Local Critters in Mexico
Bean Beetle: Adult beetles look like round yellow blobs with black dots on their back. They feed on plants and have been cursed by a lot of farmers for destroying soybean plants.
Mexican Beaded Lizard: There are only two venomous lizards in the world and one of them lives in Mexico. The Mexican Bearded Lizard holds on like a bulldog when it bites. These black and yellow guys usually feed at night.
Mexican Redknee Spider: This member of the bird-eating spider family is famous. You've seen them in Raiders of the Lost Ark and in a few James Bond movies. They look like black tarantulas with bright red rings on their body.
Mexican Fun Facts
Tallest Structure: The largest pyramid in the world is not in Egypt, but in Cholula de Rivadia (southeast of Mexico City), Mexico. This structure is made of many layers of adobe stone and is 177 feet tall (54 meters).
Eighth Wonder of the World: Mexico is home to the world's largest mosaic. Built on the walls of the central library of the Universidad Nacional Autonama de Mexico, each side of the wall represents part of Mexican culture.
Chew on This: When Santa Ana was exiled to New York after the Mexican revolution in the late 1800s, he brought chewing gum with him. Gum comes from the sapodilla tree, which grows in the Yucatan desert.
Go Deep: It would take 11 Empire State Buildings, stacked one on top of the other, to measure the Gulf of Mexico at its deepest point.
Cool Things to See and Do in Mexico
Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway: If you want a scenic tour, jump on this train. It goes through 88 tunnels, over 38 bridges, and along cliffs. It took 90 years to build. The best part is along Cooper Canyon, which is even deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Suicide Dives: The famous cliffs in La Quebrada is where the action is. Watch as divers make it look easy and fun to jump from suicidal heights of 148 feet (45m) into what looks like only enough water to wash your feet. No wonder the many of the divers pray before flinging themselves off the cliff.
Surf's Up: Surfing is really popular on the Pacific coast. Some of the best spots to ride the waves are Punta Mesquite, La Saladita and Puerto Escondido, which is home to the Mexican Pipeline. Hang ten.
Wall of Skulls: The Catedral Metropolitana was built by the Spanish in the 1520's on the site of the Aztecs' Wall of Skulls, which was an alter they put skulls of the sacrificed on. Don't miss the remains of the Aztecs' main temple, Templo Mayor, and the great museum that has all the ancient stuff found at that site.
