Geography of Mexico. Geography of Mexico: relief, soils, vegetation and fauna

Minerals of Mexico

1. General characteristics

1.2 - 2.5 g/t

Potassium salts, million tons in terms of K2O

2. Certain types of minerals

Oil and gas. Revealed approx. 350 births. oil and 200 - gas, concentrated h.p. in the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas basin. Childbirth. in the main small, 2 genera are known. with reserves of more than 500 million tons (Bermudez and Cantarel) and 12 genera. from the beginning proven reserves of more than 100 million tons of oil and 100 billion m 3 of gas. Oil and gas deposits of the Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Cretaceous and Jurassic. Most limestones are Cretaceous at depth. 350-6500 m. Oil density 778-980 kg/m3, sulfur content 0.1-5.84%.

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Last update:
02.December.2016, 14:50

Capital: Mexico City (22 million as of 2015)

Area: 1958.2 thousand km 2

Mexico is one of the twenty largest countries in the world both in terms of area and population, ranking 14th and 11th in the world, respectively. 20% of Latin America's population lives here. In the region, it is second only to Brazil and Argentina in terms of territory size, and second only to Brazil in population size.

Large reserves of oil, gas, fluorspar, coal, sulfur, antimony, silver, iron ore, non-ferrous metal ores (copper, zinc, mercury).

Population. 103.4 (140.2) million Mestizos (60%), Indians (30%), descendants of Europeans. Density 53 people/km2. Average annual increase 15 people. per 1000 inhabitants. Balance of migration -2.65 people. per 1000 inhabitants. Unemployment is 3% (among urban residents), as well as significant underemployment. Age composition 33-60-7, average age 23.8 years, life expectancy 73 years.

Religion: Christianity (Catholics - 89%, Protestants).

Official language: Spanish language.

Mexico is located in the southern part of the North American continent. The length of its borders and coastline is about 13 thousand km. The land border with the United States has a length of 2.6 thousand km. A significant part of this border runs along the country's largest river, the Rio Bravo del Norte. In the south, Mexico's 200 km long land border runs with Belize and Guatemala.
Mexico has access to two oceans - the Pacific and the Atlantic. The western coast of the country is washed by the Pacific Ocean, and the eastern coast by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The length of the coastline is 9.2 thousand km. Off the northwestern coast of Mexico are its largest islands: Angel de la Guarda, Cedros, Tiburon.

An important feature of Mexico's economic and geographical position is its proximity to the United States. The main railways and highways from the interior of the country approach the US borders. The territory of modern Mexico has been inhabited since ancient times by Indian tribes - Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecs, Olmecs, etc. The name of the country comes from the name of the Aztec god - Mexitli.
In the 20s of the 16th century. Mexico was colonized by Spain. In 1810, the Mexicans began the struggle for independence, which was proclaimed in 1821. Currently, the country occupied an area of ​​5 million km 2, and its southern borders reached the Isthmus of Panama. In 1824, the Federation of Central American Republics separated from Mexico. The continuous political struggle weakened the country, which the United States took advantage of. As a result of the war of 1846-1848. From the United States, Mexico lost another 2,200,000 km 2 of territory.
In 1910-1917 A democratic revolution took place in the country. In 1917, a constitution was adopted - one of the most advanced for its time.

According to this constitution, with some amendments in force until, Mexico is a federal republic. The head of state and government is the president, elected for six years without the right of re-election. The legislative body is the National Congress, consisting of the Senate (64 senators) and the Chamber of Deputies (500 deputies), which are elected for three years.
Main political parties: Institutional Revolutionary Party (IRP), Democratic Revolution Party (PDR), National Action Party (NAP). Other parties are few in number and are not very popular among the population. The PRI, which was founded in 1929, has been in power since its creation.
Territorially, Mexico is divided into 31 states and the Federal Capital District. States have their own constitutions, legislatures and governors.
Mexico is one of the most developed countries in Latin America. In terms of GDP, it ranks second in the region (after Brazil). According to this indicator, it is ahead of other countries, ranking 13th in the world. In 2000 Mexico's GDP was $875 billion, or 25% of Latin America's total GDP.
According to basic macroeconomic indicators, Mexico is an industrial-agrarian country. In terms of the level of socio-economic development, as well as the nature of the economic and social problems that still need to be solved, it belongs to the group of developing countries. According to the UN classification, Mexico belongs to the newly industrialized countries.
Mexico's rich and diverse natural conditions and resources are favorable for the development of mining and manufacturing industries, as well as diversified agriculture.
Relief. Mexico is a mountainous country. Most of its territory lies above 1000 m above sea level.
About 2/3 of the country's territory is occupied by the Mexican Highlands. The Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental mountains extend from the west and east, and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra Madre mountain ranges surround it from the south.

Economy. GDP per capita 6150 (9000) dollars m GDP structure 5% - 26% - 69%. Industry: mining (including oil, natural gas, non-ferrous metal ores, fluorspar), petrochemical, metallurgy, mechanical engineering (including transport, radio electronics), light (including textile, footwear), food . Agriculture: crop production (cotton, sugar cane, coffee, corn, beans, tomatoes), livestock (cattle, sheep, goats). Tourism (17 million tourists per year).​

International trade. Exports: +USD 158,400 million (per capita USD 1,532). Manufacturing products (including mechanical engineering and light industry), oil and petroleum products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton (USA 88%, Canada 2%).

Imports: +USD 168,400 million (per capita USD 1,629). Equipment for metallurgical and engineering plants, components and spare parts for the production of mechanical engineering products (including transport), chemical products, food products (USA 68%, Japan 5%).

Den. unit: peso. 10.1 per 1 US dollar (2003).

