The advantages of modern Mexico are not only in the fact that there are magnificent beaches, untouched corners of virgin nature and the mysterious ruins of colonial palaces.

Geographic location of Mexico

State with a total area of ​​1.95 million square meters. km., is located in North America, occupying almost the entire of its central part. It borders the United States to the north and east and Belize and Guatemala to the southeast. In the east it is washed by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, in the west by the Pacific Ocean (here the Gulf of California juts out far into the coast). Mexico owns a number of islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.

Most of the country is mountainous and occupied by the ridges of the Mexican Highlands, the Sierra Madre and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra with many active volcanoes (about 350), including the highest point of the country - Orizaba (5700 m.), Popocatepetl - (5452 m.) and etc. Volcanic activity is quite high, and earthquakes are also frequent.

Capital

Mexico City (Mexico City).

Climate in Mexico

Subtropical in the north, tropical in the south. In the Mexican Highlands it is usually much cooler (from +2 C in winter to +15 C in summer) than on the coast, where the air temperature does not drop below +20 C even in winter. In the northern part of the country and in mountainous areas, light snow falls in winter. In resort coastal areas (Acapulco, Cancun) the temperature ranges from +22 C in winter to +35 C in summer. Due to the features of the relief, altitudinal zoning is clearly expressed.

Usually, dry (November-April) and wet (June-September) seasons are distinguished, which differ slightly in temperature, but due to the influence of tropical cyclones, they differ greatly in precipitation, and especially in air humidity. Total precipitation falls from 100 to 3000 mm. in year. The Gulf Coast receives much more rain than the country's Pacific coasts, so most resorts require some acclimatization due to the high humidity. Powerful tropical cyclones are frequent.

Population

About 100.3 million people. The modern ethnic composition has developed from three components: the indigenous population - Indian tribes and nationalities (28% of the total), European settlers (primarily from Spain) and Africans. Currently, 60% of the population consider themselves "Mexicans" ("Mexicanos", descendants of mixed marriages) and 30% - Indians.

Political state

Federal Republic. The head of state is the president, who is elected for six years. The legislature is the bicameral National Congress (the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies). Administrative divisions: 31 states and 1 metropolitan federal district.

Language in Mexico

The official language is Spanish, English, French and German are widely spoken in the resort areas, they are practically not used in the provinces. In addition, local ethnic groups speak their native languages ​​(Nahuatl, Maya, Otomi, Zapotec, Mixteca, Totonac, Tarascos, Purepecha, and others - about 59 local dialects in total).

Religion in Mexico

The dominant religion is Christianity (97% of the population consider themselves Catholics).

Mexican Cuisine

The cuisine of Mexico is extremely original and original, which is explained by the mixing of the culinary traditions of the Indian tribes of Mesoamerica with the strong influence of Spanish and French recipes. At the same time, most of the traditional ingredients of local cuisine initially appeared in these places, and only then were they spread around the world, gaining popularity in other parts of the world. Mexican cuisine is based on a huge selection of local products: corn (maize), avocados, beans, zucchini, sweet and regular potatoes, tomatoes, cacti, chili peppers, pumpkin, poultry, vanillin, peanuts (and its oil), cocoa, and also many types of fish, fruits, herbs and spices.

The main place in Mexican folk cuisine is corn - fried and boiled, in the form of flour and as a drink, with mayonnaise or grated cheese, with meat and ground pepper ... The most common corn dishes are corn tortilla baked on coals with taco filling , meat in salted cornmeal (as well as a corn drink of the same name), a mixture of toasted cornmeal with pinole cocoa, a tortilla made from cornmeal, steamed tamales - pieces of corn dough with sauce, antojito " and "repostaria", cakes with various fillings - "nacho", "quesadilla", "tostado", "chimichangi", etc.

Hot chili peppers are the hallmark of Mexican cuisine; there are more than 80 types of it here. Hundreds of varieties of various sauces are made from it, stuffed, added to a variety of vegetable salads, meat dishes, fish, and, of course, corn.

Meat dishes are also extremely varied. The Indians, who did not know cattle and chickens before the arrival of Europeans, created many original recipes from local game (boiled snake, iguana with corn porridge, baked snake, etc.), but also quickly launched new products. And now "true Mexican" are considered a variety of goulash "olla podrida", boiled pork with vegetables "chipile", fried beef ribbons with bean garnish "carne asados", minced meat with tomatoes "picadillo", hot stuffed tortillas "empanada", dozens of roasted or stewed turkeys such as "monte lablano", peculiar "enchilada" rolls stuffed with peppers, cheese, eggs or meat, Mexican-style lamb, tacos al pastor pork slices roasted on a spit, beef with beans , eggs ("vallejo", "rancho" or with potatoes and ham), as well as "carnitas", chicken "mexicali" and many other equally original dishes.

