Geography Mexico is the fourth largest country in the Western Hemisphere, consisting of 756,066 square miles. This would be slightly less than three times the size of Texas. Mexico is bordered by the United States on the North, Belize and Guatemala on the south, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean on the east, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
Mexico can be divided into different physical regions, which include the Gulf Coast plains, the Yucatan Peninsula, the Southern Highlands, the Chiapas Highlands, and the Baja California Peninsula. Mexico's highest point is Pico de Orizaba, a volcanic peak, which is 18,406 feet above sea level. Mexico's lowest point is Lake Salada which is 26 feet below sea level.
Climate Mexico's climate is as varied as its regions, but overall has a tropical to desert climate. Mexico has many different types of deserts, beaches, large mountain ranges, dense rain forests, volcanoes, and snow-capped mountains.
Aqueduct City of Mexico
Mexico - Tlalpan cadets approaching palace (LOC)
Diego Rivera's mural depicting Mexico's history at...Some natural hazards in this country are hurricanes on the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts, tsunamis along the Pacific coast, and volcanoes and earthquakes in the central and southern areas.
Population Mexico's population was estimated to be about 100,294,036 in July 1999. Mexico's population increased rapidly after preventive health care measures and improved living standards increased the life span of infants, in 1940. Mexico's four most populated cities are Mexico City (8,831,079), Guadalajara (1,626,152), Netzahualcoyotl (1,314,230) and Monterrey (1,090,099). The least populated state is Baja California.
Ethnic Groups Mexico's population is mostly made up of mestizos, who make up about 80 percent of the population. Indigenous peoples make up approximately 8 percent of the population. European people including Spanish, make up about 9 percent of the population. About 2 percent of all Mexicans are immigrants from different continents. Africans also belong to Mexico's ethnic groups.