The territory of Mexico is characterized by high seismic activity. In the volcanic Sierra Madre there are the volcanoes Orisawa (5700 m.) - The highest peak of the country, Popocatepel (5452 m.) and others. Earthquakes often occur in the southern part of the Pacific coast of Mexico.
The plains occupy about a third of the country's territory. The most extensive plain is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. The lowlands stretch in narrow strips along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.
Mexico's mineral resources are characterized by different component structures. In Latin America, it stands out for its large reserves of oil and natural gas, manganese, silver, sulfur, lead and zinc ores. Mexico accounts for 15% of the region's mineral resource potential. Ore minerals are genetically linked to the Pacific Ore Belt, which crosses Mexico. They are located in inaccessible mountainous or desert and semi-desert areas, which makes their exploitation difficult. The ores of non-ferrous and precious metals are of high quality.
Fossil fuels. Among the explored fuel minerals, Mexico stands out for its reserves of oil and natural gas. The country's oil reserves are estimated at 7811.0 million tons, representing 43% of its total reserves in Latin America. The main deposits are confined to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. New deposits have been discovered in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas, as well as on the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico.
Natural gas reserves in Mexico are estimated at 21 billion m3, representing 28% of the region's total reserves. This is the third place in America (after the USA and Canada) and tenth in the world. The main deposits are located in the northeast, on the Gulf Coast, and in the southeast of the country.
Explored reserves of hard coal are small and are estimated at 5 billion tons. The main deposits are located in the north of the country in the Sabinas basin. Several large uranium deposits have been explored.
Metallic minerals. Iron ore reserves are insignificant and are estimated at 0700000000. T., which is about 1% of the region's total reserves. Explored deposits of iron ore of very high quality (60-65% iron), are located at shallow depths and are available for open-pit mining.
In terms of manganese reserves, Mexico ranks second in the region (after Brazil). It accounts for about 40% of Latin America's total reserves. The largest deposit of manganese ore is located in the state of Hidalgo.
In Latin America, Mexico stands out for its reserves of lead-zinc ores. Explored reserves of lead ores are estimated at 8 million tons, which is half of the total reserves of the region. In terms of their reserves, the country ranks first in the region. A quarter of the total zinc ore reserves of Latin America are also concentrated in the north of the country. In terms of their reserves, Mexico is second only to Peru in the region.
The country's explored reserves of copper ore are small. They are estimated at 8 million tons, which represents only 6% of the region's total reserves. The main deposits of copper ore are located on the California Peninsula and in the northwestern part of the country.
There are about 200 known mercury deposits in the country. In terms of its reserves, Mexico ranks third in the world. The largest of them are located in the north. Mexico's pipe reserves are second only to Bolivia in the region.
In Latin America, Mexico stands out for its reserves of valuable metals - silver and gold. Silver reserves are estimated at 65 thousand tons, which is almost half of the region's reserves. They are located everywhere. Most of the silver is found in combination with lead-zinc ores, although there are also independent deposits. Mexico contains a quarter of Latin America's gold reserves.
Explored sulfur reserves are estimated at 89 million tons (About 40% of the total sulfur reserves of Latin America). The main deposits of sulfur are associated with salt domes on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
The climate of Mexico is determined by its position in tropical and subtropical latitudes between two oceans. The Northern Tropic divides the country's territory into approximately two equal parts. Mountain systems prevent the penetration of moist oceanic air masses into the interior. As a result, the Mexican Highlands are characterized by an arid climate. The absence of high mountains in the north allows cold air masses to penetrate into the interior of the country.
In northern Mexico, the average temperature in July is + 25 ° C, and in January - 10 ° C. In summer, the heat here reaches + 45 ° C. In the Mexican Highlands, sharp drops in temperature in winter and night frosts in summer harm agriculture. In the tropical part, average annual temperatures do not exceed + 25 ° ... + 27 ° C.
Precipitation is distributed extremely unevenly. The northern and inland areas are experiencing a lack of moisture. There falls from 100 to 200 mm. precipitation per year. The minimum amount of precipitation falls on the California Peninsula (20 mm), and the maximum (5000 mm) in the southeast of the country. On the Mexican Highlands an average of 300-500 mm falls, and on the Gulf Coast - more than 4000 mm. in year.

The southern part of Mexico, which is constantly exposed to humid air masses from the ocean, is characterized by excessive moisture. The main amount of precipitation occurs between April and October.
Soil resources. The soil cover of Mexico is very diverse and varies from east to west, due to the decrease in rainfall in this direction.
About a quarter of the country's territory is occupied by soils of tropical and subtropical deserts - gray soils. Their development for agriculture is possible only with irrigation. They occupy the California Peninsula and significant areas in the north and northwest of the country. In steppe regions with a moderately humid climate, brown soils are common, and in steppe regions with an arid climate, chestnut soils are common. In the central regions of the country, fertile red-brown and brown-red mountain soils, formed on volcanic rocks, predominate. They are used mainly in traditional consumer cultures. In the southern lowland regions, red-yellow red lateritic soils are common, formed in a humid tropical climate. Swamp soils occupy waterlogged areas in the southeast of the country. About a quarter of the territory is occupied by low-fertility soils in high mountain regions, which are almost never used in agriculture.
Half of the country's territory and almost all cultivated lands are heavily eroded.
Water resources. The problem of water supply is one of the most important. About half of the people live in settlements with poor water supply conditions. In most of the territory, agriculture is impossible without irrigation.
A dense river network is developed only in the south. There are few large rivers in the country. their length does not exceed 200 km. The largest river, the Rio Bravo del Norte, flows mainly through arid areas.
Only small sections of rivers on the plains are navigable. However, they are important for irrigation, especially the Rio Bravo del Norte, the lower Colorado, etc.
The rivers are rich in water resources. their hydroelectric potential is estimated at 15 million kW. More energy is used year in the Sierra Madre Oriental.
There are many small lakes in the country. The largest of them is Chapala.
Groundwater resources are almost twice the surface flow of all rivers. In the northern part of the country and the Yucatan Peninsula, they are the main source of water supply.
Forest resources. Forests cover 20.2% of the country's territory. The largest tracts of forest remain in the mountains and lowlands of tropical Mexico.

The species composition of forests is very diverse. The most common are coniferous and mixed forests, which occupy 60% of the forested area, and tropical forests - about 40%. The main species from which wood is harvested are pine, red cedar, and oak. They are the main timber exports and are used in the pulp and paper and wood chemical industries. Dying and tanning substances are extracted from some tree species. Medicinal and other wild plants are collected in the forests. Mexico produces 80% of the world's chicle juice.
Nature reserves and national parks have been opened to protect nature. Now in Mexico there are more than 50 national parks with a total area of ​​about 1 million hectares.
Population. The largest ethnic group in the territory of modern Mexico is the mestizos. They make up 60% of the total population. There are about 45 Indian tribes in the country, among which the Aztecs and Mayans predominate. The Indians live mainly in the central and southern regions, in the Yucatan and the northwest coast of the Pacific Ocean. Europeans make up 9% of the total population and live mainly in large cities.
The first estimates of the country's population date back to 1521. According to the data collected at that time, 9 million Indians lived in New Spain. By the end of the 18th century. their number decreased to 5 million. In 1803, A. Humboldt estimated the country's population at 5,800,000 people. At the time of the first census, which was conducted in 1895, there were 12,600,000 people living in Mexico.
At the beginning of the 20th century. The population in the country began to increase rapidly, mainly due to natural growth, and during the period 1920-1950. has doubled. High rates of population growth were observed in the 50s and amounted to 3.5% per year. For the period 1950-1970. The country's population has doubled again.
In 2001 There were 99,600,000 people living in Mexico. According to this indicator, the country ranks second in the region and eleventh in the world. The country's population grows annually by approximately 1,800,000 people. Over the past five years, the average population growth rate in the country has been 2.1% per year.
Fertility rate in Mexico in 2001 It was 24 people per 1000 inhabitants, and the mortality rate was 5 people per 1000 inhabitants. The main reason for the high natural population growth in the country was the reduction in mortality, especially among children. The infant mortality rate in Mexico is 25 per 1,000 births, which is almost half the world average.
The age structure is dominated by young age groups. Children under 15 years old make up 34% of the total population, and people over 65 years old make up only 4% (2000). In terms of average life expectancy in the region, Mexico lags only behind Costa Rica. The average life expectancy for men is 70 years, for women - 76 years.
The population is distributed very unevenly throughout the country. The average population density is almost 50.9 people per 1 km 2 (2001). According to this indicator, the country ranks only 111th in the world.
The population lives in isolated areas, which is explained primarily by mountainous terrain, problems of water supply in dry areas, as well as difficult conditions for the development of tropical areas. The highest population density is observed in the Federal District - over 6,000 people per km 2; in the State of Mexico - about 300 people. The least populated areas are the tropical forest and desert areas of California, where the population density does not exceed 2 people per km 2.
Mexico is a highly urbanized country. If in 1900 only 12% lived in cities, in 1950. - 29%, then at the end of the 90s - 75% of the country's population. The growth rate of the urban population is 1.5 times higher than the average growth rate of the country's population as a whole.
Mexico has about 50 large cities, of which four are millionaire cities, home to more than a quarter of the country's population. The capital, Mexico City, stands out in terms of numbers, importance and variety of functions. The city was founded on the site of the destroyed Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. At the beginning of the 16th century, according to scientists, it was one of the largest cities in the world, where about 300 thousand people lived. The city is located in the Mexican Valley at an altitude of 2240 m above sea level. Greater Mexico City has a population of 16,900,000 people (1996). Mexico City forms one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. In terms of population, it is the second city in Latin America and the second city in the world. More than 3 million people live in Guadalajara, the country's largest city on the Pacific coast. The cities of Monterrey and Puebla have more than 1 million inhabitants.
Mexico is characterized by a largely homogeneous religious composition of the population. About 95% of the population professes the Christian religion. Catholics predominate among Christians. In addition, many Indians adhere to traditional beliefs.
Features of development and general characteristics of the economy. Even in ancient times, agriculture developed in Mexico and gold and silver were mined. The indigenous Indians have reached a fairly high level of social development. However, their original civilization was destroyed by the Spaniards.
During the colonial period, the country began to develop the mining industry, mainly the mining of precious metals. Mexico became an important supplier of gold and silver to the metropolis.
In the post-colonial period, the structure of the mining industry expanded - copper, lead, zinc, coal, iron ore and oil began to be mined. Foreign capital, mainly English and American, played an important role in the development of this industry.
From the middle of the 19th century. The manufacturing industry began to develop - food and textiles. With the participation of American capital, the construction of railways began, which connected the country from the United States and were intended for the export of mining products.
By the end of the 19th century, three types of land tenure had developed in Mexican agriculture: latifundia, livestock farms - ranches and communities. The importance of agriculture as an export industry has increased. The Gulf Coast and northern states became major cotton producing areas. Tropical crops were grown for export - sugar cane, coffee, bananas, and in the northern states - cattle for transportation to the United States.