The range of vegetables used is also extremely diverse. In the first place, of course, beans - fresh and dried, fried and fresh, as a filler for cakes, soups and as a side dish - you can list all the dishes from them endlessly. Dozens of dishes are also prepared from the "nopal" cactus (leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds are used), agaves, beans, avocado-guacamole (used both in appetizers and main courses), mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, etc. Particularly popular uses a kind of local fruit "chayote", consumed in baked, stewed and boiled form, as part of casseroles, salads, side dishes, etc.

Fish recipes are also based on national traditions - the same abundance of corn and spices as in other Mexican dishes, and the same amount of sauces and seasonings. Interesting cod "yucatan", "lutianus", "veracruz", tortillas with fish, swordfish with lemon or garlic sauce, soup with seafood "sopa de marisco", lobsters with avocados, etc.

Desserts are most often delicious local fruits, the original canas asadas roasted sugarcane dessert, excellent French-style pastries, rosca de reyes sweet bread, scones and muffins, as well as excellent sweet vegetable dishes are extremely popular. and fruits - cherry chimichangas, corn soufflé, mango with cream, quesadillas, pumpkin in syrup, shady lady, various stuffed puddings and nuts.

Of the alcoholic beverages, tequila (made by double distillation of blue agave core juice), which has more than 300 types (four types are officially approved - Blanco, Joven, Reposado and Anejo), as well as traditional alcoholic drinks "pulque", " mezcal" (produced by a simple distillation of five different types of agave), "sotol" and "bacanor". Mexican wines are also good (mostly created using European technologies), Don Pedro brandy and Corona beer.

Festivals and holidays in Mexico

During the winter months, a two-week Jazz Festival is held throughout the country. The traditional Carnival takes place at the end of February or at the beginning of March in the week before the Day of Repentance. The traditional spring festival, accompanied by costumed processions and climbing the pyramids, takes place in Teotihuacan on the day of the spring equinox. On the same days (and also on September 21) in Chichen Itza, the festival of Quetzalcoatl (Quetzalcoatl or the Feathered Serpent) takes place. On Independence Day, colorful folk festivals are held in the central squares of all settlements.

Immediately after All Saints' Day (November 2) is the eerie "Dia de los Muertos" - a holiday to honor the dead. On the day of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe (December 12), the colorful Señora de Guadalupe Festival and a pilgrimage to the capital of the country, to the Basilica of the Virgin Mary (one of the centers of Catholicism in America) take place.

Shopping in Mexico

Shops are usually open from 9.00-10.00 to 19.00-22.00 with a traditional siesta break from 14.00. until 16.00, day off - Sunday.

money in mexico

New peso (international designation - MXP), equal to 100 centavos (cents). In 1993, the denomination of banknotes was carried out - 1000 "old" pesos corresponds to 1 "new" peso. In circulation there are banknotes of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 pesos and coins of 50, 20, 10 and 5 centavos. The new money differs from the old ones in size and appearance. Prices in new pesos are marked with NP$. The "$" sign is used for both the peso and the US dollar (US$ or USD only).

Banks and currency exchange

Banks are open from 9.00 to 17.00 on weekdays (some bank branches are open even until 24.00 or 01.00), and from 9.00 to 14.00 on Saturday. Sunday is a day off. Some bank branches in resort areas are also open from 16.00 to 18.00, on Saturday - from 10.00 to 13.30 and from 16.00 to 18.00, and also on Sunday - from 10.00 to 13.30.

Currency exchange can be done at banks, large hotels, airports (usually the best rate) or specialized exchange offices "casas de cambio". Often there are difficulties with the exchange of shabby banknotes or banknotes of the old series. Most hotels, restaurants, shops and travel agencies accept world leading credit cards and travelers checks (preferably in US dollars). The resort areas have a well-developed network of ATMs.

US dollars are also accepted almost everywhere (the exchange rate is not the most profitable). When exchanging, care should be taken - there are attempts to shortchange.

VAT and tax-free

VAT (IVA) is 15% and is usually included in all prices and bills, but in some expensive hotels the prices do not include tax. VAT is also levied on telephone conversations, housing rent, etc.

On November 15, 2008, Mexico began implementing a VAT refund program using the Tax Back service. When paying in cash, tourists are eligible for a VAT refund if the value of purchases was at least 1200 (including tax), and not more than 3000 pesos. If the payment was made using a bank card, then there are no restrictions on the amount.

To receive a VAT refund at the Tax Back office, you must present your passport, a copy of the immigration form, which is filled out when crossing the Mexican border, checks from stores, a special Tax Back form and a boarding pass. If the value of purchases exceeds 5,000 pesos, Tax Back employees have the right to ask for the goods purchased.

