MEXICO, GUATEMALA,BELIZE

The Maya and the Aztecs used to live in the beautiful country of Mexico. When the Spanish came to the area in the 1500s and ruled it until 1821, they tore down these old empires. Native Americans still live in Mexico, but most of the people there are mestizo, which means they are a mix of Spanish and native Indian. Almost half of all Mexicans are under 19 years old, and the population is growing quickly, which is making cities too crowded. Mexico can't feed its growing population because it can't grow enough food.

A LAND OF OPPOSITES

In Mexico, there are huge deserts in the north and tropical rain forests in the south. In the middle, there are snow-capped mountains and a central plateau. The Sonoran Desert goes all the way into the U.S. Dangerous animals like rattlesnakes and scorpions live in this area, along with the huge saguaro cactus.

SIGHT-SEEING

Tourism is one of the most important ways for Mexico to make money. Chichén Itzá, Tenochtitlan, Palenque, and other Maya and Aztec sites are visited by people from all over the world. Many people go to places like Acapulco and Cancun because they have sandy beaches and warm water.

MEXICO

The wide Paseo de la Reforma, with its tall buildings, cafes, and theaters, is the most well-known street in Mexico City.

MEXICO CITY

Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. It is home to more than 22 million people. But its size and location make it difficult in many ways. It's high up and surrounded by mountains, so pollution from cars and factories can't get out and makes the air poisonous. Children often wait until after rush hour to go to school so they don't have to breathe in car fumes. There are a lot of people living in Mexico City, and the area is prone to earthquakes. The last one, in 1985, destroyed the city center.

VILLAGE FESTIVALS

Fiestas, which are short for festivals, are a common part of life in a Mexican village. Each village has a patron saint whose day is celebrated with a colorful party. In Mexico, there are 115 different saints' days. Here, people from a small town near Oaxaca parade through the streets as part of their fiesta. Even though most people in Mexico are Roman Catholic, native Indian beliefs are also important, and many festivals are a mix of Christian and Indian traditions.

FOOD FROM MEXICO

Mexicans eat a wide range of meals with chili flavors. Most of the meal is made with things that are grown at home, like avocados, beans, tomatoes, and maize. Tortillas are corn flour pancakes that are filled with meat, vegetables, and cheese. Mole, a hot sauce served on chicken, is also made by putting chilies and chocolate together.

THE GULF'S OIL

In 1976, a lot of oil was found along the Gulf of Mexico. Now, Mexico is the fifth largest oil producer in the world. About 3,000 oil platforms collect oil from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico also has a lot of minerals, such as iron, zinc, copper, and silver, and is the biggest producer of these in the world.

HANDMADE CRAFTS

Weaving and embroidery are traditional crafts of Mexico's indigenous peoples. Their designs frequently incorporate images of gods, birds, and flowers. Women, like their forefathers, carry vividly colored clothing into towns to sell at markets.

MEXICAN MADE

Approximately 2,000 industries known as maquiladoras are clustered along Mexico's border with the United States. Thousands of vehicles, computers, shoes, and other manufactured goods are built here from parts and ready for shipment. The majority of the factories are owned by foreign corporations drawn to Mexico by the low labor expenses. The maquiladoras are a key source of income for Mexico and assist to keep the country's economy from becoming overly reliant on oil.

GUATEMALA

Guatemala is a melting pot of cultures, from the ruins of the ancient Mayan civilisation to the Catholic churches of the Spanish. Today, more than half of the population are direct descendants of Mayan Indians and reside primarily in highland villages; the remainder are part Indian and part Spanish. Many Mayans work for wealthy landowners who cultivate the country's principal cash crops of coffee, sugar, and bananas. Guatemala also exports fresh-cut flowers, primarily roses cultivated in the valleys surrounding Antigua.

THE HOLY WEEK

The majority of Guatemalans practice Roman Catholicism, the faith imported with the Spanish in the 16th century. However, a growing number of people are becoming Protestant. Guatemalans also have their own religion based on traditional beliefs. This procession is part of Antigua's Holy Week celebrations.

