The capital of Mexico , Mexico City is one of the oldest cities in North America and one of the largest cities in the world .
Spanish Mexico  , or Ciudad de Mexico  , ancient ( Nahua , or Aztec ) Tenochtitlan city , capital of Mexico .

The capital of Mexico , Mexico City is one of the oldest cities in North America and one of the largest cities in the world .
It is located in the central Mexican plateau , in the Valley of Mexico -- more properly a basin -- just north of the Neo-Volcanica Range .

Mexico City sits on the bottom of an ancient dried-up lake .
It is located in the central Mexican plateau , in the Valley of Mexico -- more properly a basin -- just north of the Neo-Volcanica Range .

The city is about 7,350 feet ( 2,240 meters ) above sea level and surrounded by mountains .
Mexico lies in an endorheic ( characterized by interior drainage ) basin at an altitude of approximately 7,350 feet ( 2,240 metres) .

The city is about 7,350 feet ( 2,240 meters ) above sea level and surrounded by mountains .
It is walled in by the sierras of Monte Alto and Monte Bajo to the west , the Sierra de las Cruces to the southwest , and the sierras of Ajusco and Chichinautzin to the south .

Nearby are two volcanoes that can only be seen from the city on days when wind has cleared out the pollution .
Toward the east , the city ends in a plain that meets the Sierra Nevada , with its two extinct volcanoes , Ixtacihuatl ( 17,342 feet ) and Popocatepetl ( 17,883 feet ) , which were once a familiar sight from Mexico City but are now usually obscured by pollution .

Mexico City has a very bad pollution problem because the mountains around the city act as walls and block in dust and smog .
Air pollution -- made up mostly of ozone , suspended particles , and sulfur dioxide -- has affected the climate by partially blocking the Sun's rays .

Mexico City has a very bad pollution problem because the mountains around the city act as walls and block in dust and smog .
Poor air circulation out of the mountain-walled city aggravates pollution .

The plaza known as the Zocalo is the center of the city .
The Zocalo ( previously known as the Plaza Mayor and now officially called the Plaza de la Constitucion ) is the traditional hub of the city .

The Alameda Central , a park , is west of the Zocalo .
The Alameda Central ( Central Mall ) roughly marks the western edge of the old colonial city .

The Alameda Central , a park , is west of the Zocalo .
The Alameda Central , west of the Zocalo , was created in 1592 .

The park has a zoo , an amusement park , a castle , museums , gardens , lakes , and fountains .
Its grounds contain museums , a zoo , botanical gardens , an amusement park , lakes , and fountains .

The Zona Rosa ( Pink Zone ) , with its hotels , shops , and restaurants , is one of Mexico City's main tourist and entertainment areas .
The Pink Zone ( "Zona Rosa" ) is the main tourist and entertainment area .

At the southeastern tip of the city lies a small town called Xochimilco .
At the southeastern tip of the city , Xochimilco , another small town subsumed by the city , is a popular tourist destination because of its chinampas , or "floating gardens," boats made out of reeds on which the Indians have grown plants since pre-Columbian times .

It is a popular tourist attraction because of its chinampas , or floating gardens .
At the southeastern tip of the city , Xochimilco , another small town subsumed by the city , is a popular tourist destination because of its chinampas , or "floating gardens," boats made out of reeds on which the Indians have grown plants since pre-Columbian times .

People known as mestizos are of mixed European and Indian descent .
The city was traditionally inhabited by mestizos ( people of mixed European and Indian descent ) and criollos ( Mexicans of European descent ) , but steady immigration from the countryside has given it a more Indian character .

People called criollos can trace their family back to Europeans only .
The city was traditionally inhabited by mestizos ( people of mixed European and Indian descent ) and criollos ( Mexicans of European descent ) , but steady immigration from the countryside has given it a more Indian character .

