5 Facts of Mexico

The capital of Mexico is Mexico City

Mexico has always fascinated the North with her rich but mysterious history, beautiful beaches, lush forests and jungles and the diversity of its people. Because Mexico is so near, folks in the United States think they know all there is to know about her. But of course, they don't. Here are five things you might not know about Mexico.

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

There's a national museum of anthropology at the ruins of Teotihuac'n. These are ruins around in Mexico City and no one knows who built its pyramids, temples and palaces, or who even lived there. Bigger than the modern city of Rome, Teotihuac'n was one of the most powerful cities in Central America. Then, in 700 A.D., it was abandoned. No one knows why. Now there's an Anthropology museum on the site that sheds a bit of light on Teotihuac'n's secrets.

2

Monarch butterflies vacation in Mexico as well as humans. Every autumn millions and millions of monarch butterflies make their way down from Canada to the fir trees of Michoac'n. There are so many of them that they turn the trees orange and black from top to bottom and the visitor can hear the beating of their millions of pairs of wings. A monarch butterfly weighs next to nothing, but there can be so many on a tree that limbs break off.

3

The Cervantes Arts Festival is held in Guanajuato. This arts festival is the destination of many performing artists during the first three weeks in October. Some of them give spontaneous performances in the main square, while students dressed as 16th century troubadours stroll around singing and playing mandolins and guitars.

4

Sugar skulls! In honor of the Day of the Dead people commemorate their deceased loved ones by eating skulls made out of sugar and vegetable dye. El Dia de Los Muertos is celebrated in every town and cemetery in the country around the end of October.

5

JFK and Jackie Kennedy spent at least part of their honeymoon in Acapulco, in a pink house on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Jack allegedly caught a marlin.

5 Facts of Mayotte

The capital of Mayotte is Mamoudzou

Mayotte is an African country located in Southern Africa, North of Mozambique. It is actually an island whose people have chosen to live under the rule of the French, therefore having their culture influenced and almost similar to that of native French. It consists of small islets, whose people constitute the population in the area. There are several facts about Mayotte that people know while there are others that are very little known about. Here are 5 interesting facts about the island.

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

The diversity of vegetation is lacking in Mayotte with only a few tree species. The most dominant tree in the island is pine tree and few other species supported by the climate in the area.

2

Mayotte is rich in diversity of animal species, most of which are unique. There are also different species of birds, with the major three being White-eye, Sunbird and Drongo. Numerous turtles also add to the beauty of the island. There used to be three exclusive species of turtles in the island but two of them have become extinct, leaving the green turtle.

3

The climate is best described as tropical. There are only 2 noticeable seasons here, summer and winter. Summers are usually hot and humid and are experienced from November to the month of April while winters are usually very cold and dry. However, there are periods where rainfall and cyclones can be experienced.

4

There are several physical features which make the scenery beautiful. There are beautiful lowlands, highlands and plateaus. The highest upland is Benara, with an altitude of 660 meters above sea level while the lowest point is at the same level with the Indian Ocean. Mount Karthala on the Grande Comore gives a spectacular feel of the island.

5

Different people have settled on the island, leading to different religions and languages. Common religions are Islam and Christianity with majors in Roman Catholic and Sunni Muslim. The people speak French, Swahili, Bushi and Maore. Ensure that you are conversant with at least two of these languages to have an easy time there.

5 Facts of Mauritius

The capital of Mauritius is Port Louis

Mauritius is a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean. It has wonderful weather, great beaches and a host of interesting things to see and do. Mauritius is the perfect holiday destination. It is a place where you can enjoy yourself immensely for a lot less than you might imagine and make memories that will last a lifetime. There is many interesting fact about Mauritius the average person does not know. They include:

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

Mauritius is located some 900 kilometers off to the southeast of the African continent. The Republic of Mauritius is actually a group of islands which includes Caragados Carajos, Rodrigues, the Agalega Islands and Reunion. Mauritius is part of a larger string of islands located in the southwest Indian Ocean known as the Mascarene Islands. The capital of the Republic of Mauritius, Port Louis, is on the island of Mauritius.

