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

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

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

12. 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

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

14. 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

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

16. 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.

17. 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.