YUCATAN, .yoTika-tlinf. A large peninsula projecting northeastward from the south eastern extremity of Mexico, and separated from the western extremity of Cuba by the Yucfitan Channel, 140 miles wide (Map: Mexico, P 8). With the peninsula of Florida it incloses the Gulf of Mexico. The penin sula of Yucatan is about 400 miles long and 200 miles wide, with an area of about 80,000 square miles. Tt forms a portion of a great hank of coralline limestone which has been raised above sea-level in geologically recent times. The bank. covered with shallow water in which coral formation is still actively going on, extends 150 miles into the Gulf along the northern and western coasts of the penin sula, and along its margin the sea bottom falls suddenly from a depth of GOO to one of 6000 feet. The surface of the peninsula is accordingly very low and level, the undulations in the interior ris ing only a few hundred feet above the sea, except in the extreme southern part, where there are projecting spurs of the Central American Cor dillera. Forests are confined mainly to these southern mountains, the rest of the peninsula being almost treeless, except in the marshy tracts along the coast, and of a monotonous and arid aspect. This is scarcely due to the climate,
which is hot and humid, but rather to the pecu liar Karst formation of the limestone composing the peninsula, which is perforated by numerous caverns and underground channels. These re ceive the rainwater, so that the peninsula is practically without rivers or running surface water, and the natives depend almost wholly upon the underground reservoirs for their water supply. Sisal hemp is the principal agricultural product. Politically the greater part of the peninsula belongs to Mexico, and consists of the States of Campeche and Yucatan (qq.v.). southeastern part is divided between British Honduras and thiateinala. The total population is estimated at about 370,000, most of whom are aborigines. Yucatan was the principal seat of the Maya civilization, the highest form of native civilization existing in North Anwrien at the time of the discovery. Sec YucArns, 'rms. OF; MAYA; MAYAN STOCK.