2

While English is the official language of the Republic of Mauritius, there are numerous other languages spoken there. Many people there also speak Mauritian Creole and French. There are segments of the population which speak several African and Indian dialects, Rodiguan Creole and Chinese. However the popular newspapers and television programs are in French.

3

Dina Arobi was the name the Arab sailors who discovered the uninhabited island in the Middle Ages gave to the country. Portuguese sailors became aware of the island in about 1507 and Diogo Fernamdes Pereira, a Portuguese navigator, visited it in 1511. The Dutch took control of the island beginning in 1598 and called it Mauritius. The island then came under the control of French and later the British. The Republic of Mauritius became an independent nation on March 12th 1968.

4

Mauritius is the only place in the world where the Dodo, a flightless bird, was found. The bird was easy to capture and kill because of its inability to fly. The Dodo was hunted to extinction within eighty years after the first Europeans visited the island.

5

Culturally Mauritius is considered an African nation. Politically it is a Democracy. Mauritius' air quality is the 2nd best in the world.

5 Facts of Mauritania

The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott

Mauritania is a West African country next to the Atlantic Ocean. The Western Sahara borders it on the north side, and the countries of Mali, Algeria and Senegal also surround it. Here are some interesting facts you may not know about Mauritania:

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

Mauritania is a very arid country, being made up of about three quarters desert and semi-desert regions. Much of western Mauritania is covered by sand dunes, which are sometimes moved around by the winds.

2

The Mauritanian city of Chinguetti, originally founded in the 8th century by the Berbers, was once a major center of trade in the Sahara desert. After a gradual decline, Chinguetti was re-founded in the 13th century as a trading center connecting sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean. Chinguetti also became a staging ground for pilgrims on the way to Mecca and a center of Islamic scholarship. Today, Chinguetti still holds largely abandoned libraries of medieval manuscripts and a legacy of stark architecture that was begun under the Berbers.

3

Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, is by far the largest city in the country and one the biggest cities in all of the Sahara. Nouakchott, then a small port town, was chosen in 1957 to be the capital of Mauritania upon its independence in 1960, and measures were implemented in 1958 to bring the city population up to 15,000. As of 1999, Nouakchott boasts a population of over 880,000.

4

Mauritania was the last country in the world to legally abolish slavery, outlawing it in 1981. Slavery remains a huge problem and major source of ethnic tensions, with up to 20% of the population still being enslaved in practice.

5

Mauritania is a country rich in deposits of iron ore, the sales of which account for nearly half of all exports. Gold and copper mines are currently being opened in the interior.

5 Facts of Martinique

The capital of Martinique is Fort-de-France

Martinique is a country that is rich in fascinating history; with its roots woven deeply into the epic stories told of the early Caribbean. Some say thundering cannons and pirate's cries can still be heard during a quiet night on this seaside paradise. And the natural beauty this island is home to, captures the imagination like no other. Between the breathtaking landscape and pirate's lore; here's a short list of things you might not know about this incredible island.

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

Arawak were considered the earliest inhabitants of the island. While this indigenous people were considered very peaceful; they often had to defend themselves from neighboring islands trying to capture and enslave them. Caribs would eventually outnumber them and become the dominant population.

2

A popular man by the name of Christopher Columbus stumbled into this island around the turn of the 16th century. Initially Spain didn't have much use for the island. It was actually France that grew fond of the island as a producer of sugar cane; and claimed it as its own in 1635.

3

It was off the coast of Martinique in 1717, where the fearsome Blackbeard captured the La Concorde. Later becoming Blackbeard's flagship, it was also renamed the Queen Anne's Revenge.

