1. Political Map of Mexico

2.  Mexico shares a long border with the southern United States.  Bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the West  The body of water located east of Mexico is the Gulf of Mexico.  Mexico’s two main peninsulas are the Yucatán Peninsula and Baja California.  Caves and sinkholes in the Yucatan have been cause by erosion.

3.  Much of interior of Mexico is the high, rugged region known as the Mexican Plateau.  The mountain ranges of Mexico are called the Sierra Madre.  Minerals were Mexico’s most valuable resources before oil was discovered.  Mexico’s mines yield gold, silver (largest silver producer in world), copper, lead, and zinc.  Water scarcity is a serious issue in many part of Mexico.

4.  Coastal Lowlands: The land slopes down to the coast from highlands in central Mexico.  Good farmland is found on the Gulf Coastal Plain.  The climate in Mexico’s mountains valleys is mild.  Mexico City is located in the Valley of Mexico.

5.  The climate of the southern coastal areas is pleasant and warm.  The vegetation of northern Mexico is made up of desert plants and dry grasslands.

6.  Most Mexicans speak Spanish because of Spanish influence in colonial times.  Indian languages and traditional ways of life are most common in southern Mexico.  Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead to honor death as a part of life.

7.  Mexico is a democracy, but it was different from the US government in that the same political party ruled for 71 years.  Trade between Mexico, Canada, and the United States has been made easier by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  Farms have long been a part of Mexican economy. Only 12 percent of the land can be farmed.  Farmers grow cash crops, crops that farmers can sell for a profit.

8.  Major industries include oil, mining, and manufacturing.  Mexico’s coastal resorts and Aztec and Maya monuments attract many tourists.  The fastest growing industrial centers in Mexico lie along the US border.

9. Mexico's Culture Regions  Greater Mexico City: Includes the capital and 50 smaller cities. Has a population of more than 19 million. Second largest city in world.  The pollution in Mexico City is caused by factories and cars.  A problem in Mexico City that is made worse by the surrounding mountains is smog.

10.  Northern Mexico: most affected by American culture because it is geographically close to the US.  Central Mexico (north of Mexico City): Small family farms that grow vegetables, corn and wheat. Mining centers. New industries leading to rapid growth of cities  Southern Mexico: Least populated and industrialized region. Two major export crops: sugarcane and coffee.  Yucatán Peninsula: tourism to Maya ruins and beaches. Tiny fishing towns transformed to booming tourist centers.

11. Political Map of Central America

12.  Central America: Southern part of North America. Includes Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Central America Geography SongCentral America Geography Song  The Caribbean Islands: divide the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.  Greater Antilles: Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. Lesser Antilles: Small islands from Virgin Islands to Trinidad to Tobago.  The Bahamas island group lies in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Florida.

13.  Major crops of Central America and the Caribbean Islands are coffee, bananas, sugarcane and cotton.  The weather of Central America and the Caribbean Islands is typically sunny and warm.  Islands and Coastal Plains: Humid tropical and tropical savanna climates.

14.  Most of the savanna area on the Pacific Coast has been converted to plantations and ranches.  Inland Mountains: Cool, humid climates. Cloud forest, or a moist, high-elevation tropical forest where low clouds are common.  From summer through fall, the region is threatened by hurricanes.

15.  People and languages: Most people are mestizos, or people of mixed European and Indian ancestry.  The official language in most Central American countries is Spanish.  Some traditional foods in Central America are the same as in Mexico.

16.  Guatemala: The most populous country in Central America (14 million). Still recovering from 36 years of violence between government forces and rebels.  Belize and Honduras are two Central American countries with little land for agriculture.  Honduras: Transportation difficult because of mountainous land. Little land for agriculture. Exports citrus fruits and bananas.

17.  Most people in El Salvador live in poverty because a few rich people own most of the land.  Costa Rica is the Central American country with a democratic government and a history of peace and stability.

18.  Nicaragua: was ruled for many years by a group called the Sandinistas (1971-1990).  Panama: Narrow, southernmost country. Panama Canal (completed by US in 1914 and controlled by US until 1999) links Caribbean Sea and Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Panama Canal

19.  Many people on Caribbean islands speak a language that is a combination of European and African languages.  Puerto Rico used to be a Spanish colony but is now a US commonwealth.

20.  Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas.  Dominican Republic: Eastern part of Hispaniola. More developed than Haiti but not rich. Santo Domingo, the capital city, is the first permanent European settlement in Western Hemisphere. Economy: agriculture and growing tourism.  The Virgin Islands are not independent. They are territories of the US and Great Britain.

21.  Cuba has had a communist government since 1959 when Fidel Castro came to power.  Newspapers, television and radio stations in Cuba are controlled by the Cuban government.  Other islands: Jamaica is the largest of these other islands. Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest.  Most people of African decent in Central America along the Caribbean Coast.  Big parades, fancy costumes, and music are part of the Caribbean celebration of Carnival.