It is worth noting that only half of the tax refund amount can be received in cash. The rest will be transferred to the account or bank card of the tourist. If the total amount of VAT exceeds 10,000 pesos, all compensation will be transferred to the buyer in a non-cash form within 40 days after the presentation of the Tax Back form and departure from the country.

Tips

Tips are usually 10% of the billed price. It is customary to tip in a restaurant (up to 15%), a porter ($1-2), driver and guide for the tour.

Security

In Mexico, there is a high level of crime, in the first place - pickpocketing and robbery. It is recommended to travel by car, bus and train only during the day.

Taxis are recommended only from official stations ("sitios"), otherwise the chance of becoming a victim of a robbery is quite high. It is recommended to order a taxi by phone, be sure to get the car number and taxi driver's license number from the dispatcher. At Mexico City Airport, only yellow airport taxis (with airport symbols on the door) should be hired, after paying for the call at the appropriate "Transportacion Terrestre" kiosk in the airport lobby.

Try to drive on toll roads ("cuota") - they are safer. It is also recommended to avoid solo trips in provincial areas, and often use hitchhiking. There are known cases of extortion of money by people in uniform. Armed insurgent detachments operate in some areas of the country; if you need to travel to such areas, you should follow the recommendations of local authorities.

In the southeast - with Belize and Guatemala, in the west it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean, in the east - by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Oil industry
The oil industry is the leading branch of the Mexican economy and the most important factor in the internal political struggle. In terms of oil production, Mexico ranks third in the Western Hemisphere and seventh in the world. The Mexican company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) is owned by the state and is one of the largest oil companies in the world. On average, Mexico produced 3 mb/d in 2009, down from 3.18 mb/d in 2008.
In the near future there will be a decline in oil production. According to the IEA, production will fall by 400 thousand barrels of oil per day in 2011, primarily due to the depletion of the Cantarell field. And by 2015, Mexico may become an oil importer, by 2035 the level of production will be 1.7 million barrels per day, and the level of imports will be 1.3 million barrels per day. This will have a significant impact on the internal economic situation in Mexico and will require the search for new sources of income.

Natural gas production
Natural gas is an important resource for Mexico, as demand for it is growing, especially in the electricity sector (gas-fired power plants). Mexico has gas reserves of 13.2 trillion cubic meters. feet, in 2008 1.84 trillion cubic meters were produced. ft. The volume of production is not enough to cover the internal needs of the state, so Mexico is a gas importer. Most of the gas is imported from the United States through gas pipelines and in the form of LNG from other countries.
Pemex owns a monopoly on gas production and development of new fields. The company is also the largest consumer of gas, accounting for about 40% of all oil consumption. Natural gas is produced in almost the same regions as oil. Fields in the north and south of the country together produce about 60% of the gas, the rest is produced in the Gulf of Campeche. And while oil production from the Cantarel field in the Gulf has been declining, natural gas production there has more than doubled between 2006 and 2008. Mexico has two LNG terminals. Since 2008, the Costa Azul terminal has been operating on the west coast, capable of handling 1 billion cubic meters. feet of gas per day. On the east coast is the Altamira terminal, which is a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell, Total and Mitsui and has a capacity of 500 million cubic meters. feet per day, it is planned to increase it to 1.3 billion.

Coal mining
Mexico's coal reserves were estimated at 1.335 billion short tons in 2005, and production is growing to 12.7 million short tons in 2008. The largest coal producers in the country are the two domestic steel companies Minera Carbonifera Rio Escondido (Micare) and Minera Monclova (Mimosa). Micare mines hard coal in the Sabinas and Fuentes-Rio Escondido basins in the state of Coajuila with two open pits and three mines with a total reserve of 208.6 Mt. Mimosa produces coking coal from four mines in the area. Sabinas.

Article tags:

Mexico is an independent country in the southern part of North America, located in the widest part of the isthmus south of the US border, connecting the two continents: North and South America. Area - 1.97 million km 2 (13th place in the world), population - 121 million people, density - 62 people / km 2. The capital is Mexico City, the major cities are Guadalajara, Puebla, Ecatepec de Morelos.

Geographic characteristics

Mexico is located on the territory east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, it includes part of the Yucatan Peninsula (12% of the country), the country occupies most of Central America. The area of ​​the country is 1.97 million km 2 , including 6 thousand km 2 of the island territories of the Pacific Ocean (Guadeloupe and Revilla-Hihedo), islands in the Gulf of Mexico and California, and the Caribbean Sea. The northern borders with the United States have a length of 3141 km, the southern neighbors of Mexico are Guatemala and Belize (the length of the border is 871 km and 251 km, respectively).

