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{"id":849,"date":"2021-04-16T12:06:11","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T12:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perfectflightdeals.com\/15-fun-and-interesting-facts-about-mexico\/"},"modified":"2021-04-16T12:06:11","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T12:06:11","slug":"15-fun-and-interesting-facts-about-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/perfectflightdeals.com\/15-fun-and-interesting-facts-about-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Fun and Interesting Facts About Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic,\u00a0tourist arrivals in Mexico\u00a0reached almost 1.5 million. As airports began to allow travel and people were eager to get out of the house, many found themselves taking a trip to Mexico, but why?<\/p>\n
Mexico is one of the top countries to visit because of its vibrant culture, delicious food, and historic structures. Many are itching to get back to Mexico (when we all can safely), but in the mean time, let\u2019s enjoy some\u00a0 fun facts about Mexico to understand the country a bit better. <\/p>\n
Read on to learn Mexico facts you never knew!<\/p>\n
1. Its Name Is Not What You Think<\/h2>\n
One of the first fun facts about Mexico is that its name is not really Mexico. Mexico\u2019s real name is the United States of Mexico, aka Estados Unidos Mexicanos. This country is divided into states like this U.S.<\/p>\n
Mexico has 31 states and a Federal District. Every state has its own police, regulations, and laws.<\/p>\n
The Federal District, Distrito Federal, was once the capital of Mexico. Most people believe\u00a0that the capital city was always Mexico City, but this wasn\u2019t the case until 2016.<\/p>\n
It gets tricky to remember because Mexico City\u2019s metropolitan area is within the Federal District. Only those living in the Federal District are considered capital dwellers.<\/p>\n
2. It Is More Than a Beach Destination<\/h2>\n
\nruins of Tonina in Chiapas Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Travelers tend to make their way out to Mexico for a summer vacation on the beach. Yet, the country is much more than a beach destination.<\/p>\n
Mexico has\u00a0a rich history as they have 34 UNESCO\u00a0world heritage sites\u00a0within their borders. Some of the most popular historic centers include Mexico City, Puebla, and Guanajuato.<\/p>\n
It is also home to more than a handful of ancient ruins, the most famous being Chichen Itza, and the agave fields of Tequila.<\/p>\n
The country is in the middle of the circum-Pacific Belt, more commonly known as the \u201cRing of Fire,\u201d a\u00a0place known for its earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.<\/p>\n
This is one of the coolest Mexico facts because it means Mexico is home to a rare rabbit that lives near volcanoes called the volcano rabbit.<\/p>\n
Outside of Puebla, you\u2019ll find the\u00a0smallest volcano in the world, Cuexcomate. The volcano is only 43 feet tall and looks like a tiny hill.<\/p>\n
Along with being home to the smallest volcano, Mexico has the largest ancient pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Cholula is the largest monument ever created in the world.<\/p>\n
3. U.S. Citizens Make Up the Largest Immigration Group in Mexico<\/h2>\n
In Mexico, the largest foreign-born population is actually United States citizens. In fact, more Americans are immigrating to Mexico than vice versa.<\/p>\n
A lot of Americans find the food surprising when they move or visit Mexico. Mexican food in the United States is considered Tex-Mex while authentic Mexican food is different.<\/p>\n
In Mexico, people don\u2019t eat Chipotle-style burritos or\u00a0burritos filled with rice. Burritos aren\u2019t that popular in Mexico\u00a0unless you are\u00a0in the northern region.<\/p>\n
Another difference between the Mexican food found in the United States vs. the food found in Mexico is that the authentic version isn\u2019t very spicy. Instead, it tastes sour because of the use of limes.<\/p>\n
4. It\u2019s Home to the First Printing Press<\/h2>\n
In North America, the first printing press was established and used in Mexico City. This dates all the way back to 1539 at the\u00a0House of the First Printing Press,\u00a0or Casa de la Primera Imprenta de Am\u00e9rica.<\/p>\n
The first printing press was actually used in Mexico way before making its way to the United States.<\/p>\n
5. It Has Animals Big and Small<\/h2>\n
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The jaguar is the largest wildcat in North America and can be found near the Mayan ruins or roaming the Mexican jungles.<\/p>\n
Mexico is also home to the smallest dog breed known to man, the Chihuahua. This dog breed originated in Mexico in the state of Chihuahua, hence the name of the breed.<\/p>\n
6. Mexico City Is Sinking<\/h2>\n
Mexico City is literally sinking each year. In North America, Mexico City is the oldest city and has the highest elevation. It\u2019s also built over the ruins of Tenochtitl\u00e1n, a city on a lake.<\/p>\n
Tenochtitl\u00e0n was an Aztec city in which the Aztecs made systems of canals and dikes to prevent floods. When the Spanish came along, they drained the lakebed instead of containing the flood control work.<\/p>\n
The Mexican population in Mexico City grows each year requiring more water to\u00a0get pumped out. As a result, the city is sinking about 6 to 8 inches every year.<\/p>\n
7. It\u2019s Not a Third World Country<\/h2>\n
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The Cold War is to thank for the term \u201cthird world.\u201d It was created as one of three geopolitical alignment divisions.<\/p>\n
Countries aligned with the United States were considered \u201cfirst world\u201d at the time. Allies of the Soviet Union were \u201csecond world\u201d countries. The countries not aligned with\u00a0either were\u00a0called \u201cthird world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even when the Cold War ended, the term remained. \u201cThird world\u201d became another name for poverty while the other two divisions are unheard of.<\/p>\n
