Mexico Today

10.3 Pg. 229

Mexico’s Regions

Divided into 31 states and the capital district. Useful to divide the country 4 regions to study.

Greater Mexico City

Greater Mexico City is the cultural, economic and political center of Mexico.

Huge metropolis includes many smaller cities and may hold a fourth of Mexico’s entire population.

Monumental government buildings. Countries largest university is there. Aztec ruins.

Continued

Draws many new residents. Too few jobs. Some people live in huge settlements of shacks

built from waste wood and sheet metal, have no electricity, sewer or safe water supply.

Great wealth also exists in Mexico City. Terrible air pollution.

Mexico City

Central Mexico

Stretches northwest of Mexico city and across the Mexican Plateau.

Mexico’s second-largest city, Guadalajara. Fertile valley dot central Mexico. Once the great grain producing area Once cash crops were grown here – crops grown

for sale in a market.

Guadalajara

Gulf Lowlands and Southern Mexico Used the regions hot humid tropical forests and

savannas for grazing for growing sugarcane. Large forests areas have been cleared for

commercial farming and ranching. Veracruz, an important seaport and

communications area. Rich deposits of oil and natural gas have long been

key to this region.

Veracruz

continued

Yucatan Peninsula is Mexico’s poorest region. Few cities and little industry.

Schools are inadequate, more and more people head north for jobs.

Northern Mexico

One of the most prosperous parts of the country. New and Modern. Roads are good and telephones work well. Factories and commercial farms draw migrant

workers from all over Mexico. Read Border Towns on pg. 232.

Northern Mexico Economy