Mexico is located along a subduction zone, where one slab of Earth’s crust—the Cocos oceanic plate—is sliding under another—the North American continental plate. The friction between the crusts causes strong and devastating earthquakes. Mexico City is built on soft soil, which intensifies the effects of earthquakes caused by these tectonic plates.
Why does Mexico City have earthquakes?
What is Mexico City?
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and is synonymous with the country’s Federal District. The term Mexico City can also apply to the capital’s metropolitan area, which includes the Federal District but extends beyond it to the west, north, and east. It is called México in Nahuatl and Ciudad de México in Spanish.