Everything about The Valley Of Mexico totally explained
The
Valley of Mexico is a highland
plateau in central
Mexico roughly coterminous with the present-day
Distrito Federal and the eastern half of the
State of Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico was a center for several
pre-Columbian civilizations, including
Teotihuacan, the
Toltec, and the
Aztec. The ancient Aztec term
Anáhuac and the phrase
Basin of Mexico are both used at times to refer to the Valley of Mexico.
Geography
The Valley of Mexico is roughly 35 miles (60 km) east-to-west and 50 miles (80 km) north-to-south. The valley is an
endorheic basin, with no natural
outflow. As a result, before the
20th century, much or most of the valley was covered with a chain of inter-related lakes, including five lakes:
Texcoco,
Chalco,
Xochimilco,
Zumpango, and
Xaltocan. These have since been drained and little of their original expanse remains. The greater
Mexico City urban area covers almost the entire valley today.
Pollution
Air pollution associated with this urban environment, consisting primarily of
ozone,
sulfur dioxide, and suspended particles, is trapped by the natural contours of the valley. In
winter,
thermal inversions contribute to the pollution problem. This once led many organizations, from the
World Resources Institute to the
Guinness Book of World Records, to designate Mexico City as the most polluted major
city in the world, but it's now surpassed by many cities in the world, mostly in Asia. The pollution level has, however, decreased dramatically since the late
1980s and early
1990s. Whereas the air reached unhealthy levels for 355 days during
1991, it improved to 170 days in
2003 and 141 in
2004.
Climate
The Valley of Mexico averages roughly 7350 feet (2240 meters) above
mean sea level. Although the valley is located within a
tropical zone, the high altitude keeps it relatively
temperate. The annual
median temperature is between 61° - 64°F (16° - 18°C) and seasonal changes are small. Night frosts can occur in the coldest months, but even in January the average high is 70°F. April and May are the warmest months. The
rainy season, during which it usually briefly rains every day in the afternoon, normally lasts from late May until early October and accounts for 80% of the annual 33 inches (850 mm) of rainfall and moderates the usual dryness of the air.
Footnotes
Further Information
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