Mexico’s Physical Geography

Chapter 7/ Section 1

Main idea:• Mexico’s physical

features include plateaus, mountains, and coastal lowlands.

• Mexico’s climate and vegetation include deserts, tropical forests and cool highlands.

• Key natural resources in Mexico include oil, silver, gold and scenic landscapes.

Physical Features

Mexico is mostly surrounded by water; Pacific Ocean to the west and Gulf of Mexico to the east

Interior landscape consists of a high rugged region called the “Mexican Plateau”

The plateaus sit in-between two mountain ranges the Sierra Madre Oriental, lies to the east and the Sierra Madre Occidental, lies to the west. Another mountain range found in southern Mexico is called Sierra Madre Del Sur.

The snowcapped volcano Popocatepetl near Mexico City is still active.

Mexico’s lowlands run down the east and west coasts.

The Yucatan Peninsula is mostly flat and limestone rock underlies much of this area.

Climate and Vegetation

Mexico has five different climate types:Humid tropical, tropical savanna, desert, steppe, highland

Changes in elevation cause climates to vary widely in a short distance. Example- high elevation on Mexican Plateau can have cool temperatures.

Mountain valley - mild climate, many people settle there.

Coastal areas have a warm climate with a summer rainy season

Yucatan Peninsula and northern Mexico have a hot and dry climate.

Natural Resources

Mexico is rich in natural resources

One of the most important resources is petroleum, or oil.

Gold and silver mines are still in operation today.

Mexico produces more silver than any other country in the world .

Mexico also mines, gold, copper, lead and zinc.

Physical Geography

Section one assignmentPage 171 Questions 1-4, in complete

sentences.