Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico, built atop the ruins of the ancient Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, and one of the largest and most populous metropolitan areas in the world.
Constructed layer upon layer atop a former Aztec capital that itself was built on an island in the middle of a lake, this sprawling metropolis continues sinking gradually into the drained lakebed beneath it.
Built on an Aztec Capital
Mexico City was built directly atop Tenochtitlan, the former capital of the Aztec Empire, following the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, with the ancient city's temples largely dismantled to build the new Spanish colonial city.
A Sinking City
Much of Mexico City was built atop a drained lakebed, causing significant portions of the city to gradually sink over time as groundwater is extracted from beneath the soft soil.
One of the World's Largest Metropolitan Areas
The greater Mexico City metropolitan area is home to over 21 million people, making it one of the largest and most populous urban areas anywhere in the world.
A Rich Cultural and Culinary Capital
Mexico City hosts an extraordinary concentration of museums, historic sites, and culinary traditions, reflecting a rich blend of Indigenous Aztec heritage and Spanish colonial influence.