By the end of the 19th century. In Mexico, two important cells of economic life were formed - the Northern states and the Gulf Coast, where plantation farming and the mining industry developed.
In the 30s of the XX century. The process of industrialization began in Mexico. The manufacturing industry developed rapidly to meet the needs of the domestic market. Its share in GDP creation gradually increased, while that of agriculture decreased. In the post-war period, the country turned from an agrarian one into an agrarian-industrial one.
In 1983, Mexico moved to an open economy. Important economic reforms were carried out in the country - the privatization of state-owned enterprises, the reorganization of property in agriculture, the liberalization of foreign trade, and the attraction of foreign investment. At the end of the 80s, the government revised the basic principles of agrarian policy - completed agricultural reforms and created conditions for market relations in rural areas. In 1991, a law was passed across the country, according to which the peasant became the owner of the land and could sell or lease it.
In the early 90s, Mexico embarked on the path of intensive development of a market economy. Over the past three years, the GDP growth rate has already outpaced the population growth rate and amounted to 3%. Inflation dropped to 8%.
Industry is the most dynamic sector of the country's economy. 29% of GDP is created here and 26.3% of the country’s economically active population is employed. In terms of industrial production, Mexico ranks second in Latin America (after Brazil) and third among developing countries (after India and Brazil).
The industrial structure is dominated by manufacturing industries. Modern industries such as electrical engineering, instrument making, production of synthetic fibers, etc. are developing. Since the 70s, the role of the mining industry has been increasing due to the inclusion of oil in the country’s export structure.
Among the most acute problems of industrial development in Mexico is the hypertrophied concentration of industry in three centers: Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara.
The mining industry is a traditional industry that developed during the colonial period and was represented mainly by the extraction of precious metals.
Mexico accounts for 15% of the value of gross output of the mining industry in Latin America. 7.2% of the country's GDP is created here. In the structure of the industry, the leading place is occupied by the fuel industry, which is dominated by the oil industry.
Oil production for local needs began in the mid-19th century. in the state of Tabasco. In 1901. An American company began developing oil fields in the area. Tampico, the so-called "Golden Belt". In the 20s of the XX century. this area was one of the important areas of world oil production. Mexico has become the world's second largest oil producer after the United States. And the oil fields were exploited by foreign companies and for more than 20 years Mexico could not use its oil wealth to develop the national economy.
In 1938, the country's oil industry was nationalized and transferred to the state-owned company Pemex. Since that time, oil in the country has been produced mainly for domestic needs.
In the 70s, new oil fields were discovered in Mexico on the Gulf Coast. The main oil production area was the “New Gold Belt,” which stretches from the city of Reynosa in the north to the states of Campeche and Tabasco in the south, as well as the Gulf of Mexico shelf. Since 1975, Mexico has become an oil exporter.
In the mid-90s, the country produced about 140 million tons of oil annually, which accounted for 38.6% of the total production in the region. Almost half of the oil produced is exported. The main importer of Mexican oil is the United States. The increase in oil production in the 90s is associated with an increase in domestic consumption. Mexico is a member of the organization of oil exporting countries OPEC. Moreover, it coordinates only its oil policy with OPEC and is not associated with this organization’s restrictive quotas on oil production and sale.
Mexico has developed a modern oil refining industry. Oil refining capacity has reached 70 million tons. The Pemex oil company has about 200 oil refineries. About 2/3 of these plants are located on the Gulf Coast, far from many large consumption areas.
Natural gas. Mexico produces mainly associated gas - about 30 billion m3 annually, which is one third of its total production in the region. The country ranks second in natural gas production in Latin America (after Argentina). About 2/3 of natural gas production comes from the southern Gulf Coast. Significant deposits have been discovered in areas bordering the United States.
The coal industry in the country began to develop in the second half of the 19th century.
The main deposits of hard coal are located in the Sabinas basin in the state of Coahuila. The coal is of low quality and is developed only for our own needs.
The uranium industry began to develop in the early 80s in connection with the development of nuclear energy in the country. The main region for uranium ore mining is the state of Sonora.
Mining is a traditional industry that dates back to the pre-colonial period. For its development, Mexico has a variety of mineral resources. And the share of the mining industry in GDP creation is only 1%. American capital plays a major role in the development of the industry.
The traditional branch of the mining industry is the extraction of precious metals (silver and gold). The main share of gold is obtained from the processing of lead-zinc and copper ores, and silver - from the processing of polymetallic ores.
Mexico ranks first in the world in silver mining. Every year, 2.5 thousand tons of silver are mined in the country, almost half of its total production in the region.
Iron ore is mined exclusively for domestic needs. Annual production is about 8 million tons. The main deposits are Sierra de Mercado near Durango and La Perla near Monclova. Iron ore has a high sulfur content, making it difficult to use.
Mexico is among the main producers of manganese in the region. About 500 million tons of manganese ore are mined in the country annually.
Mexico occupies a significant position not only in the region, but also in the world in the production of lead and zinc ores. The country continues to hold sixth place in the world in sulfur production. Since the 1980s, Mexico has become a fairly large producer of phosphates thanks to the development of deposits in Baja California. Tin is mined for the needs of the domestic market.
Manufacturing industry. The share of this industry in GDP creation is 25.5%. The structure of the manufacturing industry is dominated by heavy industry: oil refining, petrochemical, non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, and mechanical engineering. The metallurgical and petrochemical industries are highly concentrated.
Ferrous metallurgy is a traditional branch of heavy industry. For its development, the country has a well-developed raw material base - iron ore, coking coal and manganese.
Ferrous metallurgy in Mexico arose at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1903, the first metallurgical plant was built in Monterrey. For four decades it was the only enterprise of its type not only in Mexico, but also in Latin America.
During World War II, the iron and steel industry's production capacity expanded. The main enterprises smelt ferrous metals located in the Northern and Central regions. Electrometallurgical plants have been built near the capital, which operate on imported raw materials. In the 70s, the country put into operation a metallurgical complex in Las Truchas on the Pacific coast, which operates on local iron ore and imported coking coal.
The largest centers of iron and steel industry are Monclova, Monterrey and Piedras Negras.
Despite the growth in production, Mexico's iron and steel industry does not meet the country's needs. Mexico imports a significant portion of ferrous metals.
Non-ferrous metallurgy. Precious metals - gold and silver - began to be mined in Mexico in the early years of colonization. From the second half of the 16th century. Mexico occupied a leading place in the world in silver mining, and at the end of the 20th century. already took first place.
About 2/3 of the silver produced is exported, mainly to the United States. In the domestic market, silver is used in folk arts and crafts, as well as for issuing coins.
Since the end of the 19th century. In Mexico, the smelting of heavy non-ferrous metals - lead, zinc, copper and tin - is developing. After the Second World War, in connection with the development of new branches of technology, light metals - titanium, beryllium, aluminum and magnesium - became increasingly important. Mexico occupies the leading positions in the region in the production of lead and zinc.
In the non-ferrous metallurgy of Mexico, part-cycle enterprises predominate. For example, only a quarter of its total production of zinc is smelted in Mexico, the rest is exported to the United States in the form of concentrates.
Mechanical engineering is a new branch of the manufacturing industry. In the industrial structure of mechanical engineering, the leading place belongs to transport engineering, especially the automotive industry.
In terms of the pace of development of production and exports of products, this is one of the most dynamic industries. Every year, 350 thousand cars are produced in the country. In terms of automotive production, Mexico ranks second in Latin America (after Brazil) and is among the second ten countries in the world.
The first automobile warehouse plant appeared in Mexico in 1925 and belonged to the American company Ford. In the post-war period, American, German and Japanese companies opened their branches here.
In the 70s, the rate of development of the Mexican automobile industry was twice as fast as the rate of development of the economy as a whole. Its share in the creation of GDP.
Mexico's automotive industry is divided into two sectors: modern, export-oriented, and traditional, which produces less competitive products for the domestic market.
The Mexican automotive industry is characterized by a high level of concentration of enterprises in Mexico City, Puebla and Toluca.
Enterprises of the electronic and electrical industry are located in the border zone with the United States. These are mainly factories that produce simple products from imported parts. The main centers are Mexicali and Tijuana. The modern type of shipbuilding industry arose after the Second World War. This industry produces fishing vessels, tankers, and bulk carriers. The main shipbuilding centers are Veracruz and Mazatlan.
The chemical industry emerged during the Second World War. Mexico's natural resources can support the development of many branches of the chemical industry. With the participation of foreign capital, enterprises have been created in the country that produce sulfuric acid, mineral fertilizers, pesticides, and artificial fibers.
In basic chemistry, the main place is occupied by the production of sulfuric acid, which is used for the production of mineral fertilizers. Mexico is among the top ten largest producers of nitrogen fertilizers in the world, annually producing 1,300,000 tons of this product.
The largest centers for the production of sulfuric acid and mineral fertilizers are Monclova and Cuautitlan.

