Lesson 48:
Political Features of Mexico
Mexico is the largest country inMiddle America. It is located south of the United States.Mexico
shares it northern border with theUnitedStates for nearly 2,000miles. From the border of theUnited
States, the land stretches southward for 1,600miles.There,Mexico shares a border withGuatemala.
ThepopulationofMexico is nearly 110millionpeople. It is the thirdmost populated country in the
WesternHemisphere.Only theUnitedStates andBrazil (which youwill study about inSouthAmerica)
have larger populations. To find jobs and provide for their families, people in Mexico have
been moving from rural areas to cities. Today, nearly 75% of Mexico’s population lives
in urban areas. The population shift from rural areas to cities has caused serious problems
for Mexico’s leaders. Overcrowded cities have shortages in housing, jobs, clean drinking water, and
other public services.
Mexico City
, the capital of Mexico, is the most populated city in the Western Hemisphere,
and one of the world’s most populated cities. More than 18million people live inMexico City and its
metropolitan area.
ACTIVITY:
Listedbeloware themajor citiesofMexico, includingMexicoCity.Use thenumbers to label thesecities
on the next page.
0
1.MexicoCity
0
2.Guadalajara
0
3. Puebla
0
4. Juarez
0
5.Tijuana
0
6. Leon
0
7.Monterrey
0
8.Veracruz
0
9. Acapulco
10.Tampico
COPYRIGHT
95
PENNSVALLEY
Mexico
Mexico City
was once the
capital city of the
ancient Aztec empire.
It is the oldest capital
city inNorth and
South America.
Spanish invaders, led
by Cortes, conquered
the city in 1521.
