What comes to your mind when you think about Mexico? Tacos? Tequila? Cacti and beautiful landscapes?
All of these are legitimate associations, but Mexico is a land of cultural and natural diversity, and we’d like to show you a glimpse of the wonders it has to offer. Most of the Mexico facts we’ve listed below are going to show you a different side of Mexico that you’ve been unaware of.
Let’s begin!
Contents
- Amazing Mexico Facts
- 1. People Speak More than 50 Different Languages in Mexico
- 2. Mexico Loves Coca-Cola
- 3. “Mexico” Isn’t Mexico’s Official Name
- 4. Burritos Are Consumed in Northern America Only
- 5. A Mexican Chemist created the World’s First Birth Control
- 6. Mexico Has a Plethora of Corn Varieties
- 7. The Meteor that Caused the Extinction of the Dinosaurs Landed in Mexico
- 8. Mexico Has the Largest Pyramid in the World
- 9. Mexico is Full of Volcanoes
- 10. Mexico Has the World’s Longest Underwater Cave System
- 11. In the 19th Century, Mexico Was Even Bigger
- 12. Mountains Cover Mexico
- 13. Mexico City Is Drowning
- 14. Instead of Cinco de Mayo, Mexicans Celebrate on the 16th of September
- 15. It Has the First Higher Education Institution in Northern America
- 16. Mexico Has Weird Phone Numbers
- 17. Mexico Was Where Color TV was Invented
- 18. Its Economy Is Booming
- Top 17 Coolest Places to Visit in Mexico | Mexico Travel Guide
- Summary
- Related Articles:
Amazing Mexico Facts
1. People Speak More than 50 Different Languages in Mexico
That’s right!
This fact makes Mexico one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. Apart from Spanish, people in Mexico speak other languages, including Otomi, Nahuatl, Mixteco, and others.
No country in the continent can compare to the diversity Mexico has to offer in terms of language. Furthermore, like Spanish, every other indigenous language is recognized as a national language in Mexico.
2. Mexico Loves Coca-Cola
Mexico is one of the biggest Coca-Cola consumers in the world. This comes as no surprise that excess levels of soda consumption have led to rapid deterioration in people’s health.
Now, obesity and diabetes have become major problems in Mexico. Some other factors that contribute to this are excessive consumption of junk food and a lack of exercise. Taxes on food that have high-fat content and sugar content were introduced in 2013 to tackle these problems.
3. “Mexico” Isn’t Mexico’s Official Name
The real name of Mexico is the United States of Mexico. The country has 31 states and a Federal District. Every state has its regulations, police, and laws, just like America. So if you’re in another state, your phone will be on roaming.
4. Burritos Are Consumed in Northern America Only
Almost everyone loves Mexican food. In fact, people love it so much that it was selected as a rare element of the legacy of humanity by the UN. That said, apart from Mexicans, what people call “Mexican food” isn’t Mexican food. For instance, no one in Mexico eats a burrito full of rice.
Apart from that, real Mexican food isn’t too spicy. In fact, it’s sour because of the limes used to garnish it.
5. A Mexican Chemist created the World’s First Birth Control
Luis Ernesto Cardenas was a 25-year old chemist that created the chemical element in 1951 that became famous as the world’s first birth control pill. Along with other scientists, Ernesto performed the first experiment that had norethisterone. This would go on to become one of the most prominent components of a birth control pill.
6. Mexico Has a Plethora of Corn Varieties
Not only is Mexico home to one of the most widely used varieties of corn, but it also has an abundance of corn varieties. Mexicans have grown this crop for centuries, and even though they’ve faced threats due to international trade agreements and modified imports, farmers have continued the tradition of going corn.
After a certain harvest, they then collect seeds and preserve these varieties for future generations.
7. The Meteor that Caused the Extinction of the Dinosaurs Landed in Mexico
Near Chicxulub is in the Yucatan peninsula; you can find the remnants of a giant crater. This crater has 150 km in diameter, and it was formed when an asteroid crashed into our planet 66 million years ago.
The science community widely accepts that this event changed the climate and created circumstances that caused 75% of animal and plant life to go extinct.
8. Mexico Has the Largest Pyramid in the World
Even though most people would expect this fact to be in an article about Egypt, we’re just as surprised as you are! The Great Pyramids of Giza aren’t the world’s largest.
That title belongs to the Great Pyramid of Cholula, which is 180 feet tall. This is also one of the largest monuments to be built. It has a 1,480 square feet base, and you can find it in Cholula, Mexico.
