Geo

Question 1

vertical climate zone

Answer 1

a climate zone that occurs as elevation increases, with its own natural vegetation and crops

Question 2

Inevitable

Answer 2

incapable of being avoided or evaded

Question 3

Differences in elevation

Answer 3

create distinct climate zones in Mexico and other high-altitude areas

Question 4

Why does Mexico have few major rivers and natural lakes?

Answer 4

Northern Mexico is generally characterized by a dry climate. This makes permanent waterways rare. The high mountain ranges and plateaus create temperate vertical climate zones that do not collect the volume of water that is more common in tropical regions. The few rivers and natural lakes that exist are found in the central part of the country and are generally small. One important exception is the Rio Grande. Known as the Rio Bravo del Norte in Mexico, it forms part of the border between Mexico and the United States. The Lerma River is one of Mexico’s most important rivers. It begins in the Toluca Basin, on the Central Plateau west of Mexico City. The Lerma River feeds into Lake Chapala, the largest natural lake in Mexico.

Question 5

Gulf of Mexico

Answer 5

is the large body of water that forms Mexico’s east coast. It supports diverse sea life including an ancient sea creature known as the manatee. The Gulf of Mexico is famous for shrimp and supplies the fishing industry in both the United States and Mexico. The waters in the Gulf of Mexico are calm and the waters are warm.

Question 6

Gulf of California

Answer 6

divides the Baja Peninsula from the northern coast of Mexico. This body of water supports a remarkable diversity of aquatic animals. These include several types of whales, the giant Pacific manta ray, endangered leatherback sea turtles, and great white sharks.

Question 7

How does climate affect human activities in Mexico?

Answer 7

The climate of a particular region inevitably affects the way of life that people have in each place. For example, people who graze cattle on the Northern Plateau anxiously await rain each year. The farmers in the valleys of the Central Plateau depend on their climate to help them get enough water for their crops. The three factors that influence Mexico’s climates are the regional high-pressure systems, the northeast trade winds, and the vertical climate zones.

Question 8

Northern Mexico

Answer 8

is defined as a chaparral biome. It has mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The plant life consists of cacti, shrubs, and shrub oak. High winds and low-growing plants make the soil in this region good for grasslands. The soil is also thin and rocky, however, so it is not good for crops.

Question 9

Southern Mexico

Answer 9

has a variety of biomes. In the lower altitudes along the coasts, the climate is hot. On the east coast, daily rainfall and high humidity occur. This biome supports very diverse plant and animal life and is essentially a rain forest.

Question 10

Minerals

Answer 10

are an important part of Mexico’s economy, especially silver. In the ‘Silver Belt’ on the Mexican Plateau, both industrial and precious minerals are mined. Zinc, bauxite (the ore of aluminum), lead, gold, mercury, cadmium, and such trace minerals as antimony, manganese, and copper are also important. Timber, fish, and agricultural products are also a significant part of Mexico’s economy.

Question 11

Petroleum

Answer 11

is a leading petroleum-producing country. Petroleum exports account for a large share of foreign-exchange earnings. Mexico ranks thirteenth in the world for crude oil exports. About three-fourths of Mexico’s electricity is generated by thermal power plants that are fired mainly by oil and natural gas. Another one-tenth of Mexico’s electric power is created by nuclear power and renewable resources of wind, solar energy, and biomass (plant materials and animal waste used as a source of fuel).

Question 12

Copper mining

Answer 12

takes place in the Mexican copper belt in the west part of the country.