MARKET DAY

Markets like this one in Chichicastenango, in the highlands near Lake Atitlán, are an everyday occurrence. Many indigenous Guatemalans cultivate tiny parcels of land where they grow corn, beans, squash, and fruit. They routinely go large distances from rural villages to sell harvests, flowers, and homemade goods like ceramics and baskets at markets.

People pray to Catholic saints and old gods at the Church of Santo Tomas.
In the valleys, you can grow lilies, roses, carnations, and gladioli. A lot of them are sent to the United States.
Women in the village wear knee-length skirts in bright colors. Patterns have been around for a very long time.
Avocados have been grown in Central America for a very long time.
Tourists like to buy Mayan handicrafts like baskets and handwoven fabrics.
Corn and other cereals are the main sources of food.

WEAVING STYLES

The art of weaving dates back centuries. Cloth is made with a variety of colored yarn and intricate patterns that have been passed down from generation to generation. There are almost 300 distinct types, and they all have their own interesting backstories.

The looms used by weavers are backstrap looms, which are portable and used by the artisans as they move from place to place.

CITIES OF THE MAYA

Tourism is a rapidly developing industry in Guatemala. Close to a million tourists flock to the country every year to explore its historic landmarks. Exquisite ruins can be found in Tikal, one of the great Mayan towns. Approximately 900 years ago, Tikal was abruptly left uninhabited. Its once-great temples are now surrounded by a lush jungle.

REFUGEES

Many Mayans have lost their lives trying to maintain their traditional lifestyles and maintain their independence from modern society. The early 1980s saw particularly harsh persecution as the military administration actively sought to eliminate them. Sixty thousand Mayans sought sanctuary in Mexico's refugee camps. Now they're back in Guatemala, but their land has been taken and their safety is uncertain.

CHILDREN ON THE STREET

Guatemala City is home to an increasing number of "street children." Children forced to leave their homes due to poverty and abuse live in small groups and survive through crime, begging, and selling whatever they can find. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have recently called attention to their predicament.

BELIZE

Belize, ON THE CARIBBEAN COAST, IS BOTH OLD AND NEW. Even though there are Mayan ruins all over the land, the country did not become fully independent until 1981. Belize was the only British colony in Central America for a long time. Even though English is the official language, Belizeans come from many different ethnic groups, such as the Caribs, Africans, Mayans, Asians, and Europeans, and many people speak a Creole or African dialect. People like Caribbean food and music, and the island is known for its variety of life.

CORAL REEF

Along Belize's coast, which is about 180 miles (290 kilometers) long, there are coral reefs and small sand islands called cayes. It is the second largest barrier reef in the world, after Australia's. Turtles, sea anemones, spiny lobsters, and many other tropical species live there. Divers come from all over the world to enjoy the warm, clear water.

WAY DOWN IN THE WOODS

The dense tropical rain forest covers half of Belize. Rosewood and other forest products, like chicle, which is used to make chewing gum, and kapok, a silky cotton made from the huge Ceiba tree, are important to the economy. As is the fact that there are more and more citrus groves. But there are limits on growing. A lot of the rain forest is protected, which gives plants and animals a wide range of places to live.

BELMOPAN

A huge hurricane and tidal wave damaged Belize City's coastal capital in 1961. Belmopan, the new capital, was erected 50 miles (80 kilometers) inland in 1970 to protect it from tropical hurricanes. Despite the fact that people and businesses are increasingly migrating to the new capital, Belize City remains the most populous city in the country.

FOREST WILDLIFE

Wildlife of all kinds thrive in these woods. The forests of Belize are home to numerous critically endangered species, including jaguars, tapirs, howler monkeys, and coatimundis. In the canopy above, butterflies and tropical birds flit about. The black orchid, the national flower of Belize, is just one of the more than 250 types of orchids found in the country.

Toucans are treetop dwellers with open-air flying capabilities.
The howler monkey of the rain forest uses its loud call to defend its territory.