9. Mexico is Full of Volcanoes
There are several active and inactive volcanoes in Mexico. According to scientists, Mexico’s location is along the “Ring of Fire.” Scientists give this name to a seismically active region that experiences most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanoes.
10. Mexico Has the World’s Longest Underwater Cave System
Cenotes are distinct freshwater sinkholes that were found underground. Some of these stretch for miles and make up several taverns and caves beneath the water. In Mayan tradition, cenotes were sacred places that served as an entrance to the world underground where the dead carried on with their lives.
The longest of these caves, Sac Actun, was found in 2018 in Mexico. It is 216 miles long, and it holds a vital freshwater reserve that supports biodiversity and artifacts that can be found on the walls of the caves. The deepest one is in Tamaulipas (Mexican state), which is more than 282 meters deep.
11. In the 19th Century, Mexico Was Even Bigger
If you went back to 1821, you’d find a territory of Mexico that had Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Moreover, a large part of the US, including Arizona, New Mexico, California, Texas, Utah, and Nevada, was a part of Mexico.
If Mexico had all of these territories, it would be the fifth largest country in the world (bigger than the whole of Europe).
12. Mountains Cover Mexico
Hollywood has made several people believe that a large part of Mexico is nothing but desert, but that isn’t true! Mexico’s landscape is increasingly diverse. It has deserts, plateaus, mountains, plains, and jungles.
13. Mexico City Is Drowning
What?
Yes! Every year, Mexico’s capital city sinks at about 6 to 8 inches. In the last century, the city sank by 33 feet. Mexico City is 2,240 meters above sea level, which makes it one of the highest capitals worldwide. Due to the sinking, it lost one spot (from 7th to 8th) to Sana’a in Yemen. The city is sinking because it is situated on a lake, and the residents take their water from the lake. As the water level goes down, so does the city.
14. Instead of Cinco de Mayo, Mexicans Celebrate on the 16th of September
The country was considered to be an independent state on the 27th of September, 1821. However, the war for independence started on the 16th of September 1810, which celebrates independence day. Even though people think Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s independence day, it isn’t. Instead, it commemorates when Mexico defeated the French in the Battle in Puebla that happened in 1862.
Cinco de Mayo is only famous in America amongst Mexican immigrants or in Puebla.
15. It Has the First Higher Education Institution in Northern America
People often think that Mexico is located in Central or Southern America since it’s in Latin America. However, Mexico is in North America just like Canada, the Caribbean Islands, and the USA.
This is also why it has the first higher education institution in Northern America. UNAM: University of Mexico – started operating in 1551. It was founded by Charles the 5th from Spain – 85 years earlier than Harvard.
16. Mexico Has Weird Phone Numbers
For example, let’s suppose someone’s calling a phone in Mexico which is 59 43 78 21. If they’re calling from a cell phone, they’ll have to dial this number. But if they’re calling with a local mobile or phone, they’ll have to type (0-44) before dialing the number.
If they’re calling from a foreign mobile, they’ll have to type (+52 1), but if they’re texting, they’ll have to type (+52). We know, it’s pretty confusing.
17. Mexico Was Where Color TV was Invented
Without Mexico, the world would’ve been black and white for a longer time. Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena was the person who created a chromoscopic adapter for a TV. This was a color transmission system that he created when he was only 17! What’s more impressive is that he managed to create something so valuable during WWII. He was able to transmit a color picture for the first time in 1946.
18. Its Economy Is Booming
Mexico has the 15th largest economy in the world. According to the IMF, they are also the 11th most powerful country worldwide in terms of purchasing power parity. Some of the best-selling Volkswagen cars are produced in Mexico, too!
Thinking of visiting Mexico after reading the cool facts we listed? Check out the video below to know the coolest places you should visit!
Top 17 Coolest Places to Visit in Mexico | Mexico Travel Guide
This video is going to take you through some of the coolest places you can visit in Mexico while listing prices you can expect to pay.
Summary
So there you have it! While we’ve 18 of the most amazing facts we could find about Mexico, we invite you to help grow this list even further! Explore the promising land of burritos and map the unmapped! There’s a lot more to know than what we’ve managed to list!
Buena Suerte!
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Hi I’m Jay. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and live in Los Angeles, California. I have travelled to 23 countries so far and planning to go explore more countries soon! My Favorite trips so far have been to Israel, Japan, Rome, Iceland and Australia. I started this site to share my love of travel with everyone and build a community of like-minded, free thinking, free exploring people.
