Mexican Plateau
Quick Summary
The Mexican Plateau is a vast, high-elevation region in Mexico, bordered by the Sierra Madre Occidental to the west and the Sierra Madre Oriental to the east. It is divided into two main sections: the Mesa del Norte and the Mesa Central.123
The Mesa del Norte, or northern section, slopes gently upward from the U.S.-Mexico border. It is largely arid, characterized by mountains, salt flats, and depressions. Population is sparse, concentrated in irrigated areas where crops like wheat and cotton are grown. This region also yields significant mineral resources, including lead, zinc, iron, and silver.2
The Mesa Central, or southern section, is higher and wetter than the Mesa del Norte. It features numerous lakes formed by blocked streams due to volcanic activity. Its temperate climate, rainfall, and fertile soils support extensive farming of crops like corn, beans, wheat, and sugarcane, as well as cattle grazing. This area is densely populated and includes major urban centers.3
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Mesa Central…the southern section of the Mexican Plateau extending south from the Zacatecas Mountains to the Bajío, a fertile region at the northern base of the Cordillera Neo-Volcánica. Lying at elevations of 6,000 to 7,500 feet (1,800 to 2,300 metres), the Mesa Central is considerably higher and wetter than the Mesa…
Read More…the southern section of the Mexican Plateau extending south from the Zacatecas Mountains to the Bajío, a fertile region at the northern base of the Cordillera Neo-Volcánica. Lying at elevations of 6,000 to 7,500 feet (1,800 to 2,300 metres), the Mesa Central is considerably higher and wetter than the Mesa…
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MexicoPhysiographic regions…populated region is the inland Mexican Plateau, which is flanked by the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental. The plateau consists of the vast Mesa del Norte (Northern Plateau) and the smaller but heavily populated Mesa Central (Mesa de Anáhuac). The Mesa del Norte begins near the U.S. border;…
Read More…populated region is the inland Mexican Plateau, which is flanked by the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental. The plateau consists of the vast Mesa del Norte (Northern Plateau) and the smaller but heavily populated Mesa Central (Mesa de Anáhuac). The Mesa del Norte begins near the U.S. border;…
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Sierra Madre…ranges enclose the great central Mexican Plateau, which itself is a part of the system—although the northern portion of the plateau also is considered to be part of the Basin and Range Province in the United States—and is broken by blocks of mountain ranges and large ephemeral drainage basins called…
Read More…ranges enclose the great central Mexican Plateau, which itself is a part of the system—although the northern portion of the plateau also is considered to be part of the Basin and Range Province in the United States—and is broken by blocks of mountain ranges and large ephemeral drainage basins called…
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