Mexico Destinations - OverviewWith an area of close to 1.2 million square miles, the country of Mexico holds a spectrum of geographical characteristics, and in traveling its expanse, one can quickly move from vast, arid deserts to steaming, tropical jungles, from lush, fauna and flora-rich wetlands to towering, glacier-capped mountains, from rugged, wind-swept coastlines to glistening, white-sanded and sun-washed beaches. Mexico is bordered by the United States to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south (with the Sea of Cortez, or Gulf of Cailfornia to the north-west between the mainland and the Baja California peninsula), the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean to the east, and Belize and Guatemala to the south and south-east. Mexico's border with the United States measures over 3,300 kms. The Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental (Eastern and Western mountain ranges) run slightly inland along each coastline and define a central high plateau area in much of the country. The climate and vegetation on either side of these ranges can be quite distinct. There are many volcanic peaks in Mexico, the highest being Orizaba, at 5,639 meters or 18,500 feet, Popocatepetl, at 5,452 meters or 17,888 feet, and Ixtaccihuatl (the Sleeping Lady) at 5,286 meters or 17,343 feet, all located in the central area of the country. Active volcanos include the mentioned Popocatepetl and the Nevado de Colima in the west-coast state of Colima. Mexico over the centuries has been home to a great many mesoamerican cultural groups and influences, the major ones being the Olmecs, Mayans, Zapotecs, Toltecs, Aztecs and Mixtecs. Much of these ancient cultures were destroyed by the conquets and colonization by the Spaniards in the 1500's, nevertheless, the final result is a people and customs which form a rich ethnic and cultural tapestry, along with a wealth of archaeological relics and architectural marvels that span the ages. Travel Article: Mexico: Nature's Glory in Another World - Exploring the Copper Canyon, Sumidero Canyon and the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries of Michoacan
In addition, information on all other Mexico states can be accessed via our Mexico Guide
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