Since the 60s, the organic synthesis industry has been developing in Mexico, represented by the production of synthetic rubber, plastics, and synthetic detergents. The main area for the chemical industry became the Gulf Coast, with numerous resources of oil, natural gas and sulfur.
The food industry is one of the important industries both in terms of product value and number of employees. Its oldest industry is the sugar industry, the first enterprises of which appeared in the colonial period. Until the 60s, the sugar industry worked mainly for the domestic market and only a small part of the sugar was exported to the United States. In the second half of the 60s, a “sugar boom” began in Mexico, due to the fact that the United States stopped importing sugar from Cuba. Sugar has become one of Mexico's important exports. Canned food and coffee are also of export importance. Mexico is among the top ten largest producers of coffee and sugar, ranking third and seventh respectively in the world.
The largest center of the food industry is Mexico City, where half of the industry's enterprises are concentrated.
The textile industry in Mexico began to develop earlier than in other countries in the region. The first enterprises appeared in the 30s of the 19th century. It works mainly on local raw materials - cotton, artificial and synthetic fibers. Only woolen fabrics are partially produced from imported raw materials. The main centers of the textile industry are Mexico City and Puebla.
Agriculture. The level of agricultural development in Mexico is low. The share of agricultural land is 50.7% of the total land fund. In the structure of agricultural land, cultivated land accounts for only 12.9%.
The level of land security per inhabitant is low, especially considering the rapid population growth. If at the beginning of the 20th century. for each person in Mexico there were 0.38 hectares. of cultivated land, then in the 90s this figure decreased by 2 times and amounted to 0.2 hectares.
Agricultural lands are distributed very unevenly throughout the country. A high level of agricultural development of the territory is observed in the Central, Central Pacific and South Pacific states, where 3/4 of the rural population lives. In the Northern states, half of the territory is occupied by pastures. Land development on the Gulf Coast is hampered by unhealthy climatic conditions and swampy areas.
To increase the area of ​​cultivated land, irrigation, which has a long history in Mexico, is important. The indigenous people of the country were engaged in irrigated agriculture even before colonization. Today, a quarter of Mexico's arable land is irrigated. In terms of area of ​​irrigated land, the country ranks first in the region and is among the top ten countries in the world.
During the post-colonial period of development, the sectoral structure of agriculture did not undergo significant changes. Agriculture continues to be the leading branch of agriculture. It accounts for 2/3 of the value of gross agricultural production.
The specialization of agriculture is determined by cotton, coffee, sugar cane and tomatoes. Corn, rice, sorghum, beans and sugar cane are grown for the domestic market. Vegetables and fruits are grown for domestic needs and for the foreign market. Cotton, coffee, tomatoes and henequin are important exports.
The structure of sown areas is dominated by food crops - corn, wheat, rice, sorghum and beans. they are grown in small plots throughout the country. Grains predominate among food crops. The main grain crop is corn.
Corn is grown everywhere in Mexico up to an altitude of 3000 m. It occupies almost 2/3 of the total cultivated area. The bulk of crops are located in the central states. In terms of corn acreage, Mexico is second only to the United States.
Wheat ranks second in the structure of grain crop areas. It is grown in rain-fed areas and on irrigated lands in the northern and northwestern regions of the country.
Rice began to be grown during the colonial period in the mountain valleys in the central regions. Today, 2/3 of the gross rice harvest comes from the North Pacific states and the Gulf Coast.
Mexico's grain industry is characterized by a fairly high level of development. Wheat yield is the highest in the region - an average of 42.0 c/ha. Every year, the country harvests more than 25 million tons of grain, which accounts for a third of the gross harvest of Latin America. Mexico ranks 15th in the world in grain production (1996). However, grain farming does not satisfy the country's internal needs.
Beans are Mexico's second most important food crop. In terms of cultivated area, the country is second only to India and Brazil. The main bean crops are concentrated on land in the central and southern states.
Potatoes have been grown since ancient times in mountain valleys. Potato areas are also found in the central states at an altitude of 2000 m. The low yield of potatoes is explained by climatic conditions unfavorable for growing this crop. In tropical areas, sweet potatoes are grown.
Mexico is the birthplace of tomatoes. they are grown for domestic consumption and for export, mainly to the USA.
Various varieties of peppers are grown everywhere. Its largest cultivated areas are concentrated in the central states, where pepper is grown at altitudes of up to 2000 m. Most of the crop is exported to the USA.
Technical ones are grown on plantations and on peasant farms. About a third of the cultivated area is occupied by them.
Cotton is the main industrial crop of Mexico, which has been grown in Mexico since ancient times. Even before colonization, indigenous people knew how to make fabrics from cotton fiber. During the colonial period, cotton was grown only in tropical coastal areas. Since the 30s of the XX century. The main area for its cultivation in the country has become irrigated lands in the northern and northwestern states. In the post-war period, cotton growing became a leading agricultural sector. Every year, an average of 150 thousand tons of fiber is collected in the country, accounting for 10% of the total gross collections in Latin America. According to this indicator, Mexico is second only to Brazil in the region. Mexican cotton varieties are common in many countries around the world, primarily in the United States. Only a third of the total gross harvest of this crop is consumed on the domestic market.
Agaves occupy a place in Mexican agriculture. It is a versatile crop whose leaves produce coarse fiber used for roofing and animal feed. Agave stems, when baked, are eaten, and the juice is used to make the alcoholic drink pulque.
Coffee is an important plantation crop that gained commercial value back in the 19th century. Mexico is the second coffee producer in Latin America and the third in the world, after Brazil and Colombia. Every year the country produces on average more than 300 thousand tons. Coffee accounts for 10% of its total production in the region.
The coffee tree in Mexico is grown in the shade of other trees. The main coffee growing region is the southeast of the country. On the tropical coast, varieties of coffee are grown that are consumed in the domestic market. Export coffee varieties are grown on plantations located on mountain slopes 500-1000 m high.
Mexico has favorable conditions for growing sugar cane. This culture was brought to the country at the beginning of colonization. Sugarcane is grown in irrigated areas and in the state of Veracruz on the Gulf Coast.
Sugarcane is Mexico's second most valuable export crop. The country ranks second in Latin America in terms of its production. About 40 million tons of sugar cane are harvested annually. There are sugar factories near the sugar cane plantations.
Oilseed crops grown in Mexico include sesame and soybeans. The most common oilseed crop in the country is sesame. It is grown mainly in the Pacific states. Every year, about 170 thousand tons of sesame seeds are collected in the country. Mexico is the world's third largest producer of this seed after India and Sudan.
In the post-war period, areas under peanuts and soybeans were expanded in Mexico. A significant amount of edible and technical fats is obtained from the processing of palm fruits.
Plantation fruit growing in Mexico began to develop at the end of the 19th century. The most important fruit crops are bananas, pineapples and oranges.
Much attention is paid to viticulture. More than 500 thousand T. grapes are harvested in the country every year. Mexico is Latin America's fourth largest grape producer after Argentina, Chile and Brazil.
Livestock farming is a traditional branch of the country's agriculture, accounting for a third of the value of agricultural products.
Natural forage lands in the north and northeast of the country create favorable conditions for the development of pasture livestock farming. However, livestock farming in Mexico is not yet developing enough. Low purchasing power of the population slows down the production of meat and dairy products.
Mexico is dominated by extensive pastoralism, which specializes in cattle breeding.