Nature

The northern and central part of the country lies within the Mexican Highlands, in the north turning into the Great Plains plateau in the United States. In the east, from north to south, the Eastern Sierre Madre Eastern mountain range stretches, in the west in the same direction - Western Sierre Madre, this is a continuation of the Rocky Mountains, mostly located in the United States. In the center, from east to west, the ridges of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt are extended under the general name of the Sierra Nevada. Here are such mountain peaks as the stratovolcanoes Orizaba (5.7 thousand m, the highest point of the country) and Nevado de Toluca (4.6 thousand m), the active volcano Popocatepetl (5.4 thousand m). Only a third of the country falls on flat surfaces, the largest on the Yucatan Peninsula and the flat lowlands are located mainly in strips along the Pacific coast and the Gulf of Mexico ...

Rivers and lakes

More than 150 river flows flow through Mexico, most of them belong to the Pacific Ocean, 1/3 flows into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The largest river in Mexico - Rio Bravo del Note (3034 km) originates in the United States and is called the Rio Grande there. It moisturizes the driest Mexican lands, along its channel in the north of the country there is a border with the United States. Most of the rivers that originate in the Western Sierra Madre get lost in the arid zone and disappear. The main river of the center of Mexico, the Lerma, flows into the freshwater lake Chapala (area 1.1 thousand km 2, location - 45 km from the city of Guadalajara in the southwest of the country), carrying its waters from it to the Pacific Ocean already under the name Rio Grande de Santiago. Other major rivers are the Balsas, Grijalva, Usumacinta, Conchos (the only tributary of the Rio Bravo del Note).

Ocean, bay and sea surrounding Mexico

The western part of Mexico is washed by the Gulf of California of the Pacific Ocean, the eastern by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean ...

Plants and animals of Mexico

The variety of climatic conditions in the country determine the diversity of flora and fauna. In the north of Mexico, in dry areas, a large number of cacti, agave, yucca, mesquite trees grow, wolves, coyotes, a large number of rattlesnakes and lizards live here. In hot tropical zones, dense tropical vegetation grows, represented by palm trees, rubber trees, and olive trees. Oaks, pines and spruces grow on the slopes of the mountains, there are bears, cougars, ocelots, jaguars. Seals, turtles, many birds live on the coasts of the oceans...

Climate of Mexico

The territory of Mexico lies in two climatic zones, its northern part is in the subtropical climatic zone, the rest of the country is in the tropical.

Most of the northern territories on the border with the United States, from the Pacific Ocean to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and the central regions of the country are in arid conditions (precipitation is about 250-300 mm per year), more precipitation falls in the south, their amount reaches up to 600 in Mexico City mm, a sufficient amount of precipitation (up to 2000 mm) receives the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the land of Yucatan. The rainy season lasts from May to October, often powerful tropical cyclones occur here.

The climatic conditions of the country largely depend on the height above sea level and change depending on this factor. Coastal plains 900 meters above sea level have a humid and hot climate (temperature from +19 0 С to +49 0 С), this is the so-called hot zone. At an altitude of 900 to 1800 m there is a temperate zone with temperatures of +17 0 С, +21 0 С, a cold region is located above, it is rather cool here - about +16 0 С...

Resources

Natural resources of Mexico

Mexico has significant reserves of such fuel and energy resources as oil (fourth place in the world in the production of crude oil), natural gas, coking coal. Also, large reserves of iron ore, non-ferrous and precious metal ores are concentrated here, Mexico has the 1st place in the world in the extraction and export of silver, fluorspar, the country is the world's main exporter of mercury, antimony, cadmium, zinc, manganese ...

Mexico is one of the developed industrial and agricultural countries with the most developed economy among the countries of Latin America. The leading sectors of its industry are mining, energy, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemistry and oil refining, food and light industries.

Crop production is the leading branch of Mexican agriculture. The main crops grown are wheat, corn, soybeans, rice, beans, coffee, fruits, tomatoes, cotton...

culture

Peoples of Mexico

The culture of the Mexican people is a mixture of Spanish culture and the pre-Columbian culture of the ancient Indian tribes (Aztec, Maya). The customs, traditions and beliefs of Catholic Europe coexist peacefully with the culture of the ancient Indian civilization. In the artistic art of Mexico, frescoes, unique wall paintings, the development of which was greatly influenced by the architecture and art of the Aztecs and Maya, gained the greatest popularity and fame. Such famous Mexican artists as Diego Rivera and David Siqueiros worked in the fresco technique. Frida Kahlo is a famous surrealist artist from Mexico.

