Mexico—Physical Geography Land, Water, Climate, Vegetation, Natural resources and Environmental concerns

Mexico’s Land Mexico is an isthmus: a narrow strip of land with water on 2 sides and joins 2 larger bodies of land

Mexico’s Land Mountains: Mountains dominate the region. Two largest ranges: Sierra Madre Occidental (west) and Sierra Madre Oriental (east) Very rugged, some are active volcanoes

Mexico’s Land Plateau: a large raised area of land Located between the mountain ranges Covers ½ of the country Most of Mexico’s population lives there

Mexico’s Land Plains: narrow coastal plains are located on each coast There is a large plains area on the Yucatan Peninsula

Baja California Baja California is a peninsula on the west side of Mexico. It separates the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean. The west side (Pacific) is mainly desert and the east side (Gulf) is mainly mountains.

Mexico’s Water Oceans/Seas: Pacific Ocean to the west Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea to the east

Mexico’s Water Rivers: Most form in the mountains and flow to the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean Longest is the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo). It forms part of the border between the US and Mexico.

Rivers continued: Rivers serve as natural highways in areas where building roads and traveling by roads is difficult. Lakes: There are many lakes in Mexico. Water is a source of food/drink and power (electricity) for the Mexican people.

Mexico’s Climate Mexico is located in both the low and middle latitudes Climates include: Arid (desert) =hot and dry all year Semiarid- (outskirts of desert) = hot and humid all year Highlands (mountains) =cold most of the year

Climates continued: Southern Mexico- Tropical wet and dry = rainy season and dry season Tropical wet = warm and wet all year

Mexico’s Vegetation Desert scrub – low growing grasses (desert) Mixed forest (mountains) Tropical rainforests (coastal plains of south) Trees cover ¼ of Mexico Temperate grassland-long grasses (plateaus, along the coasts, and on the Yucatan Peninsula

Mexico’s Natural Resources Minerals: silver (largest producer in the world) gold copper coal iron ore lead

Natural resources continued: Petroleum is one of the most important resources in Mexico. - It is controlled by the government. Timber: Lumber and wood products are important to Mexico Agriculture: corn, cacao, coffee, sugar cane, cotton, tobacco and wheat

Natural resources continued: Livestock includes: cattle, sheep and goats Fishing industry is important esp. along the coasts

Environmental concerns Air pollution is a severe problem in Mexico. Mexico City is the worst. Its location in between the 2 mountain ranges does not allow the pollution from cars and factories to escape. The oil industry also contributes to the air pollution and water pollution. It is caused by oil rigs in the gulf/sea spilling oil and by the need to burn oil for energy.

Environmental concerns continued: Natural hazards: Volcanic eruptions and other natural hazards like hurricanes are a concern for Mexico Mexico City itself is also vulnerable to earthquakes because it was built on a dry lakebed.