Surprising facts about Mexico
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Mexico?
Step pyramids, mariachi music, tequila, tacos, breathtaking sandy beaches, cenotes, and towering cacti are all the first associations that come to mind, but Mexico’s natural and cultural diversity includes so much more.
These surprising facts about Mexico will show some other aspects of the country that you were surely unaware of. This insight into Mexican culture can be very revealing when it comes to understanding the country.
Mexico is home to the world’s largest pyramid
The Pyramid of Cholula, near Puebla, is the largest pyramid in the world.
Featuring a height of 66 meters, a 400-meter base, and a total volume of 4.5 million cubic meters the Pyramid of Cholula is significantly larger than the Egyptian Pyramid of Giza, even though it is less popular.
Despite its impressive size, you can literally miss it because the Pyramid of Cholula is hidden under a mountain. The eye-catching structure is actually a church built by the Spanish conquerors on top of the pyramid.
69 different languages are spoken in Mexico
This makes Mexico one of the countries with the richest linguistic diversity in the world. In addition to Spanish, there are 68 indigenous languages that include náhuatl, Mixteco, and Otomí, amongst others.
There is no other country in the American continent has a comparable diversity of indigenous languages as Mexico. Like Spanish, indigenous languages are recognized also as the national languages of Mexico.
Mexico City is the second city in the world with the largest number of museums
From the Metropolitan Cathedral to the Bellas Artes (“Fine Arts”) Museum and the remains of the Aztec constructions, Mexico is undoubtedly a country that has a lot to offer in terms of culture.
With a remarkable number of museums (over 170 museums) Mexico City is the second-largest city in the world in terms of museums. It is only overtaken by London with nearly surpassed by London with 200 museums.
Mexico is the country with the largest number of taxi cabs in the world
There are 60,000 registered taxis roaming the streets of Mexico, and most of them can be found in Mexico City. Additionally, taxi fares in Mexico are cheaper than in almost any other country in the world.
Mexico is a big-time Coca-Cola consumer
Mexico stands out as a country with significant Coca-Cola consumption, with individuals consuming a whopping 163 liters per person annually. This level of Coca-Cola consumption has no analogs in the world.
Mexico is Latin America’s most visited tourist destination
Mexico is the Latin American country with the highest number of international visitors and is ranked #10 worldwide. This comes as no surprise given the diversity Mexico has to offer in terms of culture and nature.
Mexico boasts an impressive 32 destinations that have earned the prestigious recognition of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Mexico takes the lead in the American continent in this category, securing the #6 position globally.
The meteorite that wiped out dinosaurs struck Mexico
The meteorite that wiped out dinosaurs 65 million years ago hit the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán. A 180 sq m crater with a depth of more than 600 m was left behind. This enormous crater was discovered in 1981.
Color TV was invented by a Mexican
Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena is the inventor of color television. In 1940, the then 23-year-old Guillermo requested a patent for the first color image transmission system, which was later used in the Voyager 1 spacecraft.
Mexican cuisine is officially a World Cultural Heritage
Mexican cuisine is unique in its diversity and is appreciated far beyond national borders. Mexican cuisine roots date back to colonial times where Spanish cuisine met native preparations thus creating a unique blend.
UNESCO added Mexican cuisine to the list of Immaterial World Cultural Heritage.
Mexico City was built on a lake – The city sinks around 12cm annually
In 1325, the Aztecs chose Lake Texcoco as a sacred site for the construction of Tenochtitlan. In 1519, the Spaniards decided to build their city on the site of the destroyed Aztec capital, marking the beginning of a new city.
The city was named New Spain and later on became called Mexico City.
Mexico City is sinking due to the over-extraction of groundwater, causing the soft, muddy ground beneath the city to collapse. This subsidence is occurring at a rate of approximately 12 cm per year.
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