Merida

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/merida

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Merida?The municipality covers approximately 100 square miles (258 square kilometers)
2. When was Merida built?January 6, 1542, by Spanish conquistador Francisco de Montejo
3. What is the economic pillars?Tourism, services, manufacturing, and education
4. Why is Merida called a treasure chest of history?It has many old Mayan ruins, Spanish colonial buildings, and museums that show its rich past. These treasures make it a special place to learn about history.
5. How do cenotes form in Merida?The flat limestone ground lets rainwater sink down. This creates natural sinkholes and underground rivers called cenotes.

Yucatan Peninsula: A geologically distinct region in southeastern Mexico, characterized by its limestone base and arid to tropical climate.
Cenote: A natural pit or sinkhole resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater, common in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Henequen: A species of agave native to southern Mexico, historically cultivated for its strong fiber used in rope and twine production.
Mayan Language: A family of indigenous languages spoken by the Maya peoples of Mesoamerica, with several distinct variants still in use today.