Up next in 10
How Mexico City Grew So LARGE And Why It's Facing An Existential Problem
191 views
Apr 2, 2025
Listen to the companion podcast episode here: https://linktr.ee/geographyiseverything Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geographybygeoff/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geographybygeoff Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/geography-is-everything Linktree for everything: https://linktr.ee/geographybygeoff Mexico City is the largest city in North America by far at about 22 million people in its metro area. But despite being such an overwhelmingly dominant city, it's facing an existential crisis due to some absolutely god awful geography. So how did Mexico City grow to be so large? And what does its future hold if it can't fix its underlying issues? Templo Mayor image by GAED - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21219627 Stock footage is acquired from www.storyblocks.com. Animation support provided by DH Designs (needahittman.com)
View Video Transcript
0:00
Mexico City is incredible to behold
0:02
It's home to nearly 22 million people in the metro area, multiple global corporations
0:08
and a unique mixture of European and Aztec architecture. Unfortunately, the city is also located
0:14
in the worst possible location for a city of its size, leading to entire areas of the city
0:19
to sink by considerable amounts. So how did Mexico City grow so big
0:24
and why is it sinking? Hello and welcome to another episode. Today we're going to do a deep dive on a single city
0:35
Mexico City. Now normally I like to make videos that span a country or maybe even a few states
0:40
But today's episode is the first in a series of episodes on the concept of the megacity
0:45
and the geography that accompanies them. Mexico City of course is very unique
0:50
mostly because it's incredibly dominant within the country of Mexico, but also because it has some truly awful geography, and we're going to explore why that is today
0:59
But first, the spookiest holiday is right around the corner, and we've made a podcast all about it
1:06
If you're at all curious about the origins of the holiday, how it spread around the world
1:10
and how different regions of the world celebrate it, well, check out the episode right after this video by clicking this link or checking out the description below
1:18
Long before the arrival of European settlers, the Valley of Mexico was already a hub of civilization and culture
1:29
The land that would eventually become Mexico City was once Lake Tacoco
1:33
surrounded by smaller communities that predated even the Aztecs. However, it was the Aztecs, also known as the Mexica
1:40
who truly transformed the area into a thriving civilization. Founded in 1325, the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan
1:48
was built on an island in the lake and connected to the mainland by a series of causeways
1:53
It was an architectural marvel, complete with towering pyramids, grand plazas, and intricate cs for transportation and agriculture
2:02
At its peak, the city was home to around 200,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the world at that time
2:09
To put this number in perspective, Paris and Milan had around 150,000 people at this time
2:15
and London, home to about 15 million people today, was home to only around 80,000
2:20
However, this flourishing civilization was brought to a halt with the arrival of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in 1519
2:28
Initially received as a guest by the Aztec ruler Montezuma II, the relationship quickly soured due to cultural misunderstandings
2:35
and Spanish greed for gold. Cortés was eventually driven out of Tenochtitlan
2:39
but returned later, forming alliances with other indigenous groups who were enemies of the Aztecs
2:45
Besieged from within by smallpox and from without by the Spanish and their allies
2:49
Tenochtitlan fell in a relatively short period of time on August 13th 1521 The conquest had devastating effects on the local population both from the violence of the siege and from the diseases brought by the Europeans
3:02
Tenochtitlan was largely destroyed, its treasures looted and its temples razed. On its ruins, the Spanish built Mexico City
3:10
establishing it as the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The colonial rulers imposed their culture
3:16
language and religion on the indigenous people, profoundly altering the social and cultural fabric of the region
3:22
Throughout the colonial period, Mexico City was a symbol of Spanish authority
3:27
featuring grand cathedrals, palaces, and universities that reflected European architectural styles. However, it also remained a place where indigenous culture persisted, albeit in a modified form
3:38
Over the centuries, a unique culture emerged, blending native and European elements
3:43
giving Mexico an identity that spans both continents today. After gaining independence in 1821
3:49
Mexico City would retain its status as the political and cultural capital of the newly
3:54
formed country of Mexico. Today, it stands as a global city, a bustling metropolis that is both
3:59
modern and ancient, where skyscrapers tower over colonial churches and Aztec ruins
4:04
Mexico City is definitely one of the most unique cities in the world. The fact that it was built
4:09
over the remains of the Aztec empire only adds to that uniqueness. But as we're about to find out
4:15
its geography is interesting as well, and not really in a good way
4:19
But before we get to Mexico City's unique geography, if you're enjoying this video, hit that subscribe button
4:25
More fun geography videos are just a single click away. Situated in the Valley of Mexico
4:33
a large highland plateau in the central part of the country, Mexico City serves as the capital of the country of Mexico
4:39
and is one of the most populous and important cities in the world
4:43
Located at an elevation of more than a mile above sea level, the city is surrounded by towering mountain ranges
4:49
including the volcanoes of Popo Carapero and Ixtacuato to the southeast. Mexico City was originally built on Lake Tacoco, a natural lake within the valley
4:59
The Aztecs took advantage of the lake's resources by building a series of cs
5:03
for transportation and agriculture. However, after being conquered, the Spanish would drain
5:07
the lake to control flooding and expand the city, fundamentally changing its geography
5:12
This decision has had lasting consequences, including land subsidence and water scarcity
5:18
draining the lake also left behind clayey soil, a material that is prone to earthquakes
5:22
and, as a result, seismic activity is a constant concern for the city's inhabitants
5:28
In terms of climate, Mexico City has a subtropical highland climate owing to its elevation
5:33
This results in a milder climate than many other regions at the same latitude
5:37
