Mexico: Geography and Environment

Mexico sits at the meeting point of North and Central America, bordered by the United States to the north and Belize and Guatemala to the southeast. Its terrain includes the Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental mountain ranges, a central plateau where much of the population lives, and coastlines along the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.

The country lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, giving it significant volcanic and seismic activity, including active volcanoes such as Popocatepetl. Climate ranges from arid deserts in the north to tropical rainforest in the south and southeast, supporting some of the world's richest biodiversity.

Environmental challenges include deforestation, water scarcity in central and northern regions, and air quality concerns in major urban centers such as Mexico City. Mexico has expanded protected natural areas and participates in regional efforts to address climate change and habitat loss.