As in any Catholic country, a very large number of religious holidays are celebrated in Mexico, the largest of them are Christmas, Easter, almost every village has its own patron saints, in whose honor local holidays are held with songs, dances, carnival processions. One of the most amazing Mexican holidays, in which the beliefs and traditions of the ancient peoples of Mexico and their descendants are closely intertwined, is the Day of the Dead (November 1-2). This kind of purely Mexican holiday, dedicated to the memory of dead people, it shows that death should be treated lightly and without fear. It does without tears and lamentations, on the contrary, it is one of the most fun days of the year, when after the traditional visit to the graves of their ancestors, people forget about their sorrows, put on bright carnival costumes, eat sweet skulls made of sugar icing and entertain themselves and others with entertaining figures. toy skeletons, which are the main characters of this holiday.

Kharkiv secondary school of I-III degrees No. 164

Kharkiv city council of Kharkiv region

Course work

"Mexico"

Completed by: student of grade 10-B

Oatmeal Vitaly

Kharkiv - 2009

1. Introduction………………………………………………..3

1.1. Geographical location…………………..3

1.2. Historical statements (briefly)…………...3

2. Natural conditions and resources………………………..4

2.1. Main natural resources………………4

2.2. Climate…………………………………………4

2.3. Relief……………………………………………5

2.4. Natural vegetation………………..7

3. Population……………………………………………….8

3.1. Demographics……………………………………8

3.2. Ethnic origin and language………….9

3.3. Population accommodation………………………..9

3.4. Religion………………………………………..10

4. Characteristics of the economy…………………………….11

4.1. Industry……………………………….11

4.2. Agriculture……………………………..12

5. Transport………………………………………………….13

5.1. Transport network……………………………………14

6. External economic relations………………………...15

7. Conclusions ............................................... ...............................eighteen

8. Additions……………………………………………...20

List of used literature……………………..24

1. Introduction

Mexico- a state in the south of North America. The capital is Mexico City. Major cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Ciudad Juarez, Leon, Tijuana. The total area of ​​Mexico is 1,972,550 km², including about 6,000 km² of islands in the Pacific Ocean (including the island of Guadalupe and the Revilla Gigedo archipelago), the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of California. In terms of area, Mexico ranks 14th in the world.

1.1. Geographical position

Being located in North America (at approximately 23° north latitude and 102° east longitude), Mexico makes up the majority of Central America. In terms of physical geography, the area east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, including the Yucatan Peninsula (which makes up about 12% of the country's territory) is located in Central America; in terms of geology, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt separates the northern region of the country. Geopolitically, however, Mexico is considered a North American country. In the north, Mexico borders on the United States (the length of the border is 3141 km). East of the city of Ciudad Juarez to the Gulf of Mexico, the border runs along the meandering Rio Grande. Several natural and man-made markers define the border with the United States west of Ciudad Juarez to the Pacific Ocean. In the south, Mexico borders Guatemala (871 km) and Belize (251 km). The most important feature of the economic and geographical position is the direct proximity to the United States, which captured in 1846-1848. over half of Mexico. This has a great impact on the life of the country. Its economy is closely and in many ways connected with the US economy and strongly depends on its conjuncture. The main land roads lead to the border with the United States, through which 2/3 of the volume of foreign trade passes.
Mexico is the only developing country with a broad front facing two oceans. The interoceanic position contributes to the expansion of the volume and geography of foreign economic relations, including with other Latin American countries. Ties with Japan reinforce the significance of Mexico's Pacific position. Neighborhood with Central America favors the strengthening of the position of Mexican capital in this subregion.

1.2. Brief historical records

Before the discovery of America by Europeans, the Mayan and Aztec states existed in Mexico.

· 1518 - the first landing of the Spaniards in Mexico (expedition of the conquistador Juan Grijalva).

· 1519 - The Spanish detachment of the conquistador Cortes lands in Mexico, lays the city of Veracruz and without a fight enters the capital of the Aztec empire, the city of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), where he captures the leader Montezuma.

· 1520 - the anti-Spanish uprising of the Aztecs.

· 1521 - Cortes, at the head of the 10,000th anti-Aztec militia of the Indians, conquers the state of the Aztecs.

· 1522 - Cortes becomes the first governor and captain-general of New Spain.

· 1524 - Guatemala and Honduras are annexed to New Spain.

· 1535 - The Viceroyalty of New Spain is founded with its center in Mexico City. Antonio de Mendoza became the first Viceroy of New Spain. The Viceroyalty is divided into provinces headed by governors. The territories of the provinces were divided among the Spanish latifundist landlords, to whom the surrounding Indians were attached. To curb the arbitrariness of governors on the ground, audiences were created - colleges of judges, headed by presidents.

· 1810-1824 - the war for the independence of Mexico from Spain.

· 1821 - declaration of independence.

· 1824 - the first constitution of an independent Mexico.

· 1845 - secession of Texas.

