Latin America is one of the most highly urbanized regions in the world. To understand the reasons for this, let's turn to a brief historical digression.
Urban settlements in Latin America appeared long before its discovery by Columbus. As a rule, Indian cities served as administrative, cultural and religious centers. The cities founded by the Spaniards and the Portuguese had mainly administrative, military, commercial and religious functions. For the most part, they were the strongholds of European colonization - both on the ocean coasts and in the hinterland. Then mining centers began to appear in Mexico and Bolivia.
Gradually formed completely certain type colonial Spanish and Portuguese city with a characteristic rectangular layout. Here is how R. A. Pimenova describes such a city: “The main square, the Plaza Mayor, served as the center of the city; seaside cities). On the square there were buildings symbolizing the unity of the royal power and the church - the cathedral, the town hall, the governor's palace. Plaza Mayor was the center public life cities: royal decrees were read here, processions marched during royal holidays, fairs and bullfights were held. Eight main streets departed from the main square, two from each corner of the rectangle. City blocks were planned in the form of a square; thus, all colonial cities are characterized by a rectangular street layout. Private houses were built according to the same type as in the southern provinces of Spain: they are typical of courtyards - patios, surrounded by galleries overlooking them.
Until the beginning of the 20th century. about the process of urbanization in relation to Latin America, one can apparently speak with a certain degree of conventionality. By 1900, only about 10% of its population lived in the cities of the region. But then the pace of urbanization began to increase rapidly, which was associated both with immigration and with the deepening of the interdistrict and interstate division of labor.
In the second half of the XX century. Latin America, like other regions of the developing world, became the scene of a real "urban explosion", when the average annual growth rate of the urban population rose to 3-5% or more. As a result, the total number of urban residents increased from 67 million people in 1950 to more than 440 million in 2005, or 6.6 times! Accordingly, the level of urbanization also increased, which in 1950 was 41%, in 1960 - 49%, in 1970 - 57%, in 1980 - 65%, in 1990 - 72%, and in 2005 - 77% %. Now the share of the region in total strength The urban population of the world is almost 14%, second only to foreign Asia(Table 64 in book I). According to UN forecasts, in 2025 the number of city dwellers in the region may approach 700 million people. Countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, where 88 to 93% of the population lives in cities, are among the most urbanized in the world (Figure 52 in Book I). But at the same time, we must not forget that the "urban explosion" in Latin America is largely due to the migration to the cities of the poor rural population, and this gives it the character of the so-called false urbanization.
The process of urbanization in Latin America reflects all the main features of global urbanization. These primarily include the concentration of the population in big cities. In 1870, there were only 14 such cities in the entire region, in 1980 there were already 200 of them, and in 1990 - 300. Including the number of cities (agglomerations) - millionaires increased from 4 in 1940 to 42 in mid-1990s, when they already concentrated 38% of the entire urban population. Among these largest agglomerations, in size and importance, the four largest, belonging to the category of super-cities, Mexico City, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro stand out (Table 66 in Book I). The dynamics of their growth during the second half of the XX century. table 72 shows.
Mexico City is the oldest of the capitals of the Western Hemisphere. The city was founded by the Aztec Indians in 1325 under the name of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco. By the beginning of the Spanish conquests, Tenochtitlan had become one of the largest cities world with a population of 300 thousand (according to other sources - 500 thousand) people. After the capture and destruction of the Aztec capital by Hernan Cortes, the Spaniards built in its place new town- Mexico City, which became the capital first of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and in 1821 - of independent Mexico. In 1900, the population of Mexico City was 350 thousand, and in 1940 - 1, b million people, but later it began to grow much faster, an average of 5% per year. As a result, Greater Mexico City has become the largest agglomeration in Latin America and the second or third in the world. More than 1/4 of the country's GDP is produced in Mexico City, not only are higher authorities its legislative, executive and judiciary, but also many large enterprises, corporate headquarters. 3.5 million people, or 14% of the economically active population of the country, work in Greater Mexico City, 200 thousand industrial, commercial and other enterprises work.
