The Beyond News

Mexico is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico covers 1,972,550 square kilometers (761,610 sq mi), making it the world's 13th-largest country by area; with approximately 126,014,024 inhabitants, it is the 10th-most-populous country and has the most Spanish-speakers. Mexico is organized as a federation comprising 31 states and Mexico City,[ its capital and largest metropolis. Other major urban areas include Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Toluca, Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and León.

Pre-Columbian Mexico traces its origins to 8,000 BC and is identified as one of six cradles of civilization; it was home to many advanced Mesoamerican civilizations, most notably the Maya and the Aztecs. In 1521, the Spanish Empire conquered and colonized the region from its base in Mexico City, establishing the colony of New Spain. The Catholic Church played an important role in spreading Christianity and the Spanish language, while also preserving some indigenous elements. Native populations were subjugated and heavily exploited to mine rich deposits of precious metals, which contributed to Spain's status as a major world power for the next three centuries, and to a massive influx of wealth and a price revolution in Western Europe. Over time, a distinct Mexican identity formed, based on a fusion of European and indigenous customs; this contributed to the successful Mexican War of Independence against Spain in 1821.

Mexico's early history as a nation state was marked by political and socioeconomic upheaval. The Texas Revolution and the Mexican–American War in the mid 19th century led to huge territorial losses to the United States. The newly instituted liberal reforms that granted protection to indigenous communities, and curtailed the power of the military and the church, were enshrined in the Constitution of 1857. This triggered the War of the Reform and French intervention, where conservatives installed Maximilian Habsburg as emperor against the Republican resistance led by Benito Juárez. The last decades of the 19th century were marked by the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz, who sought to modernize Mexico and restore order.[18] The Porfiriato era ended in 1910 with the decade-long Mexican civil war where approximately 10% of the population died, after which the victorious Constitutionalist faction drafted a new 1917 Constitution, which remains in effect to this day. The revolutionary generals ruled as a succession of presidents until the assassination of Alvaro Obregón in 1928, which led to the formation of the Institutional Revolutionary Party the following year, under which Mexico was a de facto one-party state until 2000.

Mexico is a developing country, ranking 74th on the Human Development Index, but has the world's 15th-largest economy by nominal GDP and the 11th-largest by PPP, with the United States being its largest economic partner. Its large economy and population, global cultural influence, and steady democratization make Mexico a regional and middle power; it is often identified as an emerging power but is considered a newly industrialized state by several analysts. However, the country continues to struggle with social inequalities, poverty and extensive crime; it ranks poorly on the Global Peace Index, due in large part to ongoing conflict between the government and drug trafficking syndicates that led to over 120,000 deaths since 2006.

Mexico ranks first in the Americas and seventh in the world for the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, ranking fifth in natural biodiversity. Mexico's rich cultural and biological heritage, as well as varied climate and geography, makes it a major tourist destination: as of 2018, it was the sixth most-visited country in the world, with 39 million international arrivals.[40] Mexico is a member of United Nations, the G20, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the Organization of American States, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Organization of Ibero-American States.

Foods in Mexico :

(1) Tacos al pastor :  

This popular taco dish is a far cry from the tacos you might have tried anywhere else. The recipe is rooted in history and features thinly sliced pork, slow-roasted over a spit along with pineapple, coriander leaves, and onions, all served on a corn tortilla.

(2) Tostadas : 

Stale tortillas never go to waste as they can be used to make tostadas, which are essentially fried tortillas. These are typically served with cheese, meats, vegetables and a number of garnishes. A plate of tostadas can often be quite filling, so you may want to share!

(3) Chilaquiles : 

Breakfast in Mexico is a big deal, usually the largest meal of the day. Chilaquiles, one of the most popular breakfast dishes, feature lightly-fried tortillas cut into smaller pieces. They are then topped with salsa and a bevy of breakfast foods such as eggs, cheeses, cream, or chicken, and served with a generous side of refried beans, also called frijoles.

(4) Chiles en nogada : 

This dish is as patriotic as it is tasty. The ingredients come together to represent the colors of the Mexican flag and include a mouthwatering mixture of fruits, spices, and chopped meat. The mixture is stuffed into Poblano chiles (the green in the flag), which is then drizzled with a walnut-based cream sauce (the white) and pomegranate seeds sprinkled atop the dish represent the red color in the Mexican flag.

(5) Pozole : 

This is a rich, spicy and extremely popular soup made from hominy corn. It is most often stewed overnight with a wide variety of herbs and spices, together with chicken, pork or vegetables. When ready to be served, it is accompanied by onions, radishes, limes, lettuce and chilies.

(6) Enchiladas : 

There is a wide variety of enchiladas that can be found in Mexico. They are made with either a corn or flour tortilla and then stuffed with various ingredients, such as meat, seafood or vegetables. A chili sauce is often drizzled over the enchiladas and then topped with garnishes. Enchiladas are often consumed for breakfast in Mexico, though you can find them at any time.

Weather & geography in  Mexico :

Mexico has a highly varied topography that consists of rugged mountains with high elevations, deserts, high plateaus, and low coastal plains. For example, its highest point is at 18,700 feet (5,700 m) while its lowest is -33 feet (-10 m). Mexico's climate is also variable, but it is mainly tropical or desert.Much of Mexico is divided by mountain ranges. The Sierra Madres run north to south creating the valleys of Northern and Central Mexico where the majority of the people live. The highest altitudes are mountains measuring up to 18,000 ft. Running from Colima, on the eastern border of the country to Veracruz, on the Atlantic side of the country, is a volcanic beltgiving this part of Mexico its most arable soil. Although Mexico has around 150 rivers, the two major bodies of water that surround the country are the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of Mexico to the east.

Per day Cost in Mexico :
You should plan to spend around M$1,726 ($87) per day on your vacation in Mexico, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, M$403 ($20) on meals for one day and M$276 ($14) on local transportation.

History of Mexico :
The written history of Mexico spans more than three millennia. First populated more than 13,000 years ago, central and southern Mexico (termed Mesoamerica) saw the rise and fall of complex indigenous civilizations. Mexico would later develop into a unique multicultural society. Mesoamerican civilizations developed glyphic writing systems, recording the political history of conquests and rulers. Mesoamerican history prior to European arrival is called the prehispanic era or the pre-Columbian era. Following Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821, political turmoil wracked the nation. France seized control in the 1860s, but a popular revolt overthrew that regime. Quiet prosperous growth was characteristic in the late 19th century but the Mexican Revolution in 1910 brought a bitter civil war. With calm restored in the 1920s, economic growth was steady while population growth was rapid.