2.  14 th largest country in the world (area)  About 3 times the size of Texas  Population – about 114 million (11 th largest in the world)  Mexico consists of 31 states and 1 federal district

3.  Shares 2,000 mile border with the U.S.  Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte forms large part of that border  Country dominated by mountains (largely created by volcanic mountains)  Sierra Madres Oriental - east Occidental - west Del Sur – south  Yucatan Peninsula

4.  Plateau – large raised area of mostly level land  Most of Mexico’s people live on the country’s central plateau area  Lies between the Sierra Madres

5.  Mexico City, located in the federal district, is Mexico’s capital  Mexico is led by a President who is elected for a 6-year term  Enrique Peña Nieto  (currently)  Similar government structure to the U.S. (two houses in legislative branch)

6.  Many people consider themselves to be a mestizo – person of mixed Spanish and Native ancestry  Largest Spanish speaking country in the world  More than 90% identify themselves as Catholic

7.  Service and manufacturing jobs are a huge part of Mexico’s economy  Less than 13% of Mexico’s land can be used for agriculture, so they depend upon other natural resources  World leader in silver production  7 th largest oil producer

8. $1.6 Trillion (12 th in the world) GDP- Gross Domestic Product - total value of goods and services made within the country Gross (Total) Domestic (Home) Product (Goods and services) Mexio’s GDP relies on Tourism and Natural Resources

9.  Growing urban areas have made it more difficult for people to find jobs  Many have found work in maquiladoras – border factories where U.S. employers often pay lower wages to workers

10.  North American Free Trade Agreement  1994 agreement that made it easier to import and export goods between Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.

11.  Mexico’s history dates back to some of the earliest ancient civilizations  Spain sent conquistadors to conquer the earliest people in area – conqueror in charge of gaining land and wealth

12.  Mexico began their quest for independence from Spain in 1810  1821 – Mexico became an independent nation

13.  Three countries are interdependent of each other – depend on one another for support  Economic, defense, international, etc.  The leaders of all three countries meet each year at the North American Leaders Summit