Table 72
The population of Greater Mexico City is growing, firstly due to its high natural increase and, secondly, due to the constant influx of migrants. The ratio of these two factors at different stages was not the same. However, in the last two or three decades, in connection with the implementation of family planning programs natural increase tends to decrease, so that the value of mechanical gain increases. Already in the first half of the 1970s. its share accounted for half of the total population growth. Most literary sources the number of migrants annually arriving in Mexico City (mainly from the states of Central Mexico) is estimated at 300-400 thousand people.
Naturally, such a rapid population growth in Mexico City creates many complex problems. With such an "explosive" growth, the capital cannot provide many of its residents with either housing or work. Hence the growth of slums and so-called proletarian colonies - habitats for people with low incomes; 40% of the city's population lives below the poverty line. The transport problem is of great difficulty, especially in connection with the extremely insufficient development of public transport. The same can be said about the problem of water supply, which usually worsens during the dry season (November-April). Located at an altitude of more than 2000 m above sea level in a closed intermountain basin with relatively little rainfall, Mexico City is experiencing a lack of water. The city's main source of water supply is ground water, which are extracted using pumping units. As a result, only recent decades the city settled by about 7 m. Let us add that 20% of the population of the capital of Mexico is not provided with running water.
But perhaps even more serious for Mexico City is air pollution. Air pollution in Mexico City is overwhelming allowable norms causing allergic, cancerous and other diseases. Particularly harmful are the emissions of several million cars - main source smog formation. It is no coincidence that Mexico City, like Los Angeles, is often called a smogopolis.
The basis of the Greater Mexico City agglomeration is the Federal District established in 1970, covering 16 urban areas and occupying an area of 1.5 thousand km2 (Fig. 228). Central location it occupies the Cuauhtemoc area, named after the last supreme ruler of the Aztecs, who organized the defense of Tenochtitlan in 1520–1521. and executed by the Spaniards. Here is the government and business center the city, which, by the way, was especially badly damaged during the earthquake in September 1985. Neighborhoods with a predominance of the middle strata of the population grew around it. Aristocratic quarters occupy mainly the western and southern parts of the Federal District. In the 1950s an original complex was built in the south national university. And industrial areas are located in the northern and eastern parts of the district. Most of the proletarian colonies are also concentrated in industrial development areas. As for the slum quarters - thugourios, they can be found in many central areas.
In addition to the Federal District, the Greater Mexico City agglomeration also includes more than a dozen districts (municipalities) adjacent to the state capital of Mexico City. Satellite cities have formed here, acting as both independent industrial cities and bedroom cities, and their population is growing primarily due to the influx of migrants. The ratio between central city and suburban area at least until recently, constantly changed in favor of the latter.
Since the mid-1970s, when the General Settlement Law and the Federal District Development Law were passed, measures began to be taken to limit the growth of Greater Mexico City. At the same time, 14 regional "centers of balance" were identified - cities that were supposed to take on at least part of the functions of the metropolitan agglomeration. AT recent times All these measures began to lead to encouraging results. It is expected that in 2010 Greater Mexico City will have 22 million inhabitants, while relatively recently the figure of 25.5 million people was called.
The second place in the hierarchy of Latin American super-cities is occupied by Sao Paulo, second only to Tokyo, Mumbai (Bombay) and Mexico City in terms of population in the world.
The first small settlement on this site was founded by Jesuit monks on January 25, 1554, the day of St. Paul (hence the name of the city). Sao Paulo received city rights in 1711. But even after that, he long time remained a relatively small provincial town; in the 70s. 19th century its population was only 30 thousand people. However, already in 1900 it increased to 240 thousand, and in 1920 - to 580 thousand people, which is primarily due to the coffee boom and the massive influx of immigrants.
In the second half of the XX century. Sao Paulo has become the "economic capital" of Brazil, giving 2/5 of its industrial production, and, moreover, the largest industrial centre throughout Latin America. Naturally, this led to a very rapid growth in the population of the city, primarily due to internal migrations from the regions of the South and Northeast of Brazil, but also due to immigration. At the same time, the population of the city of Sao Paulo itself grew rapidly: in 1950 it was 3.7 million people, in 1970 - 5.9 million, in 1980 - 8.4 million, in 1995 - 9, 6, and in 2005 - 11.1 million people. The same can be said about the population of the entire Greater São Paulo (Table 72). In the 1960-1980s. it increased annually by 400-500 thousand people.
