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Mexico
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Background:
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The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under
Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence
early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late
1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst
recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make
an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns
include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of
the population, inequitable income distribution, and few
advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population
in the impoverished southern states. Elections held in July 2000
marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that the
opposition defeated the party in government, the Institutional
Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente FOX of the National Action
Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000 as the first chief
executive elected in free and fair elections. |
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Location:
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Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of
Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North
Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
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Religions:
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nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%
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Languages:
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Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous
languages |
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Currency:
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Mexican peso (MXN) |
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Currency code:
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MXN |
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Exchange rates:
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Mexican pesos per US dollar - 10.79 (2003), 9.66 (2002), 9.34
(2001), 9.46 (2000), 9.56 (1999) |
Destination Guides > North
America > Mexico
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