· 1846-1848 - the American-Mexican war, which ended with the rejection of half of the territory from Mexico, which is now part of the United States.

· 1862-1867 - French invasion, in honor of one of the victories in which the Mexicans established a national holiday.

· 1910-1920 - Mexican Revolution.

1994 - Zapatista uprising.

· 2006 - Revolution of cacti.

2. Natural conditions and resources

2.1. Main natural resources: oil, silver, copper, gold, zinc, lead, timber, natural gas.

2.2. Climate. Almost half of the entire territory of Mexico has an arid or semi-arid climate. Dry conditions are characteristic of the entire northern zone along the border with the United States, from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, and extend in the central part of the highlands south to about 22°N. Further south, rainfall gradually increases, reaching 580 mm per year in Mexico City and 890 mm per year in the Puebla Depression. Only the Gulf Coast states of Veracruz and Tabasco and the Pacific coast of Chiapas receive sufficient rainfall throughout the year. Most of the precipitation falls in summer, and winters are relatively dry. Temperatures and vegetation depend on altitude. In Mexico, the hot belt - the so-called. tierra caliente - located from sea level to about 600 m or slightly higher; temperate belt - tierra templada - extends above it, up to a height of approx. 1850 m, and even higher, up to the very snowy border (3950–4550 m) are the so-called. "cold lands" (tierra fr

a). Most of the central highlands are located at an altitude of 1200 to 2400 m above sea level, which corresponds to the upper part of the temperate zone and the lower part of the cold one. Although seasonal temperature amplitudes are small and, with the exception of the far north, average approx. 8°C, daily fluctuations are significant, and nights are usually cold in the mountainous region. On the coastal lowlands, summer temperatures exceed 27 ° C. Especially long and hot summers are characteristic of the lowlands adjacent to the Gulf of California.

2.3. Relief. Most of Mexico is occupied by the Mexican Highlands, passing in the north into the high plains and plateaus of Texas and New Mexico; from the east, west and south it is surrounded by deeply dissected mountain ranges. The central part of this upland consists of vast depressions - bolsons - with gentle slopes; the block ridges separating them are often crowned with volcanoes. The surface of the plateau gradually rises to the south and forms a wedge at approximately 19–20°S. in the volcanic zone, where the Transverse Volcanic Sierra ridge stretches in the latitudinal direction. The northern part of the plateau, Northern Mesa, is formed by merged bolsons, depressions with salt marshes or salt lakes in the center; the largest of them are Bolson de Mapimi, the bottom of which is at an altitude of 900 m above sea level, and Bolson de Mairan (1100 m). Above the general level of the plateau, blocky mountains rise sharply to a height of up to 900 m. Most of this desert region is drainless; only in the north flows the largest river in Mexico, the Rio Bravo del Norte (in the United States called the Rio Grande) and its only tributary, the Conchos. Further south, the surface of the highlands rises; Numerous intermountain depressions are located here at elevations of 1800–2400 m above sea level. and are separated by raised arid plateaus, above which block ridges rise several hundred meters. In the extreme south of the highlands is the so-called Central Region, which is the center of the political and economic life of the country, where the capital is located and most of the population is concentrated. The relief of this region clearly shows depressions, the bottoms of which are at the level of 1500–2600 m; all of them, with the exception of the valley of Mexico City, where the capital is located, are drained by rivers belonging to the basins of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The basins are separated by hilly ridges of soft contours, cut through by deep and narrow river valleys. Above the surface of the plateau, the Transverse Volcanic Sierra, which limits it from the south, rises sharply, formed by almost merged cones of volcanoes. Here are the highest peaks: Orizaba (Sitlaltepetl), 5610 m; Popocatepetl, 5452 m; Istaxihuatl, 5286 m; Nevado de Toluca, 4392 m; Malinche, 4461 m, and Nevado de Colima, 4265 m. In the Valley of Mexico, 80 km long and approx. 50 km once there were five shallow lakes with marshy shores; the largest of them was Lake Texcoco, in the center of which, on the island, was the capital of the Aztecs - Tenochtitlan. Over time, the lake was drained and in its place is the modern capital, the city of Mexico City. The largest river of the Central region - r. Lerma - flows through the depressions of Toluca, Guanajuato and Jalisco and flows into Lake Chapala, which has a drain into the Pacific Ocean through the river. Rio Grande de Santiago. Other depressions - Aguascalientes and Puebla - are also drained by the rivers of the Pacific Ocean basin.