In the Greater São Paulo agglomeration (Fig. 229), three socio-geographical zones are usually distinguished.
First of all, it is the central zone, which primarily determines the architectural appearance of the city and where, “as far as the eye can see, tightly pressed against each other, there are twenty, thirty and fifty-story skyscrapers: rectangles stretched upwards, round towers, curved sinusoids.” The business center of the agglomeration is located here, the “elite” part of its population is concentrated mainly, and more than half of all families have incomes at least ten times higher than the established minimum wages. There are ministries, corporate headquarters, banks, the stock and commodity exchanges of the country, the coffee exchange, and most of the inhabitants are employed in the tertiary and quaternary spheres. With the onset of suburbanization in the 1980s. and the migration of the middle class to the suburbs among the inhabitants of the central zone, the number of less well-off people who settled in apartment buildings (corticos) increased.
Secondly, it is an intermediate zone, where the less well-to-do strata of society mainly live. It is characterized by much more high density development and a much less satisfactory state of housing. Thirdly, this is a peripheral zone - the habitat of the poorest layers, recent migrants from countryside where people live in conditions of extreme crowding. (In total, 1/3 of the population of São Paulo lives below the poverty line.) In these zones, industry already predominates - textile, clothing, leather and footwear, food flavoring, and engineering.
Numerous satellite cities practically adjoin the peripheral zone: Santo André, San Bernardo do Campo, San Caetano do Sul, etc. Most of them are distinguished by a narrower industrial specialization - the production of cars, synthetic fiber, rubber products , glass - and are characterized by a particularly complex environmental situation. One of these satellite cities - Kubatan, which is home to oil refining, petrochemical and cement enterprises - is usually cited as the most shining example pollution environment exceeding all allowable limits. It is not by chance that it is called the Valley of Death. Add to this that Greater São Paulo has approximately 4.5 million cars, and in terms of the amount of solid waste generated per inhabitant (1.3 tons) per day, it ranks first in Latin America.
Administratively, Greater Sao Paulo is divided into 38 districts, which are fairly large urban areas similar to the administrative districts of Moscow. As for the regional policy of the Brazilian government, it is aimed at unloading the agglomeration of Greater Sao Paulo, which is oversaturated with population and industry. To this end, 36 medium-sized cities located in its zone of influence were chosen as "growth poles". Indeed, in recent years, the population in these cities began to grow faster than in São Paulo. But the huge preponderance of this gigantic agglomeration continues to be preserved.
The population of Greater São Paulo is projected to reach 20.1 million in 2010.
The Greater Buenos Aires agglomeration ranks 15th in the world in terms of population and third in Latin America (Table 72). But its share in the entire population of Argentina (1/3) is noticeably larger than the share of Mexico City or Sao Paulo in the population of their countries. In terms of the number of inhabitants, Buenos Aires surpasses Cordoba, which follows it, by almost 10 times. It gives 1/4 of the total GDP of Argentina.
Buenos Aires, founded in 1536 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Mendoza on low-lying shore Gulf of La Plata, initial stage of its development was a rather provincial settlement, whose inhabitants were mainly engaged in smuggling. But already to early XVI 2nd century it became a major Spanish colonial city and port, from 1776 serving as the capital of the Viceroyalty of La Plata, and from 1880 as the official capital of the Argentine Republic. Since that time, the rapid growth of Buenos Aires begins. In 1914, its population exceeded 1.5 million, in 1920 - 2.3 million people. At this stage, the city grew mainly due to the influx of European immigrants.
Recently, the population of Buenos Aires has been increasing quite slowly, at less than 1% per year. The Greater Buenos Aires agglomeration, covering an area of 3800 km2, consists of two parts - the Federal Capital District and 19 districts surrounding it (Fig. 230). The ratio between them is constantly changing in favor of the suburbs, which already account for more than 1/3 of the total population of the agglomeration. This indicates a large scale suburbanization.
