Before the Spanish arrived in 1519, the Veracruz and Tabasco area was home to the Nahuatl, Totonaco, Huateco, Popoluca and Otomi-speaking peoples. Their settlements are preserved in more than 1,200 archaeological sites. The topography of this area varies from a flat coastal region to areas of high plains and rugged mountains. There are two major peaks, both of which are extinct volcanoes. Pico de Orizaba is the highest peak in Mexico at 18,406 ft (5610m) and Cofre de Perote is 13,943 ft.
The climate changes with the varying land formations. The lower regions are naturally warmer than the higher regions. The lower regions are affected more by the Gulf of Mexico weather conditions. For the most part, there are minor seasonal changes because of the tropical latitude.
As a leading
agricultural area in Mexico, the land supports maize, beans, sugar cane,
coffee, rice, honey and various fruits. The area also hosts cattle and pigs,
both which are raised for food. As it is partly a coastal area, fishing is
another important mainstay of the area.