Isthmus Culture in Southern Mexico

The World

For the Geo Quiz we are looking for a narrow slice of land in southern Mexico. It is known as Mexico’s “little waist.” It is the narrowest point between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.

The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is the answer to the Geo Quiz. The isthmus is the shortest stretch of land between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with author Wendy Call about the clash of traditional Mexican culture with economic globalization in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Call’s book “No Word for Welcome: The Mexican Village Faces the Global Economy” talks about the villages and cultures found on the isthmus.

Are you with The World?

The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.