Mexico - A journey to the sun. Note: Video hosted on Google.com This is an in depth exploration of the many regions, sights and sounds of Mexico. Dance, arts and crafts, religion and culture are explored and celebrated in this award winning production. From Baja to Oaxaca, Acapulco to Cozumel, Huichol Indians, to Aztec dancers, every facet of this fascinating country is covered. Mexico, in full United Mexican States (Spanish Estados Unidos Mexicanos), is a federal republic in North America. Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Western Hemisphere and is rich in natural resources such as petroleum and natural gas. Mexico's efforts to develop and modernize its economy-one of the 15 largest in the world-have been slowed by the nation's rugged terrain, limited farmland, a rapidly growing population, and a series of economic crises. The nation's capital, Mexico City, is one of the largest cities in the world. In Latin America, only Brazil has a larger population than Mexico.
Mexico is bordered by the United States on the north, the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea on the east, and Guatemala and Belize on the south. It is characterized by an extraordinary diversity in topography and climate and is crossed by two major mountain chains, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental. The high central plateau between these two mountain ranges historically funneled most of the human population toward the center of this region. Mexico features volcanic peaks, snow-capped mountains, tropical rain forests, and internationally famous beaches. Mexico City is an enormous metropolitan area and dominates the rest of the country's culture, economy, and politics. Nearly one-fifth of the nation's population lives in the immediate vicinity of the capital. Mexico City is also a central hub for Mexico's transportation network-including railroads, highways, and airlines.
 Map Mexico Much of northwest Mexico-including Baja California and the northern regions of the Pacific Coast lowlands-is quite arid, receiving less than 130 mm (5 in) of rain per year. The northern Gulf Coast plains are semiarid, receiving about 250 to 560 mm (about 10 to 22 in) of rainfall annually. As on the central plateau, rainfall increases toward the south on both the western and eastern coasts.
The Tropic of Cancer, which marks the northern limits of the tropics, passes through the southern tip of Baja California and crosses central Mexico. Much of southern Mexico has a tropical climate with distinct rainy and dry seasons; the Gulf Coast has more regular and abundant rainfall than the southern regions of the Pacific Coast. Temperatures in these coastal regions range between 21 and 27°C (70 and 80°F) during the year. Annual rainfall, which generally ranges between 1,500 and 2,000 mm (60 and 80 in), comes mainly during the rainy season of May to October. Mexico's Gulf Coast is subject to hurricanes that pass through the region and often cause extensive damage.
The northern Yucatan Peninsula is hot and semiarid. Annual rainfall ranges between 500 and 1,000 mm (20 and 40 in). The extreme southern part of Mexico, including the Chiapas Highlands and the southern regions of the Yucatan Peninsula, is rainy and tropical. The climate in this region is generally hot and humid, with annual average temperatures of more than 24C (75F). Maximum precipitation occurs in summer, with average annual rainfall exceeding 2,030 mm (80 in) in some areas.
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