Mexico

Mexico, with its capital Mexico, is slightly less than three times the size of Texas, encompassing a total area of 1,972,550 sq. km. The climate varies from tropical to desert. The terrain is variable with high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus and desert. The natural resources include: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, and timber. Mexico faces a large number of environmental issues. The northern regions' natural fresh water resources are scarce and polluted. Fresh water sources in the center and extreme southeast are inaccessible and have poor quality. The national capital and urban areas are experiencing great environmental damage from raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers, deforestation, widespread erosion, desertification, and serious air pollution.

The estimated population as of July 2001 was 101,879,171. Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages are spoken in Mexico. Industries include: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, and tourism. Agricultural products cultivated include: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes: beef, poultry, dairy products, and wood products.

Click here for information about the wildlife and habitats of North America.