Many times when we travel to a destination we know what we want to see, where we will stay... but each place we visit hides many curiosities behind it.
To start talking about Mexico and all the places to visit, first I would like to tell you in this post some curiosities about Mexico that you may not know and are interesting.
15 CURIOSITIES OF MEXICO
1. Its official name is not Mexico
This may be the best known curiosity, or not. Its official name is not Mexico. It is actually the United States of Mexico. There are several states with their own regulations. In Mexico there are 32 states in total.
2. What does the flag mean?
The current Mexican flag has been used since 1821, but it did not become official until 1968. The colors of its three vertical stripes have different meanings depending on who you ask. Green can be independence from Spain or hope. The target can be the purity of the Catholic religion or the unity of the people. And finally, red represents the blood of national heroes.
3. Chichen Itza
In Mexico we find one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. Chichén Itzá is a Mayan archaeological site located on the Yucatán peninsula, in the Riviera Maya. And without a doubt, an essential to see if you travel to this part of Mexico.
The most popular temple in the complex is Kukulcán. A pyramid-shaped temple built in the 12th century. It is a pyramid full of details that denote pre-Columbian astronomical knowledge.
I will tell you much more about Chichén Itzá and what to see in the Riviera Maya in this post: 15 Magical Places to See in the Riviera Maya.
4. In Mexico is the largest pyramid in the world
The Great Pyramid of Cholula measures 450 meters by 450 meters, rising 55 meters above the plain where construction began around 300 B.C. Awesome!
This pyramid is located in the archaeological site of Cholula in the municipality of San Andrés de Cholula, in the region of Puebla.
5. The name of the Yucatan Peninsula was the result of a misunderstanding
Its name is due to an error. When the Spaniards arrived at the place, they asked what it was called. The natives did not understand Spanish and responded -Ma'anaatik ka t'ann-, or what is the same, "I do not understand you". The Spanish settlers understood Yucatan and that this was the name of the place.
6. Mexico has the lowest volcano in the world
In Puebla is the lowest volcano in the world. The Cuexcomate volcano is inactive and measures only 13 meters. There are some stairs installed so you can climb to the top.
7. Mexico is the Spanish-speaking country with the most inhabitants
Mexico has more than 120 million inhabitants. And although not 100% of Mexicans speak Spanish, it is estimated that approximately 91% do speak it perfectly.
8. There are 68 recognized languages in Mexico
As I told you, approximately 9% in Mexico do not speak Spanish. And you may be wondering what they talk about. In Mexico there are 68 native languages and 364 recognized linguistic variants, in addition to Spanish.
9. Cenotes
In Mexico there are an infinity of Cenotes, which are undoubtedly a wonder of nature. In 2018, San Actun was discovered, a set of underground cavities with a total of 347 kilometers, making it the largest in the world.
10. Mexican gastronomy, Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco
Traditional Mexican dishes have the honor of being one of the select cuisines considered Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco. Sharing a place with Peruvian, Mediterranean, Japanese, French gastronomy... Mexican gastronomy is very extensive, and it's not just "tacos". You will find enchiladas, stews, beans, sweets, delicious roasted meats...
What to eat in Mexico, in this link you will find a post where I talk about the most traditional, delicious dishes that you should try either traveling to Mexico or cooking them at home.
11. Chocolate was discovered in Mexico
About 3,000 years ago in Mexico they began to cultivate cocoa trees. Already at that time chocolate was given a lot of value. In their exchanges, they used both the fruit of the cacao tree and the currency.
The word chocolate has Nahuatl origin. Xócoc means bitter, while atl is water. Chocolate is technically bitter water.
12. Macabre rituals
For the Aztecs, the sense of duty to the gods was so paramount that they believed that blood offerings were necessary to maintain life on Earth. For this reason, all their rituals kept the essence of dying to be born; to die to satisfy the gods.
For them, death was what gave meaning to life. They started wars with the sole purpose of capturing their adversaries to sacrifice them on top of steep ceremonial pyramids.
The priests would rip out the prisoner's heart and let its blood bathe the ground, as it was supposed to increase the fertility of the land and the chance of rain.
13. Day of the Dead to celebrate life
The most popular Mexican holiday is the Day of the Dead. It begins on October 31 each year and lasts for three days. Those who have passed away are remembered with offerings at their graves while life is celebrated in style with parades and music in the streets. The most striking are the typical colored skulls to symbolize that mixture between life and death.
This festivity was not well known worldwide until the famous Disney movie COCO taught us all about this festivity.
14. The level of Mexico City drops considerably every year
The capital of Mexico is sinking at a rate of 15 to 20 centimeters each year. The height loss is caused by the extraction of water from the lake on which Mexico City is located.
15. Ecosystem of Mexico
Mexico has an impressive variety of ecosystems thanks to its seven distinct climate zones.
The country has lush forests, jungles, deserts, coral reefs, volcanoes, mountains, valleys, cenotes, lakes, lagoons, beaches, islands... As well as a wide variety of fauna.
Without a doubt, in Mexico we can find all kinds of wonderful landscapes and you can enjoy virgin and wild areas in their purest form.
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Mexico a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!