The Federal Capital District serves as the core of the agglomeration. It was here in the area of La Boca ("mouth") that the city arose in the 16th century. Here and now there are government offices, a business center, the main historical and architectural sights. Like others Spanish cities, the center of Buenos Aires has retained a very clear layout. Charles Darwin, who visited here in 1833, wrote that this city has one of the most regular plans in the world and all its streets are parallel to each other and have right angles. Of particular importance for transport are wide avenides, one of them (140 m wide) is considered perhaps the widest street in the world.
Describing Buenos Aires, Peter Vail notes that his architectural style is distinguished by fluidity, plasticity, smooth lines, the absence of right angles, asymmetry, and ornamentation. “At the same time, the widest streets and boulevards (there is even one of the widest in the world); round elegant squares; in contrast - narrow cobblestone streets, appropriate for completely different, Italian-German latitudes, streets; luxurious Opera theatre"Colon" that enjoys the benefits southern hemisphere and in its season gathers superstars languishing in the northern season; downright French street cafes; countless monuments to people, of which outside world known, as a rule, only Simon Bolivar and José San Martin; charming Recoleta - a cross between New York Soho and Parisian Montmartre; fashionable, with lawns, with yachts and boats at their moorings, cottages along the Tigre, an arm of the Rio de la Plata, leading to a grandiose delta, where as far as the eye can see is water, and it is impossible to believe that there are still more than a hundred kilometers to the ocean " .
The area of the suburbs included in the Greater Buenos Aires agglomeration is much larger. Some of them perform industrial functions, some - residential. Here you can find both areas of fashionable villas and villas miseria - poverty quarters.
In Argentina, attempts have already been made more than once to "unload" Buenos Aires, in particular from industrial enterprises. In April 1986, the government of the country announced its intention to move the capital of the republic a thousand kilometers to the south - to small town Viedma, which was supposed to not only stop the growth of Buenos Aires, but also contribute to the development of Patagonia. Although the implementation of this project has not yet begun, according to the UN forecast, in the first decade of the XXI century. the population of Buenos Aires will not grow; in 2010 it will amount to 12.8 million people.
The Rio de Janeiro agglomeration in the world "table of ranks" occupies a more modest 21st place. But in Latin America it is in fourth place.
This city was founded by the Portuguese in 1565 on the shores of Guanabara Bay. At first, it served as a military and administrative outpost, but after the discovery of gold deposits in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais and the development of the plantation economy, it turned into the main port of the country, as well as the center of the slave trade. In 1763, Rio de Janeiro became the main city of the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the residence of its viceroy. And in early XIX in., fleeing from the troops of Napoleon who occupied Portugal, the royal court of this country also temporarily moves here. In the 20s. 19th century Brazil achieves independence from Portugal and becomes a constitutional monarchy (empire). During this period, especially during the long reign of Emperor Pedro II, Rio de Janeiro acquires the typical features of a major metropolitan city, political and cultural center. The development of these functions continues after the proclamation of Brazil federal republic in 1889. It is not surprising that by the beginning of the 20th century. Rio de Janeiro has become largest city Latin America with a population of more than 800 thousand people. On the eve of the First World War, it exceeded 1 million.
Rio de Janeiro performed its capital functions until 1960, that is, until the official transfer of the capital to the new city of Brasilia. During this time, its role as a political center, port city, banker city, resort city took shape even more. Its industrial function has also been significantly strengthened. Having ceased to be the capital, Rio de Janeiro has lost some of its political and economic functions. Nevertheless, its agglomeration continues to grow (Table 72).
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America and the whole world. Its central part is occupied by a mountainous cape, which closes the entrance to Guanabara Bay from the west (Fig. 231). There are administrative, business and wealthy residential areas with skyscrapers and wide avenides, the famous five-kilometer Copacabana embankment with an ideal arch of beaches, which at one end rests on the picturesque Pandi Asukar mountain (“sugar loaf”). And as if in the rear of this area rises a higher mountain Corcovado (“hunchback”) with a huge white marble figure of Christ installed on it. In the northern part of the city, overlooking the bay of Guanabara, there is a seaport. And its southern part goes directly to the ocean. Parts of the territory that are less convenient in terms of relief are occupied by favelas - quarters of shacks, in which about 1 million "favelados" live.
