1. A Sinking City?
The overpopulated Mexico City is home to more than 24 million people, and much of it sits on top of an old dried up lake. It is believed to have sunk 42ft over the course of 100 years and continues to do so. Currently, the amount of water used from the underground aquifers is exceeding the rate more than it can be replaced- causing the city to sink more.
2. Worlds Shortest Presidency
Pedro Lascuráin Paredes became the 34th president of Mexico in 1913. He was briefly president for less than an hour, then quickly resided. This was due to another man named Victoriano Huerta who really wanted to become the president, resulting in having President Pedro overthrown and Huerta taking his place. Huerta's plan succeeded through tactics of capturing and threatening.
3. Can You Be Fined for the National Anthem?
If the national anthem of Mexico is performed incorrectly, you can possibly get fined up to $880 dollars by the government himself. Such an incident occurred in Guadalajara where a woman singing the national anthem for a soccer game had mixed up a few verses. Luckily she was only fined $40 dollars.
4. Where Do Monarch Butterflies Go for the Winter?
From Canada and the United States in late-October, the monarch butterflies migrate 2,500 miles to western central Mexico and arrive safely to a Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve- here tourists and locals are able to come visit the orange-colored forests made up by thousands of butterflies. For more information click here.
5. The Largest Pyramid in the World Is Not Egypt
That's right, it is in Mexico. One of the seven newest wonders of the world is the Quetzalcoatl pyramid of Cholula with 54 metres in height, just southeast of Mexico City.
6. Bullfighting or Football?
Brought by the Spanish conquerors, bullfighting is the national sport of Mexico. Although this, football (known as soccer here) is more popular in Mexico.
7. Ring of Fire
Mexico is located in the Ring of Fire- named for its violent activities of earthquakes and volcanoes where about 90% of earthquakes occur, and where 75% of the most active volcanoes erupt.
8. Mexico's Official Languages.
When the Spanish dominated Mexico, their language remained official, but 100 different native languages are used in Mexico, with the government recognizing 68 of those indigenous languages to be official. Some of Mexico's diverse and ancient civilizations include the French, African, Olmec, Zapotec, Mayan, Aztec and more.
9. We Can Thank Mexico for Chocolate, Corn and Chilies.
All three originated in Mexico; the beans form cocoa trees were used as a form of currency, in foods and drinks as well as an offering to the gods. Corn was never an actual plant, and was presumed to be created over 7000 years ago in Mexico.
10. Bill Gates versus Carlos Slim.
75 year old Carlos Slim is a Mexican billionaire with a current net worth of $77.1 billion dollars. This businessman is huge in investments and philanthropy and is currently in second place for the world's richest person, just below Bill Gates at $79.2 billion but it is noted that each year these two are always switching ranks. Keep up with Carlos Slim and Bill Gate's net worth on Forbes.