2. Central Plateau Rugged central plain; located in the central portion of Mexico and is surrounded by mountains on 3 sides –Sierra Madre Oriental: located in the east –Sierra Madre Occidental: located in the west Copper Canyon located here; 3 times the size of the Grand Canyon –Sierra Madre del Sur: located in the south Made of rich, volcanic soil

3. 3 things needed to grow coffee 1. Tropical Climate 2. High Elevation 3. Rich Soil Mexico grows coffee on the Sierra Madre del Sur

4. Valley of Mexico Located in the southern end of the plateau Capital, Mexico City, located within the valley –World’s largest city –20 million people –2.8 million cars –10,000 factories –Located 1.5 miles above sea level –30% of residents lack sewage services or proper sanitation –Air pollution exceeds tolerance levels by 4X the normal amt set by WHO –Located in an old dried up lake bed

5. 3 Mountains surround Mexico City Mount Orizaba: –Located to the East of Mexico City –Height above sea level – 18,701 ft –Highest peak between US and South American borders Mount Popocatepetl: “Popo” –Located to the South of Mexico City –Active volcano with height above sea level- 17,802 ft. Mount Ixtaccihuatl “Ixtz”: –Located to the West of Mexico City –Height of above Sea level – 17,887 ft –“Sleeping Woman” legend claims that Popo watches over her

6. Yucatan Peninsula Peninsula – land surrounded by water on 3 sides Karst topography: used to be part of the ocean floor; therefore it is made up of limestone Water penetrates the ground which creates holes and causes sinkholes, cenotes, stalactites, stalagmites

8. Sinkhole: steep sided depression that forms when the roof of a cave collapses Stalactites: dripping limestone-rich water which forms structures on the ceiling Stalagmites: dripping limestone-rich water which forms structure on the ground Cenotes: underground cave with a small opening at the top allowing rainwater to collect inside

9. River Systems Rio Grande del Norte: “Rio Bravo del Norte” –Geographical boundary located between the US and Mexico –2 dams located on the river: Zapata Dam – located in Zapata, TX which formed Falcon Lake Amistad Dam – located in Del Rio, TX which formed Amistad Lake

10. Dams build for 4 reasons: 1. Flood Control 2. Irrigation 3. Recreation 4. Hydroelectricity Zapata Dam Falcon Lake

11. Rio Yaqui and Rio Fuerte Major agriculture region Use of insecticide DDT which causes cancer, liver damage, reproductive problems

12. Rio Colorado Located between California and Arizona Irrigation project for the Imperial Valley of Southern California Mouth is Gulf of California

13. Rio Balsas Located in Valley of Mexico Dammed for Hydroelectricity which is using water to make electricity

14. Rio Usumacinta Located along the border of Mexico and Guatemala Natural boundary separating the Yucatan Peninsula from the rest of Mexico

15. Agriculture 20% employment –8% employment in US Mexico requires a 6 th grade education because of agriculture industry Staple Crops (main diet) –Corn (maize) –Beans –Squash Average family size 5.8 children (due to agriculture industry)

16. Natural Resources Oil (Petroleum) –Most located Bay of Campeche –PEMEX – federally owned oil &gas company Natural Gas –Located in Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipis Gas-Natural Gas Liquid – Oil Solid – Oil Shale

17. Silver –**** World’s largest exporter of silver –Found in Zacatecas and Durango Copper and Uranium –Top 10 exporter –Found in Chihuahua and Sonora Coal –Found in Monterrey which is said to be the “Pittsburg” of Mexico –Mined in open pits which causes air pollution in Texas

18. NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement Signed January 4, 1994 between Canada, Mexico, United States Goal was to eliminate barriers of trade and increase investment between the three nations- ELIMINATED TARIFFS Thus far who has benefited –Canada #1 – United States #2 –Mexico #3

19. Manufacturing 1965 Mexico is the 2 nd largest industrial country in Latin America (Brazil #1) Mexico City is the # 1 – city of industry

20. Maquiladora Program – foreign companies set up factories and hire Mexican workers –“Border Industries Program” –“Twin Plants Program” –Factories cannot be set up in Mexico City –Japan and USA own most of the factories 3 Main Products produced: Electronics, Textiles, Furniture Examples of foreign companies with maquiladora factories: Ford, Johnson &Johnson

21. Why Set up a factory in Mexico? Hire women because: –Better eye-hand coordination –Don’t challenge authority –Less likely to have medical problems (be alcoholics) –Less Likely to form unions for workers rights

22. Maquiladora Problems Boomed in 1982, but has devalued the Mexican Peso by ½ Keeps labor wages low Pollution Turnover rate is 100% because assembly line work is boring Average salary is $5.00/hour – in a factory Minimum wage is $1.10/hour

23. Top Money Makers of Mexico Oil Tourism (currently affected) –Drug cartel war Maquiladora Factories

24. History of Mexico 250-900 CE Mayan Civilization –Southern Mexico and Northern Central America –Greatest city is Tikal (Guatemala) –Ruled by Priests and nobles –Agriculture and trade based economy –Skilled in math –Accurate calendars –Abandoned cities for unknown reasons

25. Incas Time of the Aztecs Lived in the Andes mtns Capital is Cuzco (Peru) Ruled by emperor Network of roads Terraces and irrigation systems Domesticated alpaca and llama No written language Oral storytelling Used a quipu to keep track of financial records

26. Aztecs Central Mexico 1300’s CE Capital Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) Beans and maize on chinampas Structured class system Ruled by emperor and military officials Chocolate – food of the gods