Which country has the most Spanish speakers?
Mexico has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, more than Spain itself.
- Home
- Fact categories
- Mexico Facts
Mexico Facts
Mexico facts and facts about mexicos, from the Random Facts shelf.
35 facts on this shelf
What city was Mexico City built on top of?
Mexico City is built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital founded in 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco.
Did the Aztecs use cacao beans as money?
The Aztecs valued cacao so highly that they used cacao beans as currency, and they drank chocolate as a bitter, spiced beverage.
When was Chichén Itzá named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World?
The ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá in Mexico was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
What is the largest pyramid in the world by volume?
The Great Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico is the largest pyramid in the world by volume, even bigger than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza. It is so overgrown that it looks like a hill.
When did UNESCO recognize Mexico's Day of the Dead?
UNESCO added Mexico's Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
Where do monarch butterflies spend the winter?
Millions of monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles each fall to spend the winter in the fir forests of Michoacán, Mexico.
Why is Mexico City sinking?
Parts of Mexico City are sinking by more than a foot per year because so much groundwater is pumped from the old lakebed beneath the city.
Where was corn first domesticated?
Corn (maize) was first domesticated about 9,000 years ago in southern Mexico from a wild grass called teosinte.
What does Cinco de Mayo commemorate?
Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. It celebrates Mexico's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, while Independence Day is September 16.
Where did tacos al pastor come from?
Tacos al pastor were inspired by Lebanese immigrants in Mexico, who brought the vertical spit-roasting technique used for shawarma.
What is nixtamalization?
Corn tortillas are made using nixtamalization, an ancient Mesoamerican method of soaking corn in an alkaline solution that makes it more nutritious and easier to grind.
Has a taco stand ever earned a Michelin star?
In 2024, Taquería El Califa de León in Mexico City became the first taco stand to earn a Michelin star.
Where do fish tacos come from?
Fish tacos come from Baja California in Mexico, especially coastal towns like Ensenada.
What are birria tacos?
Birria tacos come from Jalisco, Mexico, and are made with slow-stewed meat served with a rich broth for dipping.
When was the last original Volkswagen Beetle built?
The last original Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the line in Puebla, Mexico, on July 30, 2003.
What does "Six Flags Over Texas" mean?
"Six Flags Over Texas" refers to the six countries that have ruled Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy, and the United States.
Where do four states meet at one point?
Four Corners is the only place where four US states meet: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.
What is Cahokia?
Cahokia Mounds in Illinois was the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Which country grows the most avocados?
Mexico grows the most avocados in the world.
Which country produces the most silver?
Mexico produces the most silver in the world.
What is Our Lady of Guadalupe?
Our Lady of Guadalupe refers to visions of Mary reported by Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531, and her basilica in Mexico City is one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world.
Is mariachi recognized by UNESCO?
Mariachi music was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011.
How did a bus accident change Frida Kahlo's life?
Frida Kahlo began painting seriously while recovering from a bus accident she was in at age 18.
What is La Casa Azul?
Frida Kahlo's home, La Casa Azul, or the Blue House, is now a museum in Mexico City.
Did Frida Kahlo change her birth year?
Frida Kahlo was born in 1907 but claimed 1910 so her birth year would match the start of the Mexican Revolution.
Where did Georgia O'Keeffe live?
Georgia O'Keeffe moved to New Mexico and lived at Ghost Ranch.
Where was the Caesar salad invented?
The Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1924 by restaurant owner Caesar Cardini.
Where did corn come from?
Corn was domesticated about 9,000 years ago in Mexico from a wild grass called teosinte.
Where is the Chile Capital of the World?
Hatch, New Mexico, calls itself the Chile Capital of the World.
When were chili peppers domesticated?
Chili peppers were domesticated in Mexico about 6,000 years ago.
Where did rummy come from?
Rummy may have come from a Mexican game called conquian.
Do the Maya still exist?
Millions of Maya people still live in Mexico and Central America today.
Why is there an eagle on Mexico's flag?
Mexico's flag shows an eagle on a cactus eating a snake, from the legend of how the Aztecs chose where to build their capital.
How was the Templo Mayor found?
The Aztec Templo Mayor was rediscovered in 1978 after electrical workers in Mexico City found a giant carved stone.