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Peninsula is in the southeast, and it is the only very flat area of the country. The country of Mexico has a population of 122million. Mexico City is the fifth largest city in theworldwith 21million people living in the metropolitan area. Spanish was estab- lished as the dominant language when Spain colonized Mexico (see below). Mexico is one of the many countries in the Pacific Ring of Fire. This area of theworld is one of themost active tectonic regions, which means there are many volcanoes and frequent volcanic and seismic activity inMexico, especially on its western, or Pacific, coast. Twohuge, snowcappedvolcanoesreaching more than 17,000 feet sit side by side outside of Mexico City. They are named Popocatepetl

Flag Talk What is that image on the Mexican flag? According to legend, the Aztecs were wandering through Mexico

looking for a place to build their capital city. They saw a divine sign: a Mexican golden eagle standing on a prickly pear cactus plant eating a rattle- snake. On this site the Aztecs built their capital Tenochtitlán. Today this image appears on the flag as a national symbol of Mexico’s indigenous history as well as a symbol of good triumphing over evil.

(Popo, for short), meaning “Smoking Mountain,” and Iztaccihuatl (nick- named Izta), which means “White Woman.” (There is an Aztec legend that tells the story of these two volcanoes. The story goes that Popo and Izta were at one time humans who were deeply in love. Izta’s father told the young warrior Popo that he must fight the tribe’s enemy and return in victory in order to win his daughter’s hand in marriage. After Popo left for battle, false news returned, reporting that Popo had died. Izta was grief-stricken and died of a broken heart. Later, Popo returned home tri- umphant only to find that his lover was dead. He carried Izta’s body to the mountains and built a funeral pyre for her—and for himself. Popo died next to his lover. After seeing Popo and Izta’s great love, the gods turned the lovers into mountains so they could always be together.)

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