If you wanted to visit a country that has mountains, canyons, deserts and green jungles then Mexico would be a good choice. It has all. It is a big country spread under blue skies and sunshine. Mexico is nestled between the two sparkling oceans.

Almost 7000 years ago, when its neighbors US and Canada were savage wilderness, this country had early settlers like the Olmec people, lived in the southeastern part of the country. They were Mexico’s first complex society. Some of the other famous early civilizations were the Mayan, the Toltec, and the Aztec. Some of the ancient treasures found at Monte Alban are as old as the ones found in Greece. The greatest pyramids and the temples built by the Mayan Indians. Yes, some are even more amazing than the pyramids of Egypt. In fact, the hot chocolate was a sacred drink of the Aztecs.

Mexico is crisscrossed by the “mother mountains”  famously known as Sierra Madre. Even though a lot of Mexico is mountains or rocky deserts, the main occupation of the people is farming. More than half of the people in Mexico live on farms.

Around 500 years ago, Mexico was very rich in metals and minerals, and that is the reason that Spanish came to Mexico. The Spanish explorers came looking for gold and silver ad ended up making the Indians their slave for almost 300 years. However, they could not take everything. Mexico still mines lead, zinc, copper and oil, resources that people in those times knew nothing about. The Spanish also left something behind. Their language, Spanish is the official language of Mexico today.

The size of Mexico is 756,066 square miles. It is located on the “Ring of Fire,” one of the earth’s most violent earthquake and volcano zones.  Mexico City is built on a lake called Texcoco. It is sinking every year. This island city is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was earlier called Tenochtitlan, a city rising out of the lake. It was then the center of Aztec empire. It had pyramids, brightly colored palaces, floating gardens and colorful unique birds.

While Mexico is a historically rich country, it is also very fun loving. Mexicans are always ready to enjoy Fiestas. Fiesta could be a festival, celebration or an elaborate party. People get together and celebrate by eating the most famous tacos, burritos, tortilla chips and dancing away on the famous music.  In Oaxaca, Mexico, a special Christmas festival is held to celebrate the radish.

A country that is so rich historically and culturally  is indeed magnificent Mexico.