WHAT REMAINS OF MAYA AND AZTEC CIVILIZATIONS?
The Mayan and Aztec empires no longer exist,
but both civilizations have left behind the ruins of many amazing
buildings. Mayan temples and cities can be found in the forests of
Belize and Guatemala, and ancient Aztec remains are still being
uncovered beneath the buildings of Mexico City.
WHAT IS THE DAY OF THE DEAD?
Every year, on November 1, Mexicans honor
their dead family and friends in a celebration called the Day of the
Dead. They believe death is a part of life and should be celebrated.
They decorate the streets with flowers and hang up ghoulish papier-mâché
skeletons. Families gather together to pray to the dead and visit
family graves.DO NATIVE PEOPLES STILL LIVE IN CENTRAL AMERICA?
Native peoples lived in Central America for
centuries until Europeans conquered the region during the 16th century.
As a result, many people today are mestizos (of mixed European and
Native American descent). Native peoples themselves make up less than 10
percent of the total population.WHAT ARE THE CARIBBEAN’S BIGGEST EXPORTS?
The Caribbean islands export sugar, bananas,
tobacco, coffee, rum, and, more recently, illegal drugs. But the biggest
exports are people and culture. Poverty led many islanders to migrate
to the US or Europe, taking with them an extraordinarily vibrant
culture.WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ISLANDS IN THE CARIBBEAN?
The eastern Caribbean islands sit on the edge
of a small plate (section) of the Earth’s crust surrounded
by bigger plates. As these plates were forced into each other over
millions of years, they created a chain of volcanic islands. Most of the
volcanoes are now extinct, but some, such as Soufrière Hills volcano in
Montserrat, have erupted recently.WHY ARE MANY CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES POOR?
In recent years, Central American nations have
lost income as the prices for exports of coffee, bananas, and other
cash crops have fallen. At the same time, they borrowed money from
abroad to pay for new roads, hospitals, and other projects, leaving them
heavily in debt. Political instability and civil war have helped keep
countries in this region very poor.WHAT IS LIFE LIKE IN MEXICO CITY?
Life is tough in Mexico City, as housing is
often poor and earthquakes are a constant threat. The city is home to
more than 20 million people, making it
one of the largest cities in the world. It is very polluted because a
ring of mountains surrounds it, trapping polluted air from cars and
factories.MEXICO CITY
Despite being a huge, bustling city, the lack
of environmental controls and poor public transportation give Mexico
City one of the worst air-qualities of any city in the world. Children
sometimes have to wait until after the rush hour to go to school, to
avoid car fumes.