Angel of Independence in Mexico City
Population of Mexico City very large and varied. And because of the high population density of Mexico City, the city has earned the status of one of the largest and most populous metropolitan areas in the world. The capital of the Mexican States is a very popular tourist destination, but like many major cities, Mexico City has its problems. When planning your vacation or business trip to the capital of mysterious Mexico, you should get acquainted with the peculiarities of the city in advance. Such awareness will give confidence to the traveler and minimize the occurrence of unpleasant surprises.
In the Mexico City agglomeration, in addition to the Federal District, which consists of 16 districts, there are about 40 municipalities of the state. As a result, the area of Greater Mexico City is 7615 square meters. km, and the area of the Federal District - 1486 km.
Population and density of Mexico City and metropolitan area
The population of Mexico City, according to official figures, is approximately 9 million people. According to official data, the number of residents of the capital is about 9 million people, and according to unofficial data, their number can reach 14 million.
Together with residents suburban areas The population is over 22 million people. The population density of Mexico City is about 6,000 per square km in the Federal District and 3,000 in the agglomeration.
Population dynamics
The population of Mexico City is constantly increasing due to visiting migrants from rural areas of Mexico, as well as from other poorer countries in Latin America.
The peoples whose representatives live in Mexico City
The peoples living in Mexico City are diverse The metropolis is mainly inhabited by mestizos - the descendants of Europeans who arrived in the New World, and representatives of the indigenous population. Of the indigenous ethnic groups, the Nahua Indians are the most numerous. Also, the peoples of the Indians living in the Mexico City agglomeration include the Zapotec, Maya, Mixtec, Purépecha and some others. It is customary in their families to communicate in the language of their ancestors, but most Indians are also fluent in the state language, Spanish. English is common in business.
Most of Mexico City is made up of immigrants from other countries. Therefore, among the inhabitants of Mexico City, you can meet representatives from Spain, the USA, Argentina, Colombia, France, Germany, Libya, Russia, Ukraine, etc.
Employment rate
One of the main areas of work in Mexico City is services In the capital of Mexico, the unemployment rate is quite high. It is not easy for residents of the city to find a decent job with formal employment, so many work informally.
Among the most sought-after jobs are enterprises in the oil refining, textile, construction, chemical, Food Industry. In addition, many residents of Mexico City are employed in the educational sector and in the service sector. Since the capital of Mexico is a popular tourist center of the country, many members of the population find work in the tourism sector.
One of the features of the culture and mentality of Mexicans living in Mexico City is that men are obliged to provide for their families, and it is preferable for women to lead household. Therefore, the number of working men in the city is 2 times higher than the number of women.
Many work overtime. Concerning work time exceeds the legal 8 hours.
Demographic situation
Family from Mexico City A feature of Mexican culture and life is that the family structure is given great importance. Therefore, there are many strong families where, as a rule, at least two children are born. Large families are not uncommon. Despite rising unemployment and other economic and environmental hardships, the birth rate in Mexico City is many times higher than the death rate. Average duration life of urban residents 74-79 years. The government has introduced many social programs to help the poor, large families, and single mothers.
Due to the high birth rate, there is a difficulty in providing residents with work. It is also difficult to meet the necessary needs, for example, the need for water. To reduce the birth rate, family planning programs were developed. Therefore, in last years Immigrants are the main source of growth of the local population.
Major religions
One of the religions of Mexico City is Shamaism. The people of Mexico City are very religious. This distinguishes them from the inhabitants of many capitals of Europe, where interest in the main religions is noticeably weakening. Religious holidays in Mexico City are very popular, and the locals sacredly honor the traditions adopted in the past.
Historically, under the influence of the Spanish conquerors, the majority of the inhabitants of Mexico City profess the Catholic faith. This is over 90% of the population. The city abounds with Catholic churches, some of which are architectural monuments of the Middle Ages. In addition, approximately 4% of the population belong to various Protestant and Evangelical denominations in Christianity.