The economic core of the area is formed by the city of Monterrey - the second most important city in Mexico after Mexico City, with a developed ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, electrical and chemical industries, as well as food and textile industries.
Other important cities in the area: Monclova, Durango, Saltilbo, Chihuahua, The Gulf Coast region includes five states. Occupies 12% of the territory, where 12.5% ​​of the population lives. The highest population density is in the state of Veracruz, where half of the area's population is concentrated.
The territory of the region is predominantly flat. The climate is humid tropical. Its territory is crossed by fairly large rivers that flow into the Gulf of Mexico. The area has large potential hydro resources. A significant part of the territory is covered with tropical forests. Dense forests, extensive wetlands and frequent river floods make development of the area difficult. In terms of mineral resources, oil and sulfur are of greatest importance.
The area's specialization is determined by the extraction and processing of oil and natural gas. Large oil refineries and petrochemical complexes operate here. Agriculture specializes in the cultivation of tropical plantation crops - sugar cane, coffee, tobacco, citrus fruits. Henequin is grown on the Yucatan Peninsula. Rich natural pastures contribute to the development of livestock farming. Almost all types of transport are well developed in the area. Wide roads predominate, running from the interior to the coast.
The economic core of the area is the Veracruz metropolitan area. It remains today the main sea gateway on the east coast. This is one of the oldest ports in the country, built by the Spaniards for the export of precious metals. It developed such industries as shipbuilding, ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, textile and food industries.
Important cities in the area: Minatitlan, Coatzacoalcos, Xalapa, Campeche, Merida, Ciudad Pemex, etc.
The North Pacific region includes five states and occupies 21% of the territory and is home to 8.4% of the country's population.
The region's territory is predominantly flat; mountains occupy a significant part of the California Peninsula. The climate is arid, the amount of precipitation gradually decreases towards the south. east to mon.-west. The territory is crossed by rivers flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Water resources are widely used for irrigation. The most important mineral resources are manganese and copper ores and table salt.
The specialization of the region is determined by irrigated agriculture, which produces marketable products for domestic and foreign markets - cotton, wheat, tomatoes, tobacco, sugar cane. In addition to agriculture, the mining industry is developing in the area, mainly the extraction of non-ferrous metal ores.
The manufacturing industry is developing in the areas bordering the United States. The so-called “maquiladoras” are common here - assembly plants that depend on the main US factories and specialize in the production of export products.
The main cities of the area: Mexicali, Tijuana, Hermosilbo.
The South Pacific region includes four states and covers 12% of the territory and is home to 11.4% of the population. The region's specialty is fishing, a significant part of which is exported, mainly to the United States. The majority of the area's residents are Indians. Half of all indigenous people in Mexico live here.
The territory of the region is mountainous, the plains stretch in a narrow strip along the Pacific coast. In terms of mineral resources, oil and iron ore are important. This is one of the most backward areas. Plantation agriculture specializes in the cultivation of coffee, sugar cane and tropical fruits. Fishing is developing on the coast. The construction of one of the largest metallurgical complex in Mexico in Lazaro Cardenas was of great importance for the economy of the region. Rich oil deposits discovered in the state of Chiapas open up broad development prospects for the area. The area has great opportunities for tourism development. The center of foreign tourism is the seaside resort of Acapulco.

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Mexico It is the 13th largest country on the globe in terms of area. The variety of resources that nature has endowed Mexico with is due not only to its unique geographical location between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and its simultaneous location in the tropics and subtropics, but also to its very unique, predominantly mountainous terrain.

All of these factors determine very diverse agroclimatic resources of Mexico.

Relief

Mexico spread out on an area of ​​1972550 square kilometers. It is located in the south of North America. The east coast is washed by the Atlantic (with the help of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea), the west by the Pacific Ocean (not without the participation of the Gulf of California).

Mexico includes and a number of islands located on both sides of the land.
The Highlands cover the lion's share of the state and consist of 2 parts: Northern and Central Mesa. The plateau has a large area, which is located at an altitude of one to two thousand meters above sea level. The highlands on the ocean side are limited by mountainous Sierra Madre ranges: Western (about 3 km high) and Eastern (about 4 km high), respectively.

In the south of the country stretches the Transverse Volcanic Sierra range, consisting of extinct, dormant and active volcanoes. In total there are over 300 of them. This is one of the largest volcanic belts. Its length is 880 km and its width ranges from 50 to 100 km.

The highest peaks of the volcanoes are covered with snow caps. The highest point in the country is volcano Peak Orizaba(Pico de Orizaba, 5611 m.). The California Peninsula is formed by a mountain range about a kilometer high. The plains on the territory of the country are present mainly in Yucatan.

