The country of Mexico was named after “Mexitli”, the Aztec god of war.
Locatio
The United Mexican States are part of Central America, but most of them are on the North American continent. South of the isthmus of Tehantepec begin the mountain ranges and ranges of volcanoes of Central America. Visit thedressexplorer for Mexico Small Group Tour.
Mexico borders the United States of America (USA) to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast. The remaining borders are formed by the Pacific Ocean (8,200 km) in the south and west, the Caribbean in the southeast and the Gulf of Mexico in the east.
With 2 million square kilometers it is the third largest country in Latin America and the twelfth largest country on earth.
Time zone
Mexico is divided into 3 different time zones. The time difference compared to Germany is mostly minus 7 hours, south of Baja California and the northern part of the west coast minus 8 hours, north of Baja California minus 9 hours.
The daylight saving time applies from the first weekend of April to the last weekend of October. Individual states deviate from this.
Geography
Mexico is over 3,000 km long and 1,200 km wide in the north, whereas the distance between the two seas on the isthmus of Tehuantepec is reduced to 200 km.
The landscape is determined by the three mountain ranges of the Western Sierra Madre (2,000 to 3,000 m) in the north, the Southern Sierra Madre (3,000 m) and the Eastern Sierra Madre . The country’s 10 active volcanoes are located around Mexico City.
The highest mountain in Mexico is the Citlaltépetl volcano (also Pico de Orizaba ), which reaches a height of 5,700 m. The second highest mountain is the Popocatepetl volcano.
The Yucatan Peninsula consists of karstified limestone plateaus that continue into Cuba and the Florida Peninsula.
The Baja Clifornia peninsula ( Baja California) is about 3,000 km long and is criss-crossed by mountains that reach an altitude of 3,000 m.
History
The ancestors of the Indians probably crossed the dry Behring Strait from Asia to America during the last Ice Age. On the way south, they then reached around 20,000 BC. BC Mexico. The first settlement finds date from this time. The first city in which a larger settlement could be proven was Tlatilco in the valley of Mexico. It comes from the Olmecs around 1500 BC. And was only 400 BC. Abandoned again. Between 200 BC Then several cultures developed: Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec and Toltec. By 1500 AD, the Aztecs had become the ruling people in what is now Mexico. In 1325 they founded Tenochtitlan, the residence of the Aztec rulers. From 1502 to 1520 Montezuma II was one of the most famous. When the Spaniards began the conquest under Hernando Cortez, the Aztecs had already passed the high point of their cultural development. In 1535 Mexico became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and was ruthlessly exploited by the colonial rulers. They plundered the gold and silver deposits and enslaved the Indians in mines and on the plantations. In 1821 they achieved final independence from Spain and a time of political upheaval followed. At that time Mexico lost all areas north of the Rio Grande to the USA. The relationship between Mexico and the USA is still tense today, as incidents related to drug and people smuggling occur again and again at the border. Many of the American criminals are also fleeing to Mexico since the death penalty was abolished in 2005. In the past, there were repeated unrest among the population because the elections were not always transparent and comprehensible. The current president, Felipe Calderón, rules until July 2012.
Flora and fauna
Mexico is home to animals and plants from three different climate zones: from the tropical zone with evergreen rainforests, from the temperate zone with deciduous forests and from the desert zone with thorn bushes and cacti. Due to the bridge between North and South America, the animal world has also mixed accordingly. In the higher mountain areas with grass and shrub steppes, plants of the tropical world as well as high mountain plants of the northern latitudes occur.
The animal world is just as rich in species as the flora. In the tropical rainforests you can find tapirs, belted animals, sloths, monkeys and alligators. Deer, deer, bears, badgers and lynxes as well as other animals of the middle latitudes live in the moderate altitude. In the deserts of the northern half of the country you can find wolves, coyotes, lizards and various types of rattlesnake among agaves, cacti and grasses.
Business
Mexico’s economy has also suffered badly from the general economic crisis. Since the country delivers 80% of its exports to the USA, it has also been affected by the economic crisis there. The main commodities are industrial and crude oil products. Mexico is the sixth largest oil exporter in the world.
The drastic decline in the tourism industry due to the effects of Influenza A (H1N1) has also made the country difficult economically.
Memberships
Membership in Int. Organizations: United Nations (UN), Organization of American States (OAS), World Trade Organization (WTO), General Customs and Trade Agreement ( GATT), and in numerous regional institutions.
Population
Of the almost 107 million residents of Mexico, around 60% are mestizos (mixed race between Indians and Europeans), 30% are members of the 62 Indian tribes or peoples. Only about 9% are of European descent (mostly Spaniards).
Religion
A large part of the Mexican population professes the Roman Catholic faith, especially in the countryside. But there are also Protestants, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other smaller religions.
Language
The national language is Spanish. However, many of the indigenous languages are also considered the national language, including Maya and Náhuatl.
Food and drink
Every meal in Mexico includes tortillas (Mexican flatbread that you also like to fill) and usually chilies or chilli sauces. Churros are also very popular, long, deep-fried pieces of dough that are usually served with sugar or chocolate. Dinner here is rather sparse as the most important meal of the day is lunch. In the evening there is only a small snack such as a taco.
If you want to drink water, you should avoid tap water and prefer the water that can be bought everywhere in canisters or bottles. Horchata, a sweet drink made from rice and cinnamon, and the alcoholic drinks beer, tequila, mezqual and pulque are very popular in Mexico.
Money / currency
The exchange of euro or dollar bills is possible in exchange offices and hotels.
Entry
To enter Meiko, travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after arrival. As a rule, you will receive the “FMT” tourist card on the plane, which must be filled in and carried with you until the end of the journey. This will be returned when you leave the country.
Medical advice
Current information on vaccinations can be obtained from your family doctor or on the website of the Center for Travel Medicine (CRM).
current
The voltage in Mexico is 110 V, 60 Hz. It is therefore advisable to take a US adapter with you.
Security / drugs
Current travel advice can also be found at https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/
Of drugs-and drug trafficking must be strongly discouraged, since the penalties in Mexico are very high (10-25 years). The penalty must be served in Mexican prisons are
addresses
In Germany:
Embassy of the United Mexican States
Klingelhöferstr. 3
10785 Berlin
E-Mail: mail@mexale.de
https://portal.sre.gob.mx/alemania
Consulate General in Frankfurt am Main
Honorary consulates in Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover and Munich
Abroad:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Mexico City
E-Mail: info@stadt-mexico.diplo.de
https://www.mexiko.diplo.de/
Honorary consulates in Acapulco, Cancún, Chihuahua, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Mérida, Puebla, Querétaro, Tampico, Tijuana and Veracruz
Foreign Office
In Germany https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/
In Austria https://www.bmaa.gv.at/
In Switzerland https://www.eda.admin.ch/
Common questions about Mexico
What are the entry requirements for Mexico?
German nationals traveling to Mexico as tourists can enter Mexico without a visa. To enter Mexico, you need a tourist card (called “FMT”), which you can obtain during the flight and at the border crossing points into Mexico. When crossing the border, the card is stamped and the period of validity is entered. Pay attention to the period of validity in order to avoid later effort for renewal. The remaining copy of the tourist card must be presented when leaving Mexico. The passport must be valid for another 6 months upon entry, but at least for the duration of the planned stay.
What vaccinations do you need to travel to Mexico?
No compulsory vaccinations are required to enter Mexico. For short trips, we recommend vaccination against hepatitis A, tetanus and diphtheria. In the case of long-term stays, additional vaccinations against hepatitis B, typhoid, and possibly also against rabies may be indicated. However, it is advisable to take out health insurance abroad with repatriation.