The western border of the highlands is formed by the Western Sierra Madre mountain system, reaching 160 km in width and in some places rising above 3000 m. This is one of the most powerful and insurmountable mountain barriers in the Western Hemisphere. The railroad linking Central Mesa with the Pacific coast, like the highway, goes around these mountains from the south and rises to the city of Guadalajara. Only in 1961 was a railway line built from Chihuahua to the coast - the first railway laid through the mountains of the Western Sierra Madre; in the same year, a paved road was completed connecting Durango and the port of Mazatlán. The mountain system to the east of the highlands, the Sierra Madre Oriental, is relatively easier to pass. The most convenient routes through it pass through Monterrey in the north and through Veracruz in the southeast. The Pan-American Highway, starting from the city of Nuevo Laredo on the US-Mexico border, follows the eastern foot of the mountains to approximately the latitude of the city of Tampico and then rises sharply into the mountains and crosses the central mountain range. In the south, the zone of deeply dissected mountain relief is much wider than in the west and east of the uplands. The Transverse Volcanic Sierra breaks off in a steep ledge to the tectonic basin of the river. Balsas, deeply protruding into the mountainous region; even at a great distance from the ocean, on the meridian of Mexico City, the bottom of the valley has a height of only approx. 500 m above sea level South of the Balsas Valley is the region of the dissected plateaus of Guerrero and Oaxaca, collectively known as the Southern Sierra Madre; the erosive activity of watercourses has created here a complex network of deep valleys and steep ridges, leaving almost no flat areas. This southern mountainous region, which is generally considered to form the southern end of the geological structures of North America, ends in steep ledges facing the Pacific Ocean and the low isthmus of Tehuantepec.

July 10, 2017

The geographical position of Mexico can be safely called advantageous. The fact is that this country occupies almost a third of the territory of North America. It borders with the United States in the north, the eastern part of Mexico is washed by the Caribbean Sea, and the western part by the Pacific Ocean. A huge number of different-sized islands, which are located off the coast of the country in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, are also part of Mexico. Despite the fact that most of the country's territory is occupied by mountains and plateaus, the locals have learned to use them to their advantage.

It is hardly possible to briefly describe the economic and geographical position of Mexico, since it is considered a developed state, which plays an important role in Latin America. Naturally, this was not always the case. In the old days, Mexico was considered a "third world" country, that is, it belonged to developing states. But today the situation has changed dramatically, because there is already absolutely everything for a comfortable life, and technologies are developing at a tremendous speed.

Administrative device

To make it convenient to manage the economic development of the country, administratively it was divided into 31 states and one federal district. Each state has its own governor and its own laws. Separately, it is worth dwelling on the federal district, as it is organized a little differently than the states.

In the central part of Mexico is its capital - Mexico City. It is also the only district in the country, that is, a special political entity that includes the central part of the metropolitan metropolis. Its inhabitants themselves elect representatives of the executive and legislative branches. But what is interesting is that the head of the district is endowed with less authority than the governors of the states.

Climatic conditions and economic development

The physical and geographical position of Mexico contributes to the development of many industries. First of all, it is worth carefully studying the climate. The country is dominated by four climatic zones. The Mexicans themselves define them as follows:

1. Sultry. It includes all areas of the country located along the coast and directly at the foot of the mountains. It is always hot here, regardless of the season, so these areas are actively used by local residents for the development of resorts. There is also a lot of precipitation during the autumn period, so there is also enough moisture for tropical forests.
2. The warm belt is located at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level. A huge number of rare trees grow here, which are actively used in the woodworking industry.
3. This is followed by the cool belt, which is located at an altitude of more than 1600 m and occupies the largest expanse of the country. Oak and pine forests grow here, and where precipitation is rare, desert plateaus form.
4. The last belt is considered frosty. It directly includes the mountains themselves, therefore it is located at an altitude of 2700 m. There are suitable conditions for agriculture, because it is the population of the country who lives in this belt that is engaged in it.

The favorable location makes Mexico an excellent place for a resort holiday, which brings additional and quite significant income to the state treasury. All beaches are located either on the Pacific or Atlantic coast. As for the holiday seasons, here they last all year round, since the air temperature on the coast does not fall below 20 degrees.

In Mexico, any traveler can find something to their liking. For example, you can go scuba diving, explore caves and admire the national parks, of which there are many. All this and much more attracts tourists to the country all year round.

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Natural resources and their use

If we describe the geographical position of Mexico briefly, then we can safely say that it is more than favorable. Its territory is rich in various minerals. Mexico is rightfully considered one of the leaders among Latin American countries in terms of ore mining. And this is true, because an ore belt passes through its territory. There is a constant development of deposits of copper and iron ore, and there are also small deposits of uranium.

The peculiarities of the geographical position of Mexico make it possible to mine and export silver, zinc, magnesium, cadmium, etc. to other countries. The southern part of the country is considered to be the richest region, since there is oil and gas on the shelves of the Gulf of Mexico. There are many mineral reserves in Mexico, so their extraction will be carried out for more than one hundred years.