Most of the population of the city is Christian , and the vast majority is Roman Catholic .
Most Mexico City dwellers are Roman Catholic , although a number of Protestant churches have gained converts .

There is also a small but important Jewish community .
There is also a small but influential Jewish community .

Mexico City has always been one of the main cultural centers of Latin America , and much of the culture there is uniquely Mexican .
Mexico City has always been one of the prominent cultural centres of Latin America .

The Palace of Fine Arts is the home of the famous Mexican Ballet Folklorico , which is known for its colorful costumes as well as its dancing .
The downtown Palace of Fine Arts is the traditional concert and opera hall .

The most popular sports in the city are soccer and bullfighting .
The most popular spectator sports are football ( soccer ) and bullfighting .

The Plaza Mexico bullring is the largest in the world .
Plaza Mexico is the largest bullring in the world .

The National Museum of Anthropology is one of the best in the world .
The National Museum of Anthropology is generally considered the world's finest in its specialty .

Because Mexico City is the capital of Mexico , it is an important economic center for the country .
Modern Mexico City is the centre of the country's political , economic , and cultural life .

Industry , retail stores , finance , and communications are all centered there .
Even more than other economic activities , Mexico's financial services are concentrated in the capital .

In addition , banking , construction , and tourism are also very important to the city's economy .
Tourism is a major source of income .

The city's products include chemicals , plastics , cement , yarns , and textiles .
The main industries are construction and the production of chemicals , plastics , cement , and yarns and textiles .

The Aztec Indians founded a city on the site of modern-day Mexico City in the 14th century .
The Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico in the 13th century .

They believed that they received a sign from their god Huitzilopochtli when they saw an eagle perched on a cactus eating a serpent .
According to tradition , they founded Tenochtitlan ( "Place of the High Priest Tenoch" ) after much wandering when they saw on an island in Lake Texcoco the sign that their god Huitzilopochtli had indicated -- an eagle perched on a cactus , eating a serpent .

The eagle was on an island in Lake Texcoco .
According to tradition , they founded Tenochtitlan ( "Place of the High Priest Tenoch" ) after much wandering when they saw on an island in Lake Texcoco the sign that their god Huitzilopochtli had indicated -- an eagle perched on a cactus , eating a serpent .

On that island they founded the city they called Tenochtitlan .
According to tradition , they founded Tenochtitlan ( "Place of the High Priest Tenoch" ) after much wandering when they saw on an island in Lake Texcoco the sign that their god Huitzilopochtli had indicated -- an eagle perched on a cactus , eating a serpent .

The city grew rapidly and was the center of the Aztec's great empire .
Tenochtitlan quickly spread over the island , marshes , and swamps .

In 1519 , Aztec culture was forever changed when the Spaniards arrived .
When the Spaniards led by Hernan Cortes arrived in 1519 , Tenochtitlan had about 100,000 inhabitants .

Led by Hernan Cortes , the Spaniards fought a war against the Aztec .
When the Spaniards led by Hernan Cortes arrived in 1519 , Tenochtitlan had about 100,000 inhabitants .

Because the Spaniards had better weapons , Cortes and his army took over Tenochtitlan by 1521 .
Cortes razed Tenochtitlan in 1521 and constructed a Spanish city on its ruins .

They quickly destroyed the Aztec city and built a Spanish city in its place .
Cortes razed Tenochtitlan in 1521 and constructed a Spanish city on its ruins .

It soon became the most important city of the Americas .
It soon became the most important city of the Americas , with jurisdiction extending well into the present United States and as far south as Panama .

In the early 20th century the city was the site of fighting during the Mexican Revolution .
During the Mexican Revolution ( 1910-17 ) , the city became a battlefield .

The city continued to grow through much of the 20th century .
The city continued to grow , but its services deteriorated .

However , an earthquake shook Mexico City in 1985 , destroying many buildings and killing thousands of people .
An earthquake shook the city in 1985 , destroying many buildings and killing some 7,000 people .