Mexico

Mexico forms part of the continent of North America, where it has a coastal position and is bordered by Belize, Guatemala, United States, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean. There are seven continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia (Oceania). North America is the world's third largest continent, it has 23 countries, plus many other territories. It occupies a total area of 24,490,000 km2 and forms 16.5% of the landmass of the world. Mexico is a coastal country that stretches over a total area of approximately 1,964,380 km2. It is one of the largest countries in North America and the world.

The following border information provides details on the length of Mexico's borders:
Coastline 9,330 km, Belize 276 km, Guatemala 958 km, US 3,155 km.

Mexico is a huge country so its climate varies throughout its regions from hot, humid and tropical on the coast to arid and temperate inland, particularly in areas of high elevation. The geography of Mexico is formed by its beautiful beaches and coastal plains, areas of high elevation and mountainous regions, as well its desert land, namely the Chihuahuan Desert. The Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental are two mountain ranges that extend from the Rocky Mountains across Mexico from north to south. The Sierra Nevada and Sierra Madre del Sur also occupy areas across this vast country. Numerous islands belong to this country including the Revillagigedo Islands and Guadalupe Island. Mexico is classed as a mega diverse country which means that it encompasses a high rate of endemic species and the majority of the species found on Earth. The lowest point of Mexico is the Laguna Salada at -10m, and the highest point of elevation is Volcan Pico de Orizaba at 5,636m.

The official language of Mexico is Spanish, which is spoken by the overwhelming majority of the population.

The primary religion of Mexico is Roman Catholic at approximately 82% of the population. The rest of the population either belongs to other religions or no religion at all.

Natural resources can be described as materials and substances found naturally occurring on Earth. Natural resources are very important across the world, and can be exploited for economic gain. An individual country's natural resources can depend on many factors including the climate, geography and location. Some countries, such as Russia, The United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada, are rich with natural resources, where as others have practically none. Three of the primary uses of natural resources are food, transport and construction. The following examples provide information on the everyday uses of natural resources: Fish occurs naturally in many bodies of water and can be caught for food consumption. Crude oils can be refined into various fuels in order to power vehicles/cars. Wood/timber can be extracted from forests and used to construct houses and furniture. The natural resources found in Mexico include petroleum, silver, copper, gold, zinc, lead, natural gas and timber.

Each country has its own individual culture, history and identity. Flags, emblems, symbols, colors, anthems, songs and mottos represent the national pride and identity of countries across the globe. These national symbols are forged through a nation's unique history and can represent both hardship and prosperity, embodying freedom, strength and unity. Flags, emblems, colors, songs and mottos reflect the past, present and future aspirations of a country, and create an important image to the rest of the world. National symbols can represent a combination of things that are important to a country such as birds, animals, plants, geographical features, tools of agriculture, crops, and tools of war. The following facts and information provide a guide to some of the most important national symbols, songs and colors of Mexico: