Mexican Map (Chinese-English Contrast)

Author: Zhou Min, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-05-01
Features: Mexico: With an area of 1,964,375 square kilometers, it is the third-largest country in Latin America and the largest in Central America. Located in the southern part of North America and the northwest of Latin America, it is a crucial land route connecting North and South America, often referred to as the "Land Bridge." It borders the United States to the north, Guatemala and Belize to the south, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean and the California Current to the west. Its coastline is 11,122 kilometers long, with the Pacific coast spanning 7,828 kilometers and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coast covering 3,294 kilometers. It has a 3 million square kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone and a 358,000 square kilometer continental shelf. The famous Isthmus of Tehuantepec connects North America and Central America. Approximately 5/6 of the country is composed of highlands and mountains. The Mexican Plateau is located in the center, flanked by the Eastern and Western Sierra Madres. To the south are the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Southern Sierra Madre, while the southeastern region features the flat Yucatán Peninsula. Coastal areas are mostly narrow plains. The highest peak in the country, Pico de Orizaba, stands at 5,700 meters above sea level. Major rivers include the Rio Grande (), the Balsas River, and the Yaqui River. Lakes are predominantly distributed in the mountain basins of the central highlands, with the largest being Lake Chapala, covering 1,109 square kilometers. Mexico has a complex and diverse climate. Coastal and southeastern plains have a tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 25-27.7°C. The Mexican Plateau enjoys a mild climate year-round, with mountain basins averaging 24°C and higher elevations around 17°C. The northwestern interior has a continental climate. Most regions experience two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season, with the latter accounting for 75% of the annual rainfall. Average annual precipitation is less than 250 millimeters in the northwest, 750-1,000 millimeters inland, and 1,000-2,000 millimeters along the central Gulf of Mexico coast and the southern Pacific coast. Due to its predominantly highland terrain, Mexico experiences mild winters and warm summers, with lush greenery year-round, earning it the nickname "Jewel of the Highlands." The Sun Pyramid and the Moon Pyramid Population: 97.48 million (February 2000), second only to Brazil in Latin America and ranking eighth in the world. Among the population, 90% are Mestizos (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry), 10% are Indigenous peoples, and others include whites. The official language is Spanish, with 8% of the population speaking Indigenous languages. 92.6% of residents adhere to Catholicism, while 3.3% follow Protestantism.