The gap between the poor and rich in Mexico is large, but they\u00a0are not\u00a0considered a poor country because of their GDP per capita.\u00a0Mexico offers enough attractions like other developed countries.<\/p>\n
8. It Differs From Latin America in Some Ways<\/h2>\n
From the culture to the language, Mexico is vastly different from Latin America. For one, Mexico is in\u00a0North America, not Latin America.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the language, Mexican Spanish is kind of like slang. It\u2019s a unique variation of Spanish.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve ever studied Spanish in school, you may already be aware of this fact. Spanish teachers reiterate how different the Spanish language can be across the world.<\/p>\n
Latin America and Mexico are similar when it comes to toilet paper. Yes, you read that correctly, toilet paper. In Mexico and Latin America, they prefer that you throw toilet paper in the trash instead of flushing it down the toilet. Places that are closer to the ocean in Mexico tend to be stricter about this.<\/p>\n
In fact, a friend of ours from India noticed that India and Mexico, are More Similar Than You\u2019d Think<\/p>\n
9. Not Everyone in Mexico Speaks Spanish<\/h2>\n
Officially, Spanish is the national language of Mexico and Mexico is the world\u2019s largest Spanish speaking country. Yet, Mexico\u2019s native people don\u2019t always speak it. There are 68 other recognized languages spoken around the country and Mexico does not have a defined official language. <\/p>\n
10. Cinco de Mayo Is Not Celebrated<\/h2>\n
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In 1821 on September 27th, Mexico declared independence. However, over a decade before in 1810 on September 16th, the independence war began. Because of this, Mexico celebrates its independence day on September 16th.<\/p>\n
Cinco de Mayo is common in the United States as a day for people to party and have fun. Mexican immigrants in the United States\u00a0might celebrate this day.<\/p>\n
Most are unaware that Cinco de Mayo is a day to commemorate the Battle of Puebla that happened in 1862. The people of Puebla do celebrate this day.<\/p>\n
11. Growing Corn Is a Tradition<\/h2>\n
For centuries, Mexican farmers have continued the tradition of growing corn. This important crop has been threatened by trade agreements and genetically modified variations, but Mexico preserves natural seeds.<\/p>\n
They are multiple words that can describe corn because there are 59 varieties of it in Mexico.<\/p>\n
12. It Has a Large Catholic Population<\/h2>\n
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Another one of the interesting facts about Mexico is that it has a large Catholic population. Brazil is the only country that has a bigger population of Catholics than Mexico.<\/p>\n
13. It Has the Oldest University in North America<\/h2>\n
When you think of old universities in North America, your first thought may be Harvard. However, the oldest university in North America is actually the National University of Mexico located in the capital city of Mexico City. . It was founded in 1551, 85 years before Harvard was.<\/p>\n
14. It Has Interesting Foods<\/h2>\n
Many foodies travel to Mexico for authentic Mexican cuisine. The most adventurous of foodies may stroll through a market and\u00a0buy grasshoppers, scorpions, and spiders to enjoy during\u00a0their next meal.<\/p>\n
This may be a horrifying sight for the average joe, but some of these crawly critters have great flavor. Why else would you find the people of Mexico selling them for consumption?<\/p>\n
If you can get over the oddness of eating bugs, you\u2019ll find some tasty treats that are high in protein and, of course, are organic. There are tons of edible insects in Mexico to choose from.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t meat that got the Aztecs through the day, it was fat-free bugs they found roaming the grounds. If you are feeling risky, sample a delicious critter during your\u00a0travels in Mexico.<\/p>\n
15. Mexico is the World\u2019s Largest Beer Exporter<\/h2>\n
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This Mexico fact caught me by surprise. I had no idea that Mexico is the world\u2019s largest exporter of beer. I have always enjoyed Corona and yet, it exports so much more. In fact, Mexico exported $4.2 billion USD worth of beer in 2019. That\u2019s double what the next closest exporter sold at 2.1 billion. <\/p>\n
Fun Facts About Mexico That Will Make You Want to Take a Trip!<\/h2>\n
Mexico may be at the top of the list to travel because of the beautiful beaches and amazing views. Yet, this country has much more to offer than what people\u00a0typically\u00a0seek out.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for rich history, ancient structures, and amazing food, Mexico is the place to be. Don\u2019t settle for a day on the beach when you could be\u00a0experiencing\u00a0much more!<\/p>\n
Consider these fun facts about Mexico when planning a future trip. Check out our other\u00a0travel planning resources\u00a0to make your trip a success!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"tonina](\"https:\/\/cdn-bmalj.nitrocdn.com\/uirOOtSrYrqqUksKHkiSCjZGZlPeXsmk\/assets\/static\/source\/rev-623287a\/images\/ancient-ruins-1.jpg\")
![\"mexico](\"https:\/\/cdn-bmalj.nitrocdn.com\/uirOOtSrYrqqUksKHkiSCjZGZlPeXsmk\/assets\/static\/source\/rev-623287a\/images\/facts-about-mexico-chihuahua.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n![\"mexican](\"https:\/\/cdn-bmalj.nitrocdn.com\/uirOOtSrYrqqUksKHkiSCjZGZlPeXsmk\/assets\/static\/source\/rev-623287a\/images\/sombrero-mexico.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n![\"corona](\"https:\/\/cdn-bmalj.nitrocdn.com\/uirOOtSrYrqqUksKHkiSCjZGZlPeXsmk\/assets\/static\/optimized\/rev-623287a\/images\/corona-beer-in-mexico-1423x1067.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n