All more residents Mexico City do not identify themselves with any religion, becoming agnostics or atheists. Representatives of Judaism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostals, and others are also active in the city. There are those who adhere to the cult of Santa Muerte (a mixture of the traditions of the indigenous population and Catholicism), Santeria (a mixture of African cults with Christianity) and shamanism. Mexico City has a small Muslim community.
Mexico City problems
Ecology
One of Mexico City's environmental problems is the lack of drinking water
Among the pressing environmental problems of Mexico City is the lack of drinking water. In the area where the city is located, rain is a rare occurrence. Water supply is provided by groundwater extracted by pumps. But some areas of the city, namely 20% of the population, do not have the opportunity to use water supply. Due to the large consumption of water, over the past 10 years, the metropolis has sunk by 7 meters. The situation worsens during the dry period from April to October.
The air in Mexico City is very dirty Of particular concern to city officials is air pollution in Mexico City. It is so high that many residents suffer from allergies. varying degrees, cardiovascular and cancer. Air pollution is primarily caused by vehicle emissions. During the day, millions of cars drive through city streets, poisoning the air. Above the metropolis there is a huge cloud of smog that does not disappear overnight.
Difficulties are created by the fact that in the Mexico City area there are often tremors and often strong earthquakes. In addition, there are dust storms and even strong hurricanes that do a lot of damage.
Transport
Mexico City has a lot of traffic Due to overcrowding and a large number of cars on the streets of the city, there are constantly giant plugs. Sometimes drivers have to stand in traffic jams for several hours. To improve the situation, the metropolitan government introduced restrictions on the use of private cars.
Crime Mexico City
Crime is one of Mexico City's problems Organized crime is a major concern for civilians in Greater Mexico City. Numerous criminal gangs and groups operate in the city. A particularly dangerous area of the capital is the Tepito area, where drug trafficking, banditry, theft, smuggling, etc. flourish. In addition, people are increasingly disappearing in Mexico City, even protests are being held about this. The police are constantly fighting bandits, but the crime rate is still very high.
In connection with such a sad situation in the metropolis, tourists are strongly advised to be careful and careful, especially in dark time days, avoid dubious establishments and deserted streets, do not advertise expensive purchases and the presence of large sums of money.
Economy and prices of Mexico City
Mexico City is an important center of the Mexican economy. The industry of the city produces over 20% of the country's GDP.
Mexico City is the 8th richest city in the world and is the leader among cities in Latin America.
And by 2020, according to experts, the capital of Mexico with a GDP of $607 billion will take 7th place, displacing Osaka.
The development of the city's economy is facilitated by the fact that it is located in the center of the roads. transport communication. The government is constantly allocating large investments to improve the city's infrastructure.
Main sectors of the economy
Mexico City has many industrial enterprises. They are involved in such areas as automotive, metalworking, electronics, and the chemical, food, oil refining and textile industries are also rapidly developing.
Banking and trading activities are becoming increasingly important. In addition, tourism revenues are constantly growing.
Main economic indicators
The inflation rate in the country is quite high. In addition, GDP fell due to the consequences devastating earthquake and a number of hurricanes in 2017, as well as due to the uncertainty in the terms of the free trade agreement with countries in North America. Foreign investment has declined due to the criminogenic situation. As a result, Mexico City is not going through the most best period in economic history. But there are great prospects, especially in the development of industrial enterprises, foreign trade and in the field of tourism.
Prices in Mexico City
In Mexico City, as in all of Mexico, the national currency is the Mexican pesos (MXN). Prices in comparison with other states North America relatively low. For example, the cost of an inexpensive lunch for one will be 70-105 pesos (215-322 rubles), accommodation in a hostel - from 655 pesos (2000 rubles) per day, in a hotel - from 1640 pesos (5,500 rubles), taxi fare - from 45 pesos (140 rubles), public transport - 6 pesos (18 rubles). The average salary is 15,000 pesos (45,800), the cost of living in a one-room apartment is 30,000 rubles per month.
Political, economic, industrial and cultural center of the country. The population of the city is 8,851,080 people, the agglomeration is more than 21 million people (2010).
The city is located almost in the very center of the country, on a hill in the southern part of the Mexican Highlands, at an altitude of 2234 m above sea level.
