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The States of Mexico

Tabasco To continue along Mexico’s Gulf coastline, you must first cut back through the state of Campeche, in order to reach the small state of Tabasco. The name comes from the Nahuatl word that means “waterlogged earth.” The name is appropriate, since Tabasco has almost one-third of Mexico’s water resources. The state’s low plains are dotted with lakes and swamps, crossed by rivers, and covered with steamy jungles. The ancient Olmecs’ enormous heads are scattered through the jungles, but the state has so few rocks that the Olmecs must have had to travel miles to get the huge pieces of stone they used to create their artwork. Tabasco is one of Mexico’s main oil-producing areas. In addition to oil, many maquiladoras have been constructed to produce products made from petrochemicals, such as plastics, soaps, fertilizer, and paint. The oil industry is bringing much-needed money to this state, but rickety shacks and shanties still cluster around the states’ spreading refineries and factories.

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The ornate façade of this church can be found in Cupilco, Tabasco. Most Mexicans are Christian, thanks to the influence of the Spanish in the 16th century. The majority of Mexicans (more than 82 percent of the population) are Roman Catholic, with various other Christian denominations making up another 10 percent).