Overview
Mexico curves like a great horn from its dry northern states bordering on the USA in North America down to the jungle-clad slopes of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas linking the lush south of the country to South America. The country embraces an enormous range of habitats, from the vast semi-arid plains, rugged mountain ranges and deserts of the north, through the central volcanic highlands, to swampy coastal lowlands and tropical rainforests in the south. This, together with the fact that Mexico has served as a land bridge between North and South America, has meant that the country is blessed with enormous biodiversity. Mexico is washed by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Gulf of Mexico along much of its east coast, and the Caribbean along the eastern Yucatan Peninsula. Not surprisingly, its beach resorts have long been major international tourist destinations. This book includes a thorough introduction to the physical landscapes of Mexico, its climate, flora and fauna. There is a discussion of the country's fascinating and complex cultural and political history from Mayan and Aztec times, through the Spanish Conquest, to the present day. The visitor to Mexico can witness more than 3000 years of architecture, including the 'Place of the Gods' at Teotihuacan, the great Mayan cities of the Yucatan and Chiapas, and the grand architecture of the silver cities of the colonial era. Aspects of Mexican culture, including religion, the arts and cuisine are also discussed, along with short introductions to the country's main cities.Synopsis
Mexico curves like a great horn from its dry northern states bordering on the USA in North America down to the jungle-clad slopes of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas linking the lush south of the country to South America. The country embraces an enormous range of habitats, from the vast semi-arid plains, rugged mountain ranges and deserts of the north, through the central volcanic highlands, to swampy coastal lowlands and tropical rainforests in the south. This, together with the fact that Mexico has served as a land bridge between North and South America, has meant that the country is blessed with enormous biodiversity. Mexico is washed by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Gulf of Mexico along much of its east coast, and the Caribbean along the eastern Yucatan Peninsula. Not surprisingly, its beach resorts have long been major international tourist destinations. This book includes a thorough introduction to the physical landscapes of Mexico, its climate, flora and fauna. There is a discussion of the country's fascinating and complex cultural and political history from Mayan and Aztec times, through the Spanish Conquest, to the present day. The visitor to Mexico can witness more than 3000 years of architecture, including the 'Place of the Gods' at Teotihuacan, the great Mayan cities of the Yucatan and Chiapas, and the grand architecture of the silver cities of the colonial era. Aspects of Mexican culture, including religion, the arts and cuisine are also discussed, along with short introductions to the country's main cities.