Looking for information on the geography of Mexico City? Want to know why Mexico city is so polluted? Our guide gives you the facts & information you want to know.
Where is Mexico City?
Mexico City serves as the capital city of Mexico. It has the following coordinates: 19°24’N 99°7’W and lies across the Tropic of Cancer. It was originally built by the Aztecs on March 18, 1325 in what is called now the Valley of Mexico, which is a particularly large valley in the heart of the plateaus of Mexico. It is also called as the Valley of Anáhuac or the Valley of the Damned. The Valley of Anáhuac on which the city is situated has an altitude of 7,349 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level and has a land area of 1, 479 sq. km. (571 sq. m). The valley is a basin that is enclosed by mountain barriers in all directions but has an opening on the northern part. The peaks of Iztaccihuatl and Popocatépetl may be found near the valley.
Mexico is divided into one federal district and 31 other states. Other than serving as the capital of Mexico, Mexico City is also the Federal District and both are politically considered as the same institution. As legislated by the federal government, The Federal District of Mexico City includes 58 municipal districts and one more municipality from another Mexican state, the state of Hidalgo. The city is situated at the central-south portion of Mexico and even extends to the state of Mexico. It is bordered by other Mexican states in all four sides. To the south, it is bounded by the state of Morelos and to the north, east and west, it is bordered by the state of Mexico.
Mexico City Problematic Location
The geographical location of Mexico is said to be problematic for several reasons. Firstly, over the past few years, Mexico City has been experiencing an increase in air pollution. The city is built on a region having natural typhoon-resistant systems. The winds in circulation then aren’t strong enough to diffuse the pollutants in the air outside the basin, which are caused by over 4 million vehicles and 50,000 factories. Secondly, Mexico City is situated in area of high seismic activity. It is located in a basin where tectonic plates meet. That’s why since the start of the 20th century, it has been shaken by about 35 earthquakes already.
Thirdly, the soil on which stands Mexico City is soft and it has been discovered to be sinking about 4 to 12 inches (10.2 to 30 cm) every year. The city was originally founded on a lake which later was drained and a considerable area of the city is just a result of reclamation of the lakeshore. Other than the natural softness of the land, wells that drain the water table below the crust, the heavy buildings and the 19.2 million residents have also become instrumental in the sinking of the city.
