Mexico—Physical Mexico—Physical GeographyGeography

Land, Water, Climate, Land, Water, Climate, Vegetation,Vegetation,

Natural resources and Natural resources and Environmental concernsEnvironmental concerns

Mexico’s LandMexico’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 LandMexico’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 LandMexico’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 LandMexico’s Land

• Plains: narrow coastal plains are located on each coast

• There is a large plains area on the Yucatan Peninsula

Baja CaliforniaBaja 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 WaterMexico’s Water

•Oceans/Seas: Oceans/Seas: – Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

to the westto the west

– Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean and Caribbean Sea to the Sea to the easteast

Mexico’s WaterMexico’s Water• Rivers:Rivers:

– Most form in the Most form in the mountains and flow mountains and flow to the Gulf of to the Gulf of Mexico or the Mexico or the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean

– Longest is the Rio Longest is the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo). Grande (Rio Bravo). It forms part of the It forms part of the border between the border between the US and Mexico.US and Mexico.

Rivers continued:Rivers continued:

Rivers serve as natural highways in areas Rivers serve as natural highways in areas where building roads and traveling by where building roads and traveling by roads is difficult.roads is difficult.

Lakes:Lakes:

There are many lakes in Mexico.There are many lakes in Mexico.

Water is a source of food/drink and power Water is a source of food/drink and power (electricity) for the Mexican people.(electricity) for the Mexican people.

Mexico’s ClimateMexico’s Climate

Mexico is located in both the Mexico is located in both the low and middle latitudeslow and middle latitudes

Climates include:Climates include: Arid (desert)Arid (desert)

=hot and dry all year=hot and dry all year Semiarid- (outskirts of desert)Semiarid- (outskirts of desert)

= hot and humid all year= hot and humid all year Highlands (mountains)Highlands (mountains)

=cold most of the year=cold most of the year

Climates continued:Climates continued:

Southern Mexico-Southern Mexico-

Tropical wet and dryTropical wet and dry

= rainy season and dry season= rainy season and dry season

Tropical wetTropical wet

= warm and wet all year= warm and wet all year

Mexico’s VegetationMexico’s Vegetation

Desert scrub – low Desert scrub – low growing grasses (desert)growing grasses (desert)

Mixed forest (mountains)Mixed forest (mountains) Tropical rainforests Tropical rainforests

(coastal plains of south)(coastal plains of south) Trees cover ¼ of MexicoTrees cover ¼ of Mexico Temperate grassland-long Temperate grassland-long

grasses (plateaus, along grasses (plateaus, along the coasts, and on the the coasts, and on the Yucatan PeninsulaYucatan Peninsula

Mexico’s Natural ResourcesMexico’s Natural Resources

Minerals: Minerals: silver silver (largest producer (largest producer

in the world)in the world)

gold gold

copper copper

coal coal

iron oreiron ore

leadlead

Natural resources continued:Natural resources continued:

Petroleum is one of the most important Petroleum is one of the most important resources in Mexico.resources in Mexico.

- It is controlled by the government.- It is controlled by the government.

Timber: Lumber and wood products are Timber: Lumber and wood products are

important to Mexicoimportant to Mexico

Agriculture: corn, cacao, coffee, sugar Agriculture: corn, cacao, coffee, sugar cane, cotton, tobacco and wheatcane, cotton, tobacco and wheat

Natural resources continued:Natural resources continued:

Livestock includes: cattle, sheep and Livestock includes: cattle, sheep and goatsgoats

Fishing industry is important esp. Fishing industry is important esp. along the coastsalong the coasts

Environmental concernsEnvironmental concerns Air pollution is a severe problem in Mexico. Air pollution is a severe problem in Mexico.

Mexico City is the worst. Its location in Mexico City is the worst. Its location in between the 2 mountain ranges does not between the 2 mountain ranges does not allow the pollution from cars and factories allow the pollution from cars and factories to escape.to escape.

The oil industry also contributes to the air The oil industry also contributes to the air pollution and water pollution.pollution and water pollution.

It is caused by oil rigs in the It is caused by oil rigs in the gulf/sea spilling oil and by the need gulf/sea spilling oil and by the need

to to burn oil for energy. burn oil for energy.

Environmental concerns continued:Environmental concerns continued:

Natural hazards:Natural hazards: Volcanic eruptions and other natural Volcanic eruptions and other natural

hazards like hurricanes are a concern hazards like hurricanes are a concern for Mexicofor Mexico

Mexico City itself is also vulnerable to Mexico City itself is also vulnerable to earthquakes because it was built on earthquakes because it was built on a dry lakebed. a dry lakebed.