What is so special about the location of Mexico City?
score:6
Many capital cities are located at a confluence of available water, moderate climate, and transportation intersections. This would describe Paris, London, Rome, and Mexico City. Many capitals in the US, including many state capitals, are 'in the middle' of two powerful interest groups. The US capital is situated on the boundary between what were Slave and Free states.
If one looks at Mexico from the satellite maps, the east lowlands are hot, humid, and exposed to hurricanes, the west is mountainous, the north is desert, and the south is jungle. I've driven through Mexico City, and it is polluted, but I noticed immediately that aside from that the climate was pleasant. The area is halfway between the Pacific and the Caribbean, keeping it from baking in the summer as would happen if it were farther north.
One other temporary capital of Mexico has been San Louis Potosi. I spent a day in the downtown touring some of the colonial buildings.
Upvote:1
The reason why the location of Mexico City is, "so special", is because "Once upon a time", it was the Capital of the Aztec Empire; in late Medieval and early Modern times, it was called, "Tenochitlan". Even when the Spanish Conquistador arrived in the early 1500's, he would have entered into the city of "Tenochitlan"-(and not "Mexico City").
In fact, there are many Aztec ruins within Mexico City and there may have actually been a Pyramid in the middle of the city. Although Tenochitlan may not necessarily have matched the awesome looking and older city of Teotiuchan-(approximately 30 miles away), Tenochitlan was probably an impressive looking and ingenuously designed city in its own way.
Upvote:2
Mexico City, despite its other faults, has a number of desirable "central" characteristics.
It is not in the "linear" center of the country, but it is near the "centroid" of the country, insofar as about equal numbers of the population live in the (sparsely populated) area north of the city, and in the (densely populated) areas south of the city.
Its altitude is also "central," on a plateau between the northern and eastern lowlands, and the mountainous west. As a result, it is located in the (small) part of Mexico that has a relatively temperate (not tropical) climate.Life was more pleasant than elsewhere.
Located on a plateau, it is relatively defendable. Spanish (and America) invaders had to struggle to reach it, after landing at Vera Cruz.
It was originally located in the middle of a lake (most of which has been drained), which provided a good supply of fresh water for drinking and irrigation. It still has enough access to fresh water to support one of the world's largest cities (by population), which is unusual in Mexico.
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