Fun facts about Mexico
- The Mexican War of Independence ended Spain's control over Mexico in 1821.
- Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that honors the dead. It was held in the summer before colonialism, so now it occurs at the same time as Halloween.
- Mexico has no official language. Though most Mexicans speak Spanish, there are 68 recognized languages in the world, mainly native languages. Four of these are language isolates or languages that are not related to any other language.
- The Great Pyramid of Cholula in Cholula, Mexico, is the tallest pyramid in the world. It's much higher than the pyramids of Giza. It was said to have been built for the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl.
- Frida Kahlo was born just outside Mexico City in 1907. Today, she is one of Mexico’s most famous artists, known for her fantastical self-portraits.
- Mexico is famed for its stunning cenotes; natural pits or water-filled caves that are popular spots for visitors. Cenotes have a special meaning for the inhabitants of Maya, who used them as sources of water.
- Chocolate originated in Mexico, where the Aztecs and Mayans first grew a cocoa plant thousands of years ago. They generally loved it as a cocktail and used the beans as a currency.
- Mexico has 10-12% of the world's biodiversity, making it the fourth-largest biodiverse nation in the world. Wildlife includes tourist favorites such as spider monkeys, ocelots, and macaws.
- Mexico City is top on the list of cities with the largest number of museums. According to the Ministry of Tourism, there are 171 museums. However, there are currently more than 200 of them, many of whom are not officially registered.
- Mexico City was founded on the remains of the Aztec town of Tenochtitlan. Today, the city spreads beyond the area once inhabited by Texcoco Lake, an acquirer that provides 70% of all the water consumed in Mexico City. As a result, the Mexican capital falls by an average of 25 centimeters each year, a fact that is noticeable in some of the largest buildings in the region.
