Download Chapter 6 Section 2 Mexico`s Economy

Chapter 6
Section 1
Mexico’s Land
A) The Land
• Mexico forms part of a land
bridge between NA& SA.
• Pacific Ocean borders on the
West.
• Gulf of Mexico borders to the
East.
• Baja California Sur is a
peninsula.
B) Land of the Shaken Earth
• Has rugged landscape
(mountains, volcanoes,
earthquakes)
• Why? Plates of earths crust
collide for billions of years.
• Famous volcano (Popocatepetl)
nicknamed “El Popo.”
• Country is called “land of the
shaking earth.”
1) Mountains and Plateaus
• 3 major mountain ranges in Mexico.
• -Sierra Madre Occidental (runs N to S
along western Mexico)
• -Sierra Madre Oriental (runs along
eastern side)
• Sierra Madre del Sur (SW mexico.)
• The mountains surround the Plateau
of Mexico which covers 40% of the
country.
2) Coastal Lowlands
• Many of the countries
longest rivers flow through
the coastal lowlands.
• Rio Grande forms a border
between US and Mexico. It
empties into the Gulf of
Mexico.
C) Climate
• Latitude and altitude affect
Mexico’s climates.
• Mexico’s mountain ranges
create 3 altitude zones.
• On the coastal plains it is
“Hot land” (tierra caliente)
very hot and humid all year.
Dense rainforest are also
located here.
Climate Con’t
• As you climb mountains the
temperature becomes cooler or
moderate. (tierra templada)
Farmers grow variety of crops.
• At the top of mountains it is
very cold (tierra fria) little or no
plant life.
• Mexico’s mountain ranges
create 3 altitude zones.
Mexico’s flag
• Colors of flag: Green,
White, Red
• Middle of Mexico’s
flag is a coat of arms.
The coat of arms is a
picture of an eagle
sitting on a cactus
eating a snake.
• Flag adopted in 1821
Mexico’s
Economy
the mid-1990’s the United States,
Mexico and Canada approved a
trade agreement called
__________________.
*In
ECONOMY
• Manufacturing and mining are vital to
the economy.
• 20% of world’s silver is mined in
Mexico
• Service industries (tourism,banking)
strengthen Mexico’s economy.
• Rich in minerals, poor in fertile land.
• Only 11% of Mexico’s land can be
farmed on. Why? (Mountains,
Volcanoes, Deserts,Rainforests)
Silver
• Example of
where they
mine Silver
in Mexico.
A) 3 Economic Regions
•
•
•
•
•
1) Central MexicoEconomic heart of the country.
60% of people live in this area
Good conditions for agriculture
Large Industrial cities (Mexico
City,Guadalajara.)
• Mexico City is huge for this region
• 27 million people, center of
Mexico’s gov’t.
•Picture
of
Mexico
City
2) The North
Baja California and northern part of
Plateau of Mexico.
Farming is limited b/c of dry conditions.
Grow cotton, fruits, cereals,vegetables
Ranchers raise cattle,sheep,goats, and
pigs.
Ranching began in Mexico
The U.S- Mexico border has experienced
an increase in maquiladoras.
Mine copper, silver, lead and zinc
Lots of factories that assemble parts (ex)
cars, computers, stereos.
Cars,Stereos,Computers
• Mexico has
lots of
factories that
work on cars,
computers,
and stereo
parts.
3) The South
• Southern edge of Mexico City to the
Yucatan Peninsula.
• People are extremely poor.
• Subsistence farming (vocab word) is
very common.
• Very rare are plantations where coffee
and sugarcane is grown.
• Tourism is very important because of
historical monuments and beautiful
Looks Like Florence KY
• Beautiful
Beaches
of
Southern
Mexico.
B) Economic Challenges
• Mexico is being industrialized (lots of
factories)
• Problems are land, pollution, and
finding jobs.
• 1) Pollution- Mountains block flow of
air
• Cars and factories leave thick air, or
smog-very bad to breathe
• Kids at school wear masks when on
recess.
Remember Recess
• At recess in
Mexico
students
have to wear
masks
because the
air is so bad
Economic Challenges
• 2)Foreign Debt• To help its economy grow, Mexico
borrowed money from foreign banks.
• 3) Jobs/Population• Mexico’s population is growing twice
as fast as U.S.
• Can’t provide jobs for everybody
• Some people move to U.S. illegally to
find jobs.