Quintana Roo

We just learned about the Mexico State of Zacatecas.

Another Mexico State is Quintana Roo.

This state is on the eastern part of the bottom of Mexico, on what is called the Yucatan Peninsula.
It borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and the country of Belize on the south.


(from: wikipedia - quintana roo)

The coat of arms shows the four elements that were important to the Mayan people, Day, Night, Earth and Wind.
The day is the sun at the top, the night is the star on the middle right, the earth is the snail on the middle left in the red, and the wind is the bottom.


(from: wikipedia - quintana roo)

The city of Cancun is one of the most popular places for people to visit and enjoy the beaches.


(from: wikipedia - cancun)

Another famous beach and tourist place is Playa del Carmen


(from: wikipedia - playa del carmen)

In the city of Tulum, there are many castles and ancient ruins.


(from: wikipedia - tulum)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sierra Madre Occidental

Zacatecas

We just learned about the Mexico state of Durango.

Another Mexico state is Zacatecas.

This state is right in the middle of Mexico.
It is known for the mining of riches like silver, and for being an important place in Mexico's battle for freedom.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)

The coat of arms has the Cerro de la Bufa hill with a cross on top of it, and a bunch of soldiers standing around a statue of the Virgin Mary.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)

There is a large hill with a rock formation on top that is called the Cerro de la Bufa.
It was an important place in many battles, and some important churches and other places have been built around it.


(from: wikipedia - cerro de la bufa)

Just like many other parts of Mexico, there are ancient ruins, like Las Columnas in the city of La Quemada.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Peninsular Ranges

Durango

We just learned about the Mexico State of Morelos.

Another Mexico State is Durango.

This state is in the north central of Mexico, and is mostly plains in between the two mountain ranges the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental.


(from: wikipedia - durango)

The coat of arms shows a tree with two wolves around it.
These pictures came from the places in Spain where people came from before they moved to Mexico.
The tree is a special tree that lived for over 400 years in Biscay Spain. People would hold special meetings at the tree, like making promises to fight for freedom.
The wolves are from an old story that said before a famous battle there were two wolves that came along, and that would mean they would win the battle.


(from: wikipedia - durango)

Mexiquillo is a special natural park with waterfalls and rock formations.


(from: wikipedia - durango)

There is a suspension bridge called Ojuela bridge that is over 100 years old, and is over 800 feet long.

(from: wikipedia - ojuela bridge)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Transverse Ranges

Morelos

We just learned about the Mexico state of Querétaro.

Another state in Mexico is Morelos.

This is one of the smallest states in Mexico, in the southern part of the country, not on the coast.


(from: wikipedia - morelos)

The coat of arms has a cornstalk growing in the dirt, for the good farmland of the state.
The words around the center mean "The land will be returned to those who work it with their hands."


(from: wikipedia - morelos)

This state has some of the oldest ruins found ever in North America, over 8,000 years old!


(from: wikipedia - morelos)

There is a special type of dance called Chinelos that is in Morelos, where dancers wear fancy costumes and march in parades.


(from: wikipedia - chinelos)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: California Coast Ranges

Querétaro

We just learned about the Mexico State of Yucatán..

Another Mexico state is Querétaro.

This state is in the south central part of Mexico, and has a lot of types of land like forests, deserts and rainforest.


(from: wikipedia - querétaro)

The coat of arms of Querétaro tells of a legend where there was a solar eclipse during a battle between the Spanish and the natives.
During the eclipse the saint of Spain and a holy cross showed up.
The bottom left shows the saint in battle, and the bottom right has wheat and grapes for the farming in the area.

(from: wikipedia - querétaro)

Just like other parts of Mexico, there are large pyramids in this state in the city of El Cerrito.


(from: wikipedia - querétaro)

Gustav Eiffel who made the Eiffel tower made a famous fountain in Zocalo.


(from: wikipedia - querétaro)

There is a large gorge in the Sierra Gorda called Sótano del Barro.


(from: wikipedia - querétaro)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Northern Coast Ranges

Yucatán

We just learned about the Mexican state of Tabasco where the Spanish first landed in Mexico.

Another state in Mexico is Yucatán.

This state is on north end of the bottom tail of Mexico, right on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.


(from: wikipedia - yucatán)

Yucatán's coat of arms is green and yellow.
It shows a deer for the native Mayan people, jumping over an agave plant which grows in the area.
On the top and bottom are Mayan arches, and the left and right are Spanish towers, for the two different people that live there.


(from: wikipedia - yucatán)

There are ancient buildings in the city of Chichen Itza, like an ancient pyramid nicknamed "el castillo" which means "the castle"


(from: wikipedia - el castillo, chichen itza)

In Cuzuma and some other cities are some caves on the water that people can go tour.

(from: wikipedia - yucatán)

Another big pyramid on Yucatán is the Pyramid of the Magician in the town of Uxmal, which is over 13 stories tall.
The name of the pyramid comes from old legends that said a magician built it in one night.

(from: wikipedia - pyramid of the magician)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Klamath-Siskyou Mountains

Tabasco

We just learned about the San Luis Potosí where they have many gold and silver mines.

Another Mexico state is Tabasco.