4

Martinique used to have a capital city by the name of St. Pierre. This is because the city was completely wiped out by the tragic Mount Pelee volcano eruption in 1902. With an estimated 30k lives lost in the eruption, it was considered the Caribbean's worst natural disaster in history. The volcano still smolders today.

5

For a spell during the seven years war, the island was taken over by British rule. The British then gave the island back to the French in what is known as the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. Only an island of this beauty, could be desired by so many people.

5 Facts of Marshall Islands

The capital of Marshall Islands is Uliga

The Marshall Islands is a nation composed of 5 islands and 29 atolls in the South Pacific. The Micronesian nation is a republic, having gained its independence in 1979, but has historically been ruled and influenced by many outside governments, including Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States. These influences have left their imprint on the Marshallese culture, though indigenous culture still plays an important role. A beautiful tourist destination, the Marshall Islands provide an assortment of Pacific recreational activities, ranging from scuba diving to sun bathing. When travelling to this Micronesian paradise, there are some interesting facts you may want to know.

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

The Marshall Islands culture is centered on land. Land is a point of identification, and is passed down in a lineage through the mother. A tie to a specific piece of land includes a responsibility to the maintenance and use of the land.

2

Family relationships are extremely important, and highly celebrated by the Marshallese. Special family occasions are opportunities for the relatives to enjoy food and song, with birthdays being one of the most important events.

3

Tattoos are integral in Marshallese culture, and prior to outside influence of missionaries, all members of the culture were tattooed. Facial tattoos were reserved for the chiefs of the tribal people. The tattooing history is rich in symbolism and imagery.

4

There are a few small sources of industry and earning in the small nation. Agriculturally, coconuts, melons, and tomatoes are produced. The location in the Pacific makes fishing a worthwhile industry, as well. Additionally, the people create a variety of handcrafts.

5

The Marshall Islands were used as a testing location by the U.S. after World War II, particularly for the testing of nuclear weapons. In fact, one of the largest nuclear tests ever conducted took place in the Marshall Islands.

5 Facts of Malta

The capital of Malta is Valletta

If you are looking for a place to hideaway, to relax from the stress of the your daily routine and see something different, then Malta is the place to go. This historic country, which consists of tiny islands, known as the Maltese islands, has lots to offer, regardless of what season of the year you visit. A country, which has a mixture of Italian, British, French, Arabic, as well as, the Maltese influence combined within its culture, the Maltese people are a brave and courageous folk. Although it has a rich European history, Malta first entered the European Union in May 2004. The country prides itself on having a mulitcultural population. Its climate is also pleasant and mild throughout the year. Malta opens its heart and takes you into a world with:

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

History with a historic significance. It was the first to stand independently alone in World War II. Bombarded with bombs from the Germans and Italians, this little country refused to fear and stood up against the two nations and maintained their freedom. King George VI honored their gallantry in April 1942 with the highest medal of the United Kingdom for bravery by civilians and on 8 December 1943, President Franklin Roosevelt awarded them the United States Presidential Citation, which is now quoted on a plague in the town square of Valleta for their outstanding courage.

2

Traveling to Malta, you are able to combine your trip if you would like to have variety and visit other European countries. You may fly to London and take a train and ferry, which takes you through France, and Italy. Taking this option allows you to opportunity to stop through each country and see some of those sights that you have always wanted to see, for example, the Vatican in Rome.

3

Regardless of whether you go to the North, South or Central part of Malta you are surrounded by wonderful artwork and tapestries. In the Central part, you may visit the museum of Archaeology, which contains many of the objects excavated from the sites on different parts of the islands.

4

Malta is also the country where the Apostle Paul, the first Apostle who took Christianity to the world, was shipwrecked. It was on one of the islands that he spent the winter before moving on to Rome.

5

Don't want to reach Malta by train or ferry from Europe' Then book an air flight. They have a wonderful international airport that accomodates every major airline including Delta, Lufthansa, Air France, Al Italia, KLM Royal Dutch Airline, Easyjet, Ryan Air, Air Malta and many others.