Climate

As we have already written above, Mexico located in two climatic zones. If in the north and west of the country the weather is usually dry and cool (annual precipitation 90-250 mm, temperature fluctuations from +10-15 °C from November to April, to +20-25 °C from May to October), then in the south and east of the country it is humid and warm (annual precipitation is 2000-3000 mm, temperature fluctuations from +20-25 °C from November to April, to +30-35 °C from May to October). In the central regions of the highlands, precipitation is unlikely, and the temperature is +10-20 °C.

Due to the pronounced relief, there is also a significant difference in temperature depending on the height above sea level. Air humidity, in turn, depends on tropical cyclones and is most important in the area Gulf of Mexico.

Water resources

Marine water resources Mexico has it in abundance. But due to climatic conditions and terrain features, the distribution of fresh water resources is extremely uneven. While in the north and west of the country there are only fast-flowing mountain rivers, on the east coast and in the south of Mexico there are longest rivers.
The most significant are the following water arteries (data shown without tributaries and only the part that flows through Mexico).

Gulf of Mexico Basin:
Aktopan (length 112 km, basin area 2001 sq. km);
Antigua (length 139 km, basin area 2827 sq. km);
Grijalva (length 608 km, basin area 83,213 sq. km);
Candelaria (length 150 km, basin area 9628 sq. km).
Casones (length 910 km, basin area 62881 sq. km);
Coatzacoalcos (length 325 km, basin area 17,369 square kilometers);
Nautla (length 124 km, basin area 2785 sq. km);
Nekasha (length 375 km, basin area 7903 sq. km);
Panuco (length 510 km, basin area 84956 sq. km);
Papaloapan (length 354 km, basin area 46,517 sq. km);
Rio Bravo del Norte (length 2018 km, basin area 226,280 sq. km);
San Fernando (length 400 km, basin area 17,744 sq. km);
Soto la Marina (length 416 km, basin area 21,183 sq. km);
Tonala (length 300 km, basin area 5679 sq. km);

Hamapa (length 368 km, basin area 4061 sq. km);
Pacific Ocean Basin:
Akaponeta (length 233 km, basin area 5092 sq. km);
Aquillilla (length 50 km, basin area 194 sq. km);
Ameka (length 205 km, basin area 12214 sq. km);
Atoyak (length 200 km, basin area 17,109 sq. km);
Baluarte (length 142 km, basin area 5094 sq. km);
Balsas (length 771 km, basin area 112,320 sq. km);
Cañas (length 203 km, basin area 7114 sq. km);
Colorado (length 179 km, basin area 5180 sq. km);
Culiacan (length 875 km, basin area 15,731 sq. km);
Magdalena (length 335 km, basin area 25,808 sq. km);
Mayo (length 386 km, basin area 15,113 sq. km);
Matape (length 205 km, basin area 6606 sq. km);
Ometepec (length 115 km, basin area 6922 sq. km);
Papagayo (length 140 km, basin area 7410 sq. km);
Piashtla (length 220 km, basin area 473 sq. km);
Presidio (length 200 km, basin area 6479 sq. km);
Rio Grande de Santiago (length 562 km, basin area 76,416 sq. km);
Rio Fuerte (length 540 km, basin area 590 sq. km);
San Lorenzo (length 315 km, basin area 8919 sq. km);
San Nicolas (length 201 km, basin area 2330 sq. km);
San Pedro Mezquital (length 255 km, basin area 26,480 sq. km);
Sinaloa (length 400 km, basin area 260 sq. km);
Sonoita (length 311 km, basin area 7653 sq. km);
Sonora (length 421 km, basin area 27,740 sq. km);
Suchiate (length 75 km, basin area 203 sq. km);
Tehuantepec (length 240 km, basin area 10,090 sq. km);
Tijuana (length 181 km, basin area 3231 sq. km);
Tomatlan (length 203 km, basin area 2118 sq. km);
Tushpan (length 150 km, basin area 5899 sq. km);
Yaki (length 410 km, basin area 72,540 sq. km);
Caribbean Sea Basin:
Rio Hondo (length 150 km, basin area 2688 sq. km).

Despite the apparent abundance of rivers, and there are more than 150 of them, they are unevenly distributed, and about half of the country's population suffers from a lack of drinking water. Agriculture also mainly depends on irrigation with river waters.

Navigation is possible only on a few rivers. But nevertheless, the rivers, especially in the east of the country, have sufficient hydro resources, and the energy potential is approaching fifteen million kilowatts. In total, more than 50 hydroelectric power plants have been built on the rivers of Mexico. The most ambitious project is a series of four dams on the river Grijalva.

Mexico has many small lakes. The largest, Chapala, has a mirror area of ​​1,100 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of 10 meters. Montebello National Park is a group of almost six dozen small lakes with absolutely unimaginable colors from sky blue and dark blue to rich turquoise. In general, Mexico has a wide variety of lakes - from volcanic to underground.

Where surface water resources are insufficient, underground sources are used. For example, on the peninsula Yucatan This is the only source of drinking water. The preliminary assessment of groundwater reserves is positive, and assumes twice the volume of available surface water.

Soil resources

Land resources of Mexico largely depend on soil cover. And it, in turn, depends on the climate and terrain. Much of Mexico and virtually all agricultural land is subject to significant erosion.
20-25% of the soil cover is gray soils. They predominate in the north and northwest in desert areas and are suitable for cultivation only with constant irrigation.

Chestnut soils are characteristic of drier areas of the steppe, while at the same time, where the climate is more humid, the steppes are covered with brown soils. Red-brown and red-brown soils of mountain volcanic origin are especially fertile. The humid tropical climate has formed a red-yellow soil cover in the southern region of the country. Southeast Mexico is covered with swampy soils.

Agricultural enterprises skillfully use the natural conditions and resources of Mexico by cultivating consumer crops characteristic of each region.

Vegetation

Forest resources of Mexico occupy about 20% of the entire territory. At the moment, the largest forests remain only in the tropics and on mountain ranges. The most common forests are coniferous and mixed, their volume reaches 60%, while tropical forests occupy only 40% of the forested area.

Mexican vegetation, the main stereotype, occupies only the desert northern part of the country and consists of all kinds of acacias and mimosas, rubber plants, Larrea tridentata (with root penetration depths of up to 100 meters), about five thousand varieties of cacti and the pride of Mexico - agave. By the way, agave is represented by almost 150 species, for example, sisal is made from Agave Furcreiiformes for the production of paper, ropes and packaging fabric.

Wet central regions of Mexico covered with mixed forests in which hornbeams, plane trees, lindens, hickory, magnolias, etc. grow, and conifers. The latter are represented by firs, cypresses, cedars, and Monte Summa pine. In the temperate region, evergreen species are joined by oaks and liquidambra. And if at an altitude of up to 1500 meters deciduous trees dominate, then above that pine predominates. Alpine meadows lie near the snow caps of the volcanoes.

Southern tropical regions of Mexico They also contain mixed forests, but only in the highlands. Basically, there are dense evergreen forests with an abundance of palm trees, bamboos, as well as valuable tree species - mahogany, logwood, cedrela, guayacan.
The eastern slopes with high humidity are covered with broad-leaved forests with some species of lianas and tree ferns.

Industry breeds that have industrial value, is pine, red cedar and oak. Most of the wood cut down is sent for export. Part of it is used for the needs of the pulp and paper and wood chemical industries (production of tanning and dyeing reagents). Mexico produces more than 80% of chicle juice, leading the world.

