1. Agenda
Mexico
Finish Latin America Projects
Bell ringer
Mexico City experiences frequent Smog.
Smog is air pollution caused by vehicle emissions mixing with Fog.
What can Mexico City do to decrease the pollution caused by automobiles?

2. Mexico

3. Physical Geography of Mexico
What major physical features are found in Mexico?
Bodies of Water - Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of California, Caribbean Sea, Rio Grande
Peninsulas – Yucatan, Baja California
Mountains - Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental,
Deserts - Chihuahua Desert, Sonora Desert

4. Physical Geography of Mexico
Desert in the North
Semi-Arid in the Center
Tropical (Hot & Wet) in the South
Mexico is located on the Ring of Fire
Many volcanoes and earthquakes, like Popocatepetl, and Paricutin.

5. Physical Geography - Natural Hazards
Volcanoes in southern half, such as Paricutin and Popocatepetl (A 17,886ft volcano outside Mexico City)
Earthquakes – 1985 Mexico City Quake killed 9,000 and hurt 30,000!
Hurricanes/Typhoons on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts
El Nino – Lead to floods or Drought
Popocatepetl day and night in 2012

6. Human Geography: Politics and Religion
Federal Republic, with Three Branch System (Executive, Legislative, Judicial), much like USA.
Many political parties: three biggest are the:
PRI- The Institutional Revolutionary Party (started in 1929 and governed for 71 years)
PAN- National Action Party (defeated the PRI candidate for President in 2000 and 2006)
PRD- Party of the Democratic Revolution
Mostly Catholic (89%)
2nd largest Catholic population in the world.
Catholicism (Christianity) combined with Aztec and Indian beliefs
Mexico's incoming president Enrique Pena Nieto

7. NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement 1994 Treaty
Connects economies of USA, Mexico, and Canada
reduce barriers to make trade easier

9. Maquiladoras Border factories Owned by foreign companies
Mexican workers, managers
Ship parts to Mexico
Ship assembled products back to US for sale.

10. Why Do This?
Cheap Labor – Mexican workers get paid less money than Americans, for same kinds of work.
Fewer Restrictions – Fewer laws about safety and pollution in Mexico. Cheaper to run a factory.
Both good and bad – long hours and low pay, but provide jobs, especially for women

11. Human Geography - Urban Geography
Rapid population growth (rural to urban migration)
Why?
Push-Pull Factors - People looking for jobs and services, none in country so they move to the cities
Shantytowns – Slums without running water
Little or no electricity
made of scrap materials

12. Human Geography -Demographics
Population is 112 million
65% Mestizo
20-25% European (Spain)
10% Indian
75% live in cities
Largest city is Mexico City, with almost 20 million people

13. Human Geography - Culture - Art, Music, Dance
Art: Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo are most famous painters from Mexico
Muralists
Literature: “Magical Realism” is a famous style, used by many Mexican authors – such as Octavio Paz.
Music: Ranchera, Banda in north, Marimba is south, plus newer genres like Norteno, Tejano, & Pop

16. Human Environmental Concerns of Mexico
Fresh water scarce and polluted
Raw sewage and run-off polluting rivers in urban areas
Deteriorating agricultural lands
Air and water pollution in major cities.