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 Chichen Itza and Uxmal. The Mexican
state of Yucatan has an area of 38,402 sq
km/14,823 sq mi, and a population (1990) of
1,035,000. Its capital is Merida.