Yucatán

Peninsula in Central America, divided among Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala; area 180,000 sq km/70,000 sq mi. Tropical crops are grown. It is inhabited by Maya Indians and contains the remains of their civilization.

There are ruins at Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. The Mexican state of Yucatán has an area of 39,340 sq km/15,189 sq mi, and a population (1990) of 1,362,900. Its capital is Mérida.

Yucatán

State of southeastern Mexico; area 39,340 sq km/15,189 sq mi; population (2000 est) 1,655,700. It lies in the northern part of the Yucatán peninsula, though the whole peninsula, including the states of Quintana Roo and Campeche, is also often called by this name. The capital is Merida. Tropical forests cover about a third of the area and there is savannah grassland in the drier northwestern part. Industries include fishing, sea salt, textiles, tobacco, and brewing, while the numerous Mayan ruins, including Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, are an attraction for tourism.