230 People and Places
4 AZTECS, MEXICO
The Aztec Empire, conquered by
Spaniards in 1521CE, was the last
in a series of great civilizations
going back 2,700 years. This statue
of a warrior was carved by the
Toltecs who lived from 950–1150 CE.PANAMA CANAL 3
More than 80 km (50 miles) long,
the Panama Canal connects the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. More
than 14,000 ships a year sail
through it, from tankers and
cargo vessels to cruise liners.From the high snowy mountains and hot arid deserts of northern
Mexico, south to the lush tropical forests of Nicaragua’s Atlantic
coast, this is a region of great contrasts. Central America
consists of seven small countries on the thin land bridge
between Mexico and South America. To its east lie the
beautiful tropical islands of the Caribbean Sea.
WHAT REMAINS OF MAYA
AND AZTEC CIVILIZATIONS?
The Mayan and Aztec empires no longer exist, but
both civilizations have left behind the ruins of many
amazing buildings. Mayan temples and cities can be
found in the forests of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize,
and ancient Aztec remains are still being uncovered
beneath the buildings of Mexico City.WHAT IS THE DAY OF THE DEAD?
Every year, on 1 November, Mexicans honour their
dead family and friends in a celebration called the
Day of the Dead. They believe death is a part of
life and should be celebrated. They decorate the
streets with flowers and hang up ghoulish papier-
mâché skeletons. Families gather together to
pray to the dead and visit family graves.DO NATIVE PEOPLES STILL
LIVE IN CENTRAL AMERICA?
Native peoples lived in Central America for
thousands of years until Europeans conquered
the region during the 1500s. As a result, many
people today are mestizos (of mixed European and
Native American descent). Native peoples themselves
make up less than 10 per cent of the total population.DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2
On the Day of the Dead, people
dress up as skeletons and dance
in huge parades. At home,
families make small altars which
they decorate with flowers,
candles, food, and photographs
of those they want to remember.CARIBBEAN ISLANDS 3
The sandy beaches of the
Caribbean islands are popular
destinations for tourists avoiding
winter in the USA or Europe.
Cruise ships also visit the many
islands, their passengers helping
to support local economies.TELESCOPES, MEXICO 3
The clean air and high altitude of
the Sierra Madre in Mexico make
it an ideal location for radio
telescopes. They tune into radio
waves from Space, which are then
converted into electronic images.and the Caribbean Mexico, Central America,
Mexico