However, the city faces significant environmental challenges, such as air pollution, which is exacerbated by the valley's geography that tends to trap smog
5:45
Urban sprawl has also spread the city out into the surrounding areas creating a metropolitan area that is one of the largest in the world This has also led to a variety of land use types within the city from densely populated downtown areas filled with high to sprawling suburbs and informal settlements
6:03
One of the most striking features of Mexico City's geography is its juxtaposition of the old and new
6:08
In the historic center, you'll find the remnants of the city's past, including Aztec ruins like the Templo Mayor
6:14
as well as Spanish colonial architecture. Contrastingly, neighborhoods like Santa Fe represent the city's push towards modernity, filled with contemporary skyscrapers and shopping
6:23
centers. Water supply is another critical geographic issue for Mexico City. Due to the
6:28
draining of Lake Tacoco and the demands of a large population, the city faces a water crisis that
6:33
requires it to pump water from underground, causing further subsidence and increasing the
6:38
risk of earthquakes. The geography of Mexico City is a complex blend of natural and human-made
6:43
elements, and while the city is a wonder to behold, the unfortunate reality is that the city also
6:48
faces a very severe problem. It's sinking rapidly. Mexico City is sinking, and this is a phenomenon
6:59
that has been observed for several decades now. Once a city surrounded by a network of lakes and
7:04
cs, the capital of Mexico has seen significant transformations to its geography, largely due to
7:09
human intervention. And this all started when the original Spanish colonizers began draining the
7:14
lake on which the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was built to control flooding to make room for
7:19
expansion. The extent of the sinking is alarming. In some areas, the city has been sinking at rates
7:24
as high as about 20 inches per year, although the average across the city is around 4 inches per year
7:30
This rapid descent has had a multitude of consequences, including damage to buildings
7:35
roads, and critical infrastructure such as sewage lines and water pipes. So, why is Mexico City sinking? Well, one primary reason is the extraction of groundwater
7:44
for the city's needs. With a burgeoning population and inadequate water supply, Mexico City relies
7:50
heavily on underground aquifers. However, the rate at which water is being pumped far exceeds the
7:55
rate of natural replenishment. As water is extracted, the soil compacts and loses its
8:00
ability to support the city above, causing the land to sink. Another contributing factor is the
8:06
clayey soil on which Mexico City is built. The lakebed sediments have a high clay content
8:11
which also contributes to the soil's compressibility and makes it prone to subsidence
8:16
And because the sinking is not uniform across the city, it's led to an uneven descent that strains infrastructure
8:21
and makes the city vulnerable to flooding and earthquakes. Thankfully, there are efforts underway to combat this crisis
8:27
and water management is at the forefront of solutions. Rainwater harvesting programs are being implemented to reduce dependence on underground aquifers
8:35
Investments are also being made in infrastructure to bring water from other sources, although this is an expensive and resource intensive solution
8:41
Wastewater treatment for reuse is another strategy being considered to alleviate the water crisis
8:47
Unfortunately for Mexico City the ground that has already contracted in various areas of the city will never again be right to its original location After the soil contracts and the buildings sink no amount of re the soil beneath will push those buildings back into place
9:02
But while there are efforts to combat this, there's no perfect solution in place
9:06
which puts Mexico City on a path towards abandonment in about 150 years. This would
9:11
be a disaster for Mexico because, well, the city is far and away its most economically and culturally
9:17
dominant city. Mexico City, the capital and largest city of Mexico, exerts a considerable
9:26
influence over the country in multiple dimensions, from politics and economy to culture and media
9:32
Often described as a primate city, Mexico City dwarfs other Mexican cities in terms of population
9:38
economic output, and cultural significance. While this centralization has advantages, it also poses challenges that reverberate across the entire country
9:46
In economic terms, Mexico City serves as the financial hub of the country
9:50
It is home to the Mexican Stock Exchange and the headquarters of numerous multinational corporations
9:55
such as American Mobile, Inbursa, and Grupo Bimbo. All told, the city accounts for around 16% of the entire country's GDP
10:04
making it an overwhelming force of economy within the country. To put this in perspective
10:08
New York City accounts for around 8% of the United States' GDP
10:12
still large, but much less economically dominant than Mexico City. Politically, Mexico City is also incredibly important to the country
10:20
As the capital, it's the seat of the federal government institutions, including the president's residence, Congress, and the Supreme Court
10:27
This complete centralization of politics and economy have led to some criticisms within the otherwise very large country
10:33
that Mexico City receives more than its fair share of, well, everything
10:37
Finally, not only is Mexico City politically and economically dominant, but it's also incredibly important culturally
10:43
Mexico City is the epicenter of Mexican arts, music, and literature. It houses numerous museums, galleries, and theaters
10:50
that set the tone for the country's cultural discourse. National media outlets are primarily based in the city
10:56
shaping public opinion and popular culture. But again, while this concentration of cultural assets
11:02
has made Mexico City a global city, it can overshadow regional cultures and identities
11:07
making it challenging for local traditions to gain national or international recognition
11:12
Mexico City completely dominates the country of Mexico in almost every metric
11:16
Unfortunately, the city also has some of the worst geography I've ever seen for a megacity
11:22
While the fact that it's literally sinking would be enough for any city, it's also beset by earthquakes and has some very, very, very bad air pollution
11:30
To sum it all up, Mexico City has a lot of problems that it needs to solve very soon
11:35
I hope you enjoyed learning more about Mexico City and its place within Mexico. If you did, please subscribe to my channel
11:42
If you want to listen to the podcast episode, you can click here. If you want to watch another of my videos, click here
11:47
Thanks for watching. See you next time
#education
#Historical Sites & Buildings