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 Where In The World?
Where in the World Is Mexico?
Its time to get out your globe for Where in the World? You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ships captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located. Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol (for very specific locations, it is also broken down into minutes ' and seconds "). Get ready to travel the world!
 On your globe, find longitude of 102W and latitude of 23N, and you'll find Mexico. This country is located in middle America, between the United States and the Central American countries of Guatemala and Belize. It is bordered on the east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean. Mexico is about three times the size of the U.S. state of Texas. The capital of Mexico is the Federal District, where Mexico City is located.
Mexico is a country with beautiful and diverse environments, varying from tropical to desert. The northern part of the country has extreme weather, deserts, and rugged mountains. Southern Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico region have an abundance of marshes, swamps, and forests. The country is lined on the east and west sides with beautiful beaches. Mexico is home to many wonderful archaeological finds from the Mayan and Aztec cultures, including the ruins of the important Aztec city of Teotihuacan and the ruins of the Templo Mayor (the Great Temple).
Mexico was under Spanish rule for three centuries before gaining its independence in 1810. In 1846, the U.S. declared war on Mexico. The Mexican War ended in 1848 and resulted in the U.S. annexation of the land that became parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and Colorado. You've probably heard of the holiday "Cinco de Mayo" or 5th of May. This is a national holiday in Mexico recognizing May 5,1862. This was the day that the Mexican Army, which was outnumbered three to one, defeated invading French forces at the city of Puebla.
Some other interesting facts about Mexico:
Mexico has 32 states, including the Federal District.
Corn (maize), one of the world's largest grain crops, was thought to have originated in Mexico.
Sources: The World Factbook prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency; Mexico Tourism Board
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