Fauna

Natural resources of Mexico include a rich fauna. The location of the state provides for being in two zones at once: neoarctic and neotropical wildlife.

In northern forest areas Frequent representatives are the bear, forest lynx, raccoon, steppe coyote, wolf and other forest animals.
In deserts and steppes There are wild felines, prairie dogs, kangaroo rats, hares and others. The puma is a frequent guest, as are wild boars, pronghorns and other animals of the neotropical zone.

Fauna of the south of the country It also includes many representatives of nature: howler monkeys and spider monkeys, jaguars, Central American tapirs, Mexican tamandua (anteater), opossums, raccoon and Mexican porcupines.

Diversity of birds is represented by a variety of hummingbirds, parrots (red macaw and others), as well as toucans, naked-necked umbrella birds, American and royal vultures and others.

Reptile world represented by common iguanas, olive sea and land turtles and numerous reptiles.

Marine representatives, especially shrimp, lobsters, orange crabs, oysters, bluefin tuna, sardines, marlins and others are of great commercial importance.

Recreational resources

Recreational Resources of Mexico include the worldwide resort areas of Acapulco and Cancun, as well as the Riviera. More than fifty corners of wildlife have the status of national parks. They have an area of ​​about one million hectares.
These are the White Sands of the Tularosa Desert, the mountain forests of Bosanchev and Cumbres de Monterey, the volcanic reserves of Pico de Orizaba and La Molinche, and the national park of all kinds of birds. Water pearls of Garrafon, and. And the famous Crocotown Nature Reserve, where they breed the Yucatan species of crocodiles.

is a natural aquarium located in a mountain cave and filled with sea and fresh artesian water. Incredibly clear water and a variety of colorful tropical fish, as well as many different algae have unusual color combinations.

Krokokun Park It is famous not only for its breeding of local reptiles, but also for its rich collection of flamingos, tiger pythons, rare parrots, spider monkeys and white-tailed deer.

Natural parks Bosenchev and Cumbres de Monterey amaze with the beauty of their pine thickets.
The water world of Garrafon Park is replete with the colors of coral reefs and the ruins of the Mayan civilization.

Rich in mangroves, lagoons of incredible beauty and wild jungle. Here you can easily find not only turtles, but also exotic birds.
This is only a small part of Mexico's tourism resources. This country is so multifaceted that every visit will be filled with new impressions.

Mineral resources

Mineral Resources of Mexico contain many different minerals. Natural resources graphite production in Mexico ranks first in the world. And the total reserves of various minerals have a fifteen percent share in the region. Among the industrially mined ones are antimony, sulfur, mercury, gold, cadmium, bismuth, tin, tungsten. The mined ores have a high-quality composition. Hydrocarbon resources in Mexico include rich reserves of oil, natural gas and anthracite. The country also has significant reserves silver, iron and uranium. In terms of reserves of manganese ore, Mexico is also among the leaders in the region.

The wide variety of fossils is caused by the special geological structure. Natural resources for development industry in Mexico also include deposits of lead-zinc ores. In general, the country occupies one of the leading places in terms of reserves and development of various deposits.

Mexico also has a leading position (second in Latin America after Venezuela) in production oil and gas. Offshore deposits are especially rich.
The country has more than two hundred deposits mercury. This allows Mexico to confidently occupy 3rd position in the world.

More than half of reserves silver on the American continent is also located in Mexico. A quarter of the gold reserves are located right there.
Mexico is also one of the leading developers of sulfur deposits. Almost half All reserves of the American continent are located in this country.

Mexico is located in the south of North America and occupies most of Middle America. In the north, Mexico borders the United States (namely the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas), the length of the border is 3141 km. East of the city of Ciudad Juarez to the Gulf of Mexico, the border follows the winding Rio Grande River. Several natural and man-made markers define the US border west from Ciudad Juarez to the Pacific Ocean.

Mexico is washed from the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, and from the east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. In the southeast, Mexico borders Guatemala (871 km) and Belize (251 km). Mexico is the northern part of Latin America and the most populous Spanish-speaking country.

Almost the entire territory of Mexico is on the North American Plate, only Baja California is on the Pacific Plate and the Cocos Plate. In terms of physical geography, the area east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which makes up 12.1% of the country's territory and consists of the five Mexican states of Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan, is located in Central America. Geologically, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt separates the northern region of the country. Geopolitically, Mexico is considered a North American country.

The total area of ​​Mexico is 1,972,550 square meters. km, including about 6 thousand sq. km of islands in the Pacific Ocean (including Guadalupe Island and the Revilla Gijedo archipelago), the Gulf of California and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. In terms of area, Mexico ranks 14th in the world.

The length of Mexico's coastline is 9,330 km - 7,338 km on the Pacific side and 2,805 km on the Atlantic side. Mexico's exclusive economic zone, which extends 370 km from both coasts, covers an area of ​​2.7 million square meters. km. The width of the Mexican land mass decreases as it moves south of the US border, and then curves north to form the 500-kilometer Yucatan Peninsula, so that the capital of Yucatan state, Merida, is further north than Mexico City or Guadalajara.

Relief of Mexico

Iztaccihuatl Volcano, located near Mexico City. Mexico is crossed from north to south by two mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre Occidental, which are an extension of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Running from east to west, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, also known as the Transverse Volcanic Sierra and Sierra Nevada, runs through the center of the country. It contains the highest mountains in Mexico: Peak Orizaba (5700 m), Popocatepetl (5462 m), Iztaccihuatl (5286 m) and Nevado de Toluca (4577 m).

The Mexican Highlands are located between the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental ranges, stretching from the US border in the north to the Transverse Volcanic Sierra in the south. A low ridge divides the highlands into two parts - Northern and Central Mesa. The states of Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi are located on the territory of Northern Mesa; the average height of this part of the highlands is 1100 m. The Northern Mesa plateau is crossed by narrow individual ridges and depressions, the largest of which is Bolson Mapimi. The height of the Central Mesa is 2000 m, and on its territory there are numerous valleys formed by ancient lakes. Mexico's largest cities, Mexico City and Guadalajara, are located in the valleys of the Central Mesa.

Mexico statistics
(as of 2012)

The ridges of the Baja California Peninsula stretch along the California coast to the southern end of the peninsula, a distance of 1,430 km. The height of the mountains is from 2200 m in the north to 250 m in the south, near the city of La Paz.

Several large mountain ranges are located in the southern and southeastern parts of the country. The Sierra Madre Sur stretches 1,200 km along the southern coast of Mexico from the southwestern part of the Transvolcanic Belt to the almost flat Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The average height of the mountains of this range is 2000 m. To the south of the isthmus, the Sierra Madre de Chiapas range begins, which stretches 280 km along the Pacific coast from the border of the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas to the border with Guatemala. The average height of the ridge is 1500 m, the maximum is 4000 m (Takuma volcano)

Geological structure and seismic activity of Mexico

Mexico lies almost entirely on the North American Plate. The territory of Mexico is located on three large lithospheric plates and is one of the most seismically active areas on the planet. Plate movements lead to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The North American Plate, on which most of Mexico is located, is moving westward. The Pacific Ocean floor south of Mexico rests on the Cocos Plate and moves north. During the collision, the heavy ocean floor sinks beneath the lighter granitic land masses, creating the deep Central American Trench along the southern coast of Mexico. The North American Plate slows and collapses, forming the mountain ranges of southern Mexico. Subduction of the Cocos plate causes frequent earthquakes in southern Mexico. As ocean floor rock sinks, it melts and is then pushed through plate faults, creating the volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in central Mexico.

