Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) jumping mouse, rodent slightly larger than the common mouse, found in North America and N Asia, also called the kangaroo mouse. Its long hind legs and tail enable it to leap distances up to 12 ft (3.7...

(Encyclopedia) jackrabbit, popular name for several hares of W North America, characterized by very long legs and ears. Jackrabbits are powerful jumpers and fast runners. In normal progress leaps are alternated with...

(Encyclopedia) Cockpit Country, hilly region on the plateau of Jamaica, c.200 sq mi (520 sq km), W central Jamaica. Composed of limestone rock, the region has many sink holes, caverns, and subterranean streams. ...

(Encyclopedia) Ballet Folklórico de México, Mexico's national dance company. It was founded in 1952 by the dancer, choreographer, and teacher Amalia Hernández. Sponsored by the Mexican government, it is headquart...

(Encyclopedia) Durango do͞orängˈgō [key], state, 47,691 sq mi (123,520 sq km), N central Mexico. The city of ...

(Encyclopedia) Campeche, city, capital of Campeche state, SE Mexico, on the Yucatán peninsula. It is fortified and surrounded by 18th-century walls. Although it remai...

(Encyclopedia) El Dorado ĕlˈdəräˈdō, –rāˈ– [key] [Span.,=the gilded man], legendary country of the Golden Man sought by adventurers in South America. The legend supposedly originated in a custom of the C...

(Encyclopedia) Portolá, Gaspar de gäspärˈ dā pôrtōläˈ [key], fl. 1734–84, Spanish explorer in the Far West. After serving in Italy and Portugal, he was sent (1767) to America as governor of the California...

(Encyclopedia) Córdoba kôrˈdōvä [key], city, Veracruz state, E central Mexico. It is the commercial and ...

(Encyclopedia) Oaxaca, city (1990 pop. 212,818), capital of Oaxaca state, S Mexico. The city is officially called Oaxaca de Juárez. Situated in a valley encircled by low mountains, Oaxaca is a commercial and touris...