Yucatan Peninsula

What was home to the Mayan civilization, whose history began around 2600 B.C.?

the Yucatan Peninsula

What is the Yucatan Peninsula's economy centered around?

tourism

What do the Mayas in the villages and towns throughout the Yucatan Peninsula make that is sought after by tourists?

traditional handcrafts and woven fabrics

What can you find along the Mayan Riviera?

white sand beaches, mangroves and lagoons, and the Great Mayan Reef

Where is the Yucatan Peninsula located?

A large land mass in southeast Mexico that creates a partial border between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. While mainly in Mexico, it includes Belize and the northern potion of Guatemala

What was the walled Mayan city in Guatemala that covered over 10 square miles and is notable for its many stelae (standing stone slabs)?

Calakmul

What is the city on the northeast edge of the Yucatan Peninsula that is not only a popular location for tourists traveling on land, but also a frequent stop for cruise ships?

Cancun

Who are the indigenous people of the Yucatan Peninsula?

Mayan and Mestizo (part Mayan)

The common language is spoken on the Yucatan Peninsula once you get away from the resort areas?

Mayan dialects

What is the tourist district that runs from Cancun to Tulum, roughly following highway 307?

The Mayan Riviera

A Mayan fortress (fort) in Mexico

Tulum

What is the Yucatan Peninsula?

a mix of beaches, jungles, and history that has become a magnet for tourism

What are some of the the many Mayan structures, all built WITHOUT the use of metal tools, that still survive today?

ancient pyramids, temples, palaces, observatories, and sculptures

When did the Mayan civilization become prominent?

around the 3rd century A.D.