The Gulf Coast of California, including the Baja California peninsula, is moving northwestward on the Pacific Plate. Moving along each other, the Pacific and North American plates form a transform fault, which is the southern extension of the Californian San Andreas fault. Continuous movement along this fault formed the Gulf of California, separating Baja California from the mainland, and is the source of earthquakes in western Mexico.

Mexico's history has seen many devastating earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In September 1985, an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter in the subduction zone near Acapulco, killed more than 4,000 people in Mexico City, more than 300 km away. The Colima volcano, south of Guadalajara, is Mexico's most active volcano and its last eruption in 2005 forced the evacuation of surrounding villages. The Paricutin volcano in the northwestern part of the country appeared in 1943, formed in a corn field, and in 10 years grew to a height of 2700 m. The Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes (“smoking warrior” and “white lady” in the Nahuatl language) are dormant and sometimes emit plumes of smoke, reminding residents of Mexico City of possible eruptions. Popocatepetl resumed activity in 1995 and 1996, forcing residents to evacuate and seismologists and the government to ponder the possible consequences of a large-scale eruption.

Hydrography of Mexico

River basins in Mexico: blue is the Pacific Ocean, brown is the Gulf of Mexico, and yellow is the Caribbean Sea. Internal (drainless) basins are marked in gray.

About 150 rivers flow through Mexico, 2/3 of which flow into the Pacific Ocean, and the rest into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Despite the obvious abundance of water resources, their distribution throughout the country is very uneven. Five rivers - Usumacinta, Grijalva, Papaloapan, Coatzacoalcos and Panuco - account for 52% of the average annual surface water volume, with four of them (excluding the Panuco) flowing into the Gulf of Mexico and are located in southeastern Mexico (15% of the country's territory and 12% of the population ). The northern and central parts of the country (47% of the territory and almost 60% of the population of Mexico) have access to less than 10% of water resources.

About 10% of Mexico's total population lives in the Balsas River basin, which is located in the south of the country. Mexico's largest freshwater lake, Chapala, is located 45 km southeast of Guadalajara. Lake Texcoco used to have a large area, but was drained in 1967 due to constant flooding.

On the Yucatan Peninsula there are a large number of so-called cenotes - natural wells formed when the limestone crust is eroded by rainwater, which then merges with underground rivers.

Climate of Mexico

The Tropic of Cancer divides Mexico into tropical and temperate climates. Temperatures in areas north of the 24th parallel are lower in winter (average annual temperatures range from 20 °C to 24 °C), while in areas to the south the temperature is relatively constant and depends mainly on altitude - from an altitude of 1000 m ( the southern parts of both coastal plains and the Yucatan Peninsula) average temperatures range between 24 °C and 28 °C.

At altitudes from 1000 to 2000 m, the average temperature ranges from 16 °C to 20 °C. Above 2 thousand meters the temperature drops to a range of 8 °C - 12 °C. In Mexico City, which is located at an altitude of 2300 m, the average temperature is 15 °C. Precipitation in Mexico varies greatly depending on the time of year and area. Areas with a dry climate: Baja California, northwestern Sonora, northern and part of the southern highlands. The level of precipitation in these regions is 300-600 mm/year or less. In most populated areas of the southern highlands, including Mexico City and Guadalajara, the average annual precipitation is 600-1000 mm/year.

The low-lying coastal areas on the Gulf of Mexico side receive more than 1000 mm of precipitation per year. The wettest region, the southeastern part of the state of Tabasco, receives about 2000 mm of precipitation per year. In the north of the plateau and in the Sierra Madre Oriental and Occidental mountains there is sometimes heavy snow.

Mexico is located in the hurricane belt and all coastal areas are exposed to hurricanes between June and November. On the Pacific side, hurricanes occur less frequently and are not very strong. Several hurricanes a year pass along the eastern coast of Mexico, bringing with them strong winds, rain and destruction. Hurricane Gilbert passed directly over the city of Cancun in September 1988, destroying many hotels, before reaching the northeast coast and causing floods in the city of Monterrey, which caused loss of life.

Soils, vegetation and fauna of Mexico

In the north and north-west of Mexico there are deserts (Chihuahua, Sonora) with primitive gray soils. Wetter areas have grey-brown soils suitable for irrigated agriculture. Grow: creosote bush, various acacias and mimosa, several hundred species of cacti, 140 species of agaves, as well as yuccas, sedums, dasilyrion and other succulents. The characteristic form of vegetation is chaparral.

The wetter southern areas of the Central Mesa have fertile red-brown, brown-red and reddish-black soils, on which traditional consumer crops are grown: beans, corn, tomatoes, as well as sesame, peanuts and others. Previously, this area was dominated by coniferous-hard-leaved forests. Currently, Central Mesa's soil is subject to intense erosion that threatens up to 90% of the country's overall agricultural land.

Mixed and coniferous forests of the subtropical type grow on the mountain ranges around the plateau. Up to an altitude of 1200-1400 m, low-growing oak forests grow mainly of evergreen species; above 1700 m, various types of pine trees dominate. Coniferous forests at altitudes up to 4,000 m contain fir, cypress, and the famous long-leaf Montezuma pine. Black bear, lynx and other animals are found in mountain forests. Above the forests on the volcanic cones, alpine meadows bloom.

The best preserved forests in Mexico are in the mountain ranges and plains of Yucatan east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, despite the cutting down of the most valuable species, the still practiced slash-and-burn agriculture and the increase in plantation areas. These forests make up 15% of the territory of all forests in the country (before the arrival of the Spaniards there were about 70%) under them.

The southern forests and woodlands are inhabited primarily by neotropical animals. There are monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, anteaters, marsupial opossums, and raccoons and porcupines come from the north. The world of birds is especially rich: hummingbirds, pied parrots, toucans, umbrella birds, vultures and many others. There are also many reptiles - iguanas, turtles and snakes.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/

I have always been attracted to Mexico, and I hope one day I will see this country with my own eyes. In the meantime, all I can do is read and watch programs about it, so I know the peculiarities of this country quite well. Today I will talk about the natural resources of Mexico.

Minerals of Mexico

The abundance of underground wealth in this country is due to geological factors. First of all, these are volcanoes, some of which are still active. As you know, most of the rare minerals are of volcanic nature, and therefore places where magma outflows become rich deposits. Volcanism is a manifestation of active geological processes, which leads to the formation of geological structures of different nature, which also contain valuable elements. Mexico is rich in geological units such as:

• folding;
• blocks;
• deflections.

The largest are folded areas composed of volcanic rocks. They are rich in silver and gold, zinc, lead, copper and other elements. In general, Mexico can be called a country that has reserves of almost all minerals. I would especially like to note the large oil and gas basin of the Gulf of Mexico.

Mexico: the country's natural resources

The main problem is scarce water resources, but groundwater is many times greater than surface water. Actually, due to this, it is possible to somehow stabilize the water supply. Water problems have become an obstacle to plowing up new lands, so much of the center and south remain untouched.

Forests cover up to a fifth of Mexico's territory, but are concentrated in the tropical part of the country. The wood is exported to other countries and used on the domestic market, but the main wealth of the local forests is chicle sap - the main component of chewing gum. More than 85% of these raw materials are produced in Mexico.

I would like to note the enormous energy potential of Mexico in the field of alternative energy supply. Today, projects are being implemented that will help implement it in the near future.