This state is on the south part of Mexico, right on the Gulf of Mexico which opens up to the Atlantic Ocean.


(from: wikipedia - tabasco)

The coat of arms of Tabasco has a picture of the Virgin Mary in the middle, for Catholic church.
The top left has four castles, for the Spanish kingdom of Castile.
The top right has a sword and shield for the power of the Spanish.
The bottom left has a native holding flowers for the farms.
The bottom right has a lion for the Spanish kingdom of León


(from: wikipedia - tabasco)

There are many ancient pyramids in Tabasco, like the one in the city of Comalcalco.


(from: wikipedia - tabasco)

There is a special dance in Tabasco called "Zapateo" which means "toe tapping" and is a type of tap dancing.


(from: wikipedia - tabasco)

Tabasco was the place where the Spanish people first landed over 500 years ago, and met the Native people who lived there.


(from: wikipedia - tabasco)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Calapooya Mountains

San Luis Potosí

We just learned about the Mexico state Sonora, where they do the Deer Dance.

Another Mexico State is San Luis Potosí.
It was named after Louis IX of France, and because they found gold and silver in this state they compared it to the mines in Potosi, Bolivia.


(from: wikipedia - san luis potosí)

The coat of arms of San Luis Potosí shows Louis IX of France on a mining hill, with gold and silver bars on either side for the mining in the area. The blue and yellow backgrounds are for night and day.


(from: wikipedia - san luis potosí)

There are many old gold and silver mines in the area that are not used anymore.


(from: wikipedia - san luis potosí)

There are some beautiful waterfalls and natural swimming places in the town of Tamasopo.


(from: wikipedia - tamasopo)

In the Wirikuta mountains, the Huichol people celebrate their ancient traditions with art, song and food.


(from: wikipedia - huichol)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Oregon Coast Range

Sonora

We just learned about the Mexico state of Hidalgo.

Another Mexico State is Sonora.

This state is on the north part of Mexico, bordering the US States of Arizona and New Mexico.
To the south is the Gulf of California.


(from: wikipedia - sonora)

The coat of arms of has a blue border, and the words "Estado de Sonora" which means "State of Sonora".
The top left has a mountain with a pick and shovel, for the mining in the state.
The top middle is a dancer doing a special Yaqui dance called the deer dance.
The top right shows some harvested crops, for the farms.
The bottom left is a bull for the ranches in the state.
The bottom right shows the coast with an island and a shark, over Tiburon Island, which means Shark Island.


(from: wikipedia - seal of sonora)

The Yaqui native people came from this state, and they have a well known dance called the Deer Dance, where they thank the deer for giving itself to nature so people can hunt it and have food.


(from: wikipedia - sonora)

The city of San Carlos is on the ocean, and has many nice rocks and marinas for people to visit.



(from: wikipedia - san carlos nuevo guaymas)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cascade Range

Hidalgo

We just learned about the Mexico State of Coahuila.

Another Mexico State is Hidalgo.
It is one of the smaller states, but has many famous things like ancient ruins, hot springs and mountains.

Hidalgo is in the middle of Mexico, surrounded by other states.


(from: wikipedia - hidalgo (state))

The coat of arms of Hidalgo shows green mountains for the natural beauty of the state.
On the left is the Bell of Dolores, a famous bell used in the state's fight for independence.
On the right is a red cap with laurel branches, for victory.
The bottom has a round drum for the military battles they won.
The holes in the ground are for the mining that makes a lot of money for the state.


(from: wikipedia - hidalgo (state))

Tula is a famous city in Hidalgo, where there are ancient pyramids, buildings and statues going back over 2,000 years.


(from: wikipedia - tula (mesoamerican site))

The Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla are tall rocks with water running down them, and then turning into a waterfall.
The tall rocks were made by cooling volcanic lava.


(from: wikipedia - basaltic prisms of santa maria regla)

In Huasca de Ocampo there is a large canyon made by the Hueyapan river.


(from: wikipedia - huasca de ocampo)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Olympic Mountains

Coahuila

We just learned about the Mexico state of Sinaloa where some people still play the Mesoamerican ballgame.

Another Mexico state is Coahuila, which is on the north east part of Mexico, bordering the US state of Texas, along the Rio Grande river.


(from: wikipedia - coahuila)

There are many trees in the bottom and top left of the coat of arms, for the many trees that are found in the state.
The bottom part has the Monclova river that runs through the state, and the rising sun which is for the Mexican Revolution.
The top right has a lion and a column with the words Plus Ultra, which means Further Beyond.
The top left has two wolves by a tree.
The animals in these top two crests come from the people of Spain that came to Mexico.


(from: wikipedia - coahuila)

In the city of Torreón, there is a statue of Jesus called Cristo de las Noas.
It is the largest statue of Jesus in North America, and is over 70 feet tall.


(from: wikipedia - cristo de las noas)

The name of the city comes from the towers that were built to monitor the floods.


(from: wikipedia - torreón)

Underneath the city is a canal called "Canal de la Perla" which means the Pearl Watercourse, that was made to help bring the river water to the fields long ago.
It is not used anymore so they have opened it up like a museum that people can walk through.


(from: wikipedia - torreón)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Insular Mountains