Campeche

Campeche is a place in Mexico.

It sits by the big Gulf of Mexico. The land is mostly flat with some hills.

Many green trees grow there. You can find big rainforests and many palm trees.

Some trees are used to make wood.

Many animals live in the wild. You might see a jaguar or a monkey. There are also many birds like the toucan.

Long ago, the Maya people lived here. They built big cities.

Some of these cities are still there today.

Today, people find oil in the sea. This helps the state grow. It is a very special place.

Campeche is a state in southeast Mexico.

It sits next to the Gulf of Mexico. You can find it near the states of Tabasco and Yucatán. It also borders Guatemala and Belize.

The land is mostly flat. There are some rolling hills in the north and east. Much of the state has thick rainforests. These forests have many types of trees. You might find mahogany or red cedar there. Along the coast, you will see many palm trees.

Many animals live in the wild. You might see a jaguar, a puma, or a monkey. Many birds live here too, like the toucan. In the water, you can find fish, crabs, and turtles. The Laguna de Términos is a large area of water. It has both fresh and salt water. This helps many species grow there.

Long ago, the Maya people lived here. They built great cities like Edzná.

Later, the Spanish arrived. They built the port of Campeche. Today, the state finds oil in the sea. This helps the local economy grow.

Campeche is a state located in southeast Mexico.

It sits along the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico. To its southwest lies the state of Tabasco. To the northeast is Yucatán and to the east is Quintana Roo. The state also shares borders with two other countries. It touches Guatemala to the south and Belize to the southeast.

This place is a mix of flat lands and rising hills.

The land has many different types of nature. Much of the surface is made of sedimentary rock. Most of the state is quite flat, but there are some hills. You can find the Sierra Alta hills in the south. These hills roll northeast toward the state of Yucatán. In the north and east, there are two low hill chains. These are called the Dzibalchen and the Sierra Alta.

There are also many different kinds of rainforests here. Some forests have very tall trees that stay green all year. Other forests have trees that lose their leaves in certain seasons.

History in this region goes back a very long time. The Maya people were the first to live here. They built famous cities like Edzná and Calakmul.

The Maya civilization was very strong between 600 AD and 900 AD. Later, Spanish explorers arrived in the sixteenth century. They founded the city of Campeche in 1540. During colonial times, the city was a very busy port. It shipped things like gold, silver, and tropical woods. It even received luxury items like Italian marble from far away.

Nature in Campeche is very rich and diverse. In the rainforests, you might see a jaguar or a puma. There are also monkeys, deer, and many colorful birds like toucans.

Near the coast, you will find many palm trees. The waters of the Gulf of Mexico are full of life too. You can find many types of fish, crabs, and sea turtles. The Laguna de Términos is a very important water system. It is a large area where fresh and salt water meet. This helps many different species of animals live there.

Today, Campeche is an important part of Mexico. The state capital is also named Campeche. This city was named a World Heritage Site in 1997. The state has a governor and a group called the Congress of Campeche. This group has 35 deputies who help make laws. Much of the money for the state comes from the sea. In the 1970s, people found petroleum offshore. This discovery helped the coastal cities grow much larger.

It keeps the state's economy moving today.

Campeche is a federal state located in southeast Mexico.

It is one of the 32 federal entities that make up the country. The state sits along the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It shares borders with several other places. To the southwest, it borders the state of Tabasco. To the northeast, it meets Yucatán. To the east, it touches Quintana Roo. To the south, it borders the Petén department of Guatemala. To the southeast, it borders the Orange Walk District of Belize.

The geography of Campeche is mostly composed of relatively flat land. Much of the surface consists of sedimentary rock. A large portion of this rock is of marine origin. While much of the state is flat, there are several elevated areas. The highest elevations are located near the borders with Guatemala and Quintana Roo. These include peaks such as Cerro Champerico and Cerro El Gavilán. In the south, the municipality of Champotón contains the Sierra Alta, also known as the Puuc. These rolling hills extend northeast toward the state of Yucatán. Other hill groups include the Sierra Seybaplaya in the center of the state.

The state contains several distinct ecosystems. The coastal region includes the Gulf shoreline and the Campeche Bank. This offshore area features coral reefs and small islands called cays. Mangroves dominate the coastal swamps, while palms grow in other areas. The mountain region in the north and east contains the Dzibalchen and Sierra Alta chains. This area includes the Los Chenes region, which is known for natural wells called cenotes. The rainforest region covers the center and south. It contains many types of forests, such as perennial tall tree rainforests. These forests feature precious tropical hardwoods like mahogany and red cedar.

Water is a vital part of the Campeche landscape. Many rivers flow through the state, especially in the south and southwest. The largest basin is the Grijalva, which includes the Candelaria, Chumpán, and Mamantal rivers. The Usumacinta River also flows through the state, though it frequently changes its course. One branch, the Palizada River, has the largest volume of water. In the southwest, the Laguna de Términos serves as a massive lake-lagoon system. This system formed about five thousand years ago from accumulated river sediment. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico only by the Isla del Carmen. The lagoon is brackish, meaning it contains both fresh and salt water.

The history of the region began with the Maya people. They migrated from areas like Guatemala and Honduras. Major Mayan cities included Edzná, Xtampak, Calakmul, and Becán. The Maya civilization reached its highest point between 600 AD and 900 AD. After this period, the cities were abandoned for unknown reasons. Spanish explorers arrived in the area in 1517. They initially called the area San Lázaro. The formal conquest and the founding of the city of Campeche began in 1540. During the colonial period, Campeche was a very important commercial port. It exported tropical hardwoods, dyewood, gold, and silver. It also received luxury goods like Italian marble and Austrian crystal.

Campeche is home to a wide variety of wildlife. In the rainforests, you can find jaguars, omacots, pumas, and Yucatan spider monkeys. Many bird species live here, including toucans and pelicans. The reptiles of the state include crocodiles, iguanas, and various sea turtles. The Bay of Campeche is also rich in aquatic life, such as fish and mollusks. However, much of this wildlife has been lost. This is due to the destruction of habitats from agriculture and forest exploitation. It is also caused by uncontrolled hunting. To protect what remains, the state has four protected areas. These include the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and the Laguna de Términos Reserve.

Today, the state has a modern political and economic structure. The executive power is held by the governor of Campeche. The legislative power belongs to the Congress of Campeche. This is a unicameral legislature made up of 35 deputies. The economy has changed significantly over the last century. In the 1970s, petroleum was discovered offshore. This discovery led to a major economic revival. It made the coastal cities of Campeche and Ciudad del Carmen important economic centers. The state capital, also named Campeche, was named a World Heritage Site in 1997.