, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) controlled the country. This went on until the end of the 20th century.

Mexican cuisine is so particularly tasty and good that it is easy to have weight problems. Thanks to the variety of spices and ingredients, the city is one of the metropolises of gastronomy at an international level. The famous tacos and quesadillas are offered everywhere in the streets.

Mexican cuisine is characterized by the synthesis of Aztec and Spanish-colonial traditions, including Mayan traditions in the south.

Regionally, there are big differences in Mexico between the coast and the central highlands, the chili-loving south and the beef-oriented north.

The most important meal of the day is lunch. The lunch break of a normal working day is correspondingly long.

In the evening, they usually only eat a small snack, a few fruits, a taco or the like.

A highly recommended restaurant is La Cantina, a bar-restaurant, with many typical Mexican food and drinks. For those who want it more refined, the San Angel Inn, which is dedicated to “high Mexican gastronomy”, is recommended.

In between or as appetizers, you can of course try the tacos and quesadillas that are offered at the street stalls at any time of the day or night. For fans of international cuisine, the Winston Churchill restaurant can be recommended, which offers English and international cuisine, then La Mansión, with excellent meat dishes, the Thai Gardens with Thai cuisine and of course Casa Italia, an Italian trattoria. If you appreciate the magaritas, you will probably not be able to avoid a visit to the Villa María in the south of the city, as there are over 20 different margaritas on offer.

In a hot and tropical country like Mexico, with largely lush vegetation, fruits and certain vegetables play a paramount role.

Drinking water is sold in water bottles or canisters. Water from the water pipes is dirty and undrinkable.

Horchata, a sweet rice-cinnamon drink introduced by the Spaniards, which is served chilled, is popular.

The other common alcoholic beverages are beer, tequila, mezcal and pulque.