Of course, not everything is as smooth as it seems at first glance. There are many rivers in Mexico, but almost all of them are located near the coast, so in the center of the country the population experiences a large shortage of water, which naturally affects the development of agriculture. However, the local population has long learned to cope with this problem.

General overview of the country's economy

Mexico occupies one of the first places in terms of economic development among the countries of Latin America. Naturally, the favorable geographical position of Mexico plays an important role in this, because it borders on the United States, which invest a lot of money in its industry. The country is considered the largest exporter of silver, because the so-called silver belt passes through its territory.

To date, deposits of gold, zinc, lead and mercury are also being developed, so Mexico has a huge number of metal processing enterprises. One of the largest oil refineries is located in the country, and a system of pipelines passes through the entire territory, through which black gold and gas are supplied to the United States. Naturally, if there is oil, then there are refineries, which provides local residents with permanent jobs, and the government has fewer problems with the employment of citizens.

The economic and geographical position of Mexico gives it the opportunity to play a leading role in the industry of Latin America. Developed infrastructure and a large labor market determine the presence on the territory of the country of a huge number of different factories, for example, producing agricultural machinery, electrical goods. There are also metallurgical enterprises and car assembly plants.

Main industrial and agricultural areas

The entire territory of the country can be divided into three industrial regions:

Northern Mexico is famous for its developed animal husbandry. Here, cattle are often fattened, in order to then be driven to the United States.

country industry

The favorable economic and geographical position of Mexico allows it to actively develop and constantly achieve high rates. There is an automotive industry operating in accordance with world standards. The factories assemble cars, buses and trucks. In addition, many well-known car companies order unique parts that are produced only here.

Mexico has the largest cement plant in the world. There are also many enterprises that produce alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, for example, beer and the well-known Coca-Cola. Mexicans have also achieved great success in the food industry. The country already has trademarks that have gained recognition in the world.

The aircraft parts industry is constantly evolving and is being acquired by many well-known airlines.

Features of agriculture

Half of the population is involved in agriculture, which is facilitated by the geographical position of Mexico, because there are many fertile soils. The Mexicans even developed their own tillage system. Where the climate permits, they grow wheat, barley and even rice. Fruits and vegetables are exported. Tomatoes, oranges and coffee are in the highest demand, as well as some exotic fruits.

Thanks to access to the sea and ocean, fishing for commercial purposes is developing. To date, the products of the fishing industry are also exported to other countries, only half of them are used by the Mexicans themselves.

Forestry development

The economic and geographical position of Mexico makes it possible to supply timber to neighboring states. Previously, it was mainly used for fuel, but today the situation has changed somewhat. In addition to pine, a huge number of trees of other valuable species grow in the country, such as oak and red cedar. Mexico is famous for the fact that there is bitumen and charcoal.

Transport

The geographical position of the country of Mexico initially did not have a very favorable effect on the creation of transport links, and all due to the fact that its territory has certain relief features. But with the advent of new technologies in the transport sector, this problem has been solved.

First of all, highways connected the most economically significant regions of the country. In addition, roads were laid to the border with the United States. Of course, today the main transport hub of the country is Mexico City. It connects all districts with the capital of the state.

For a closer development of economic ties, it was necessary to lay 26,623 km of railway. And this task was successfully solved, despite the fact that the geographical position of Mexico complicated it.

Today, the capital of the country, Mexico City, even has its own subway, and the public transport system is at a high level compared to other countries, including even Canada. If we add up the length of all roads, they will result in a large figure, which will be approximately 247,450 km.

The geographical position of Mexico and Canada allows their residents to travel to neighboring countries not only by bus or car. You can also take a plane or train. There are two major airlines in Mexico that provide flights not only to the US but also to Europe. You can also travel to another country using sea transport departing from Mexican ports.

Comparative characteristics

The economic and geographical position of Mexico and Canada differs from each other. Below are not only the main differences, but also the similarities between these two countries:

Recently, there has been a noticeable rivalry between these two states. Since Mexico and Canada border the United States, both countries are trying to take the most advantageous positions in trade with a promising neighbor.

To become an economically developed country, Mexico had to work hard. Today, the population of the country has the opportunity to find their own business in various sectors: industrial production, agriculture, construction, services and tourism.

Mexico's ultimate goal is to become a country where there is no clear cut line between rich and poor. Thanks to the resources that are available on the territory of the country and their proper use, we can say that the Mexicans are close to realizing their goal.

Many experts say that soon the level of development of the country will reach unprecedented heights, since the deposits of minerals on its territory are really huge. The Mexicans themselves know how to use them correctly to their advantage. In addition, agriculture has been actively developing in recent years.