Physical Geography of Mexico

Note how much of Mexico is rugged. You should associate this with subduction.

Geological hazards largely result from subduction too.

See the subduction zone on the Pacific side of Mexico.

The wet season, July, in Mexican newspapers.

~10” of rain in

two days

The map shows the tally of the damage caused by July storms.

More wet season data. Notice that the damage will extend into September.

Some Landform Regions

Mesa Central

Valley of Mexico

Neo-Volcanic Axis

Sierra Madre Oriental

Sierra Madre Occidental

Southern Highlands

Yucatan Peninsula

Valley of Mexico

Neo-Volcanic Axis

Southern Highlands

Sierra Madre Oriental

Sierra Madre Occidental

Mesa

Central

Yucatan

This is the Valley of Mexico, which is at the southern end of the Mesa Central. This painting shows the lake-filled valley at the height of the Aztec, or Mexica, civilization.

Floor of the plaza of Tenochtitlan.

Bottom of Lake Texcoco in 1881

This monument is in the zocalo, or central plaza, in Mexico City. Mexico City was built from the ruins of Tenochtitlan, which was an island in Lake Texcoco. In the almost 500 years since the arrival of the Spaniards, the surface of Mexico City has sunk causing major problems.

Evidence of subsidence.

Water

Drain

Newspaper article about problems associated with subsidence.

Although the Valley of Mexico was a beautiful site, it cannot easily sustain 20 million people. Subsidence is caused by the settling of the soft lake sediments on which the city was built. Also as people pump more ground water, subsidence is exacerbated.

Popocatepetl, as seen from above the Valley of MexicoElevation = 17,802 ft,

Iztaccíhuatl, as seen from above the Valley of MexicoHighest elevation = 17,159 ft

Both volcanic mountains were formed by subduction.

Sierra Juarez in Oaxaca, a part of the Southern Highlands.

Sierra Juarez in Oaxaca, a part of the Southern Highlands. What’s he doing?

Rugged and arid landscape in Southern Highlands.

Colonial town in Michoacan covered by lava in the early 1900s. Volcanism caused by subduction.

Mangrove swamp, typically found on the Gulf Coast.

Pacific Coast beach in Oaxaca. Nice!

Shores of highland lake in Michoacan.

In Mexico’s large area of arid climates (Think STH) various species of cacti are common.

A newspaper article devoted to cacti.

Many cacti and other succulents, like this maguey plant, were domesticated by pre-Columbian peoples.

The maguey was domesticated to make an alcohol called mezcal.

Copan, Honduras

Monte Alban, Oaxaca, Mexico

Monte Alban, Oaxaca, Mexico

Note how both Copan and Monte Alban include ball courts.