Geography (Mexico)
==================


     Total area:
         1,972,550 km2
     Land area:
         1,923,040 km2
     Comparative area:
         slightly less than three times the size of Texas
     Land boundaries:
         4,538 km; Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km
     Coastline:
         9,330 km
     Maritime claims:
       Contiguous zone:
         24 nm
       Continental shelf:
         natural prolongation of continental margin or 200 nm
       Exclusive economic zone:
         200 nm
       Territorial sea:
         12 nm
     Disputes:
         claims Clipperton Island (French possession)
     Climate:
         varies from tropical to desert
     Terrain:
         high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert
     Natural resources:
         crude oil, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
     Land use:
         arable land 12%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 39%; forest and
         woodland 24%; other 24%; includes irrigated 3%
     Environment:
         subject to tsunamis along the Pacific coast and destructive earthquakes in
         the center and south; natural water resources scarce and polluted in north,
         inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast;
         deforestation; erosion widespread; desertification; serious air pollution in
         Mexico City and urban centers along US-Mexico border
     Note:
         strategic location on southern border of US