Latin American Country Project

by Bob Farmer

Latin American Country Project

Mexico is one of the most known Latin American Country. Mexico is known through many things including its gigantic economy, history, famous folk art traditions, and ceremonial/urban monumental buildings and structures. In this essay I will be writing about Mexico's key factors including its economy, geography, culture, and government.

Mexico's flag has three colors: green, white, and red. Each of its colors stand for something: Green signifies hope, joy, and love; white represents peace and honesty; red stands for bravery, strength, and valor. The coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus), centered in the white band, comes from a legend that the Aztec people were to settle where they would see an eagle on a cactus eating a snake. The city was finally founded by the Aztecs a city that is now presently Mexico City, the capital and largest city of Mexico. Mexico economy is the thirteenth largest in the world in nominal terms and the eleventh by purchasing power parity. Many people might have thought that Mexico's economy came from agriculture, well wrong. Agriculture has been declining and now plays a smaller role in the Mexican economy. Most of Mexico's agriculture comes from tropical fruits and vegetables. Its most known farmed plant is the sugar cane, Mexico produces more sugar cane than it consumes. Industry has been at least ninety-percent of all export earnings. The most important industrial manufacturer in Mexico is the automobile manufacturing. The electronics industry has increased enormously in the last decade being the sixth largest electronics industry in the world. Mexico is also the second largest exporter of electronics to the U.S. Mexico is the third largest manufacturer of computers in the world. Mexico is also recognized as the sixth-largest oil producer in the world, with 4,000,000 barrels per day. Tourism is also important to Mexico's economy making it the eighth most visited country in the world. Other main industries include chemicals, iron and steel, mining and clothing. Its major export goods are oil, automobiles, televisions, fruits, and vegetables. Its most known import goods are aircraft, agricultural machinery, and metalworking machines. Its major import partners are China, U.S.A., and Japan. Mexico's currency is the Mexican peso.

Moving on to Mexico's geography. Mexico has many famous historical sites including the three most known. Number one is The Mexican National Museum of Anthropology, it is one of the most known museums of pre-Hispanic history. Number two is Museo Casa de Hidalgo, it is a museum in the town of Dolores Hidalgo the former house of the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilaa, the father of the independence movement in Mexico. Number three is the city of Tenochtitlan, it was the Aztec capital, established in 132 AD and destroyed in the sixteenth century. Mexico's capital and biggest city is Mexico City. Mexico's most known cities are Acapulco: known for its popular tourist destinations in the world thanks to its luxurious hotels and Acapulco Bay. Another city is Cabo San Lucas: a Mexican resort city known for its beaches, sportfishing, and nightlife. The last city is Cancun: it has beautiful beaches with plenty of activities for the day and night. Its most known mountain ranges are the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre Oriental, and the Sierra Madre del Sur. Mexico has eighty-five rivers in total and the most important one being the Rio Grande. Mexico has the most known folk traditions in the world. Starting with Music, Mexico has a variety of music including rancheras, banda, cumbia, mariachi, corridos, and many others. Famous Mexican dishes are: tamales, burritos, tortas, tacos, carne asada, enchiladas, chicharon, and hot chocolate or atole. Traditional clothing in Mexico is for women a huipil, quechquemitl, and a rebozo.