Mexico City is an "open-air museum" that has preserved countless historical and architectural sights. Indeed, in terms of the number of monuments and unique buildings, the capital of Mexico cannot be compared with any other city in the world. On the territory of the city and its environs there are 10 archaeological zones, more than 100 museums, theaters and concert halls.
This city is unique in its ancient culture, which had a significant impact on the formation of the entire world civilization.
Climate
Weather capitals are formed under the influence of a humid subtropical climate. The average air temperature in January is +12 °C, in July +16 °C.
Dust storms are not uncommon in the city.
Story
Mexico City was founded in 1325 by the Aztec Indians. At first, the city was called Tenochtitlan, which, translated from the local dialect, meant "the house of the cactus rock." The founders of the city, the ancient Aztecs, originally led a nomadic lifestyle and were engaged in hunting and fishing. Their tribes appeared in the vicinity of modern Mexico City around 1200.
According to ancient Indian legend, the sun god Huitzilopochtli ordered them to come here, who ordered the Aztecs to settle in the place where they would meet an eagle sitting on a high cactus and holding a snake in its beak. The Indians managed to find a place that fully corresponded to the description given by Huitzilopochtli, and they decided to establish a settlement here.
Tenochtitlan, who grew up on west bank Lake Texcoco, in a picturesque valley, became the capital of the Aztec state. Territory ancient city was quite extensive: it occupied an area of about 7.5 km². Tenochtitlan was crossed by a network of canals, and communication with land was carried out using dams equipped with drawbridges.
The first Europeans, struck by the magnificence of Tenochtitlan, called it the Venice of the Aztecs. The city was surrounded by a lake, or rather, a whole system of man-made reservoirs, created by the inhuman efforts of the Indians. Three dams connected the center to the mainland. The streets were canals crossed by bridges. A stone dam was erected to protect against floods.
In the XV-XVI centuries, Tenochtitlan turned into one of the most beautiful cities in the Western Hemisphere. Apparently, it was the largest in the world: by the beginning of the 16th century, the population was almost 500 thousand people, at that time a colossal figure. This majestic city managed to exist for about two centuries.
The Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernan Fernando Cortes, who landed at Tenochtitlan on November 8, 1519, were struck by the splendor of the huge Aztec city. The Aztecs, far from a peaceful people, subjugated most neighbors, but the Spaniards were met, surprisingly, cordially, because, according to ancient legend, the bearded fair-faced god Quetzalcoatl, expelled by the Indians, was supposed to return in the year of the reed rod. In the Aztec cyclical calendar, 1519 turned out to be just that.
The policy of Cortes, however, led to conflict, an uprising broke out, and the conquerors had to leave Tenochtitlan. Having been defeated, the adventurer Cortes did not even think of despairing. Having replenished the army with people and weapons, he launched a new offensive against the capital. And on May 13, 1521, E. Cortes solemnly announced that the city was passing into the possession of the Spanish king. The capture of the city and the establishment of Spanish domination in it meant the death of the powerful Aztec empire, which had existed for more than 200 years.
In 1521, Mexico City was founded on the site of the destroyed Tenochtitlan, which received the status of the capital of the colony, which was called New Spain.
At the beginning colonial period the Spaniards decided to drain the lake, unable to maintain complex system drain. Residents of the Mexican capital are still paying for this reckless decision. Clumped against each other, sagging and rickety houses are the calling card of old Mexico City. This is explained by the fact that the city stands on sand and swamps, and under it there is a lot of water.
In 1624, a massive popular uprising broke out in the city: the rebels resolutely opposed the domination of the Spanish conquerors.
In 1821, after a long war for liberation from Spanish rule, Mexico finally gained independence, and Mexico City was proclaimed the capital of the new state.
In 1847, the city was captured by the troops of the United States of America, who claimed to expand their territories by annexing Mexican lands to them. The period of occupation lasted until 1848.
In 1863-1867. Mexico City was occupied by French troops.
In 1910-1917, after the overthrow of the 30-year dictatorship of General P. Diaz, a bloody revolutionary struggle unfolded in the city, culminating in the victory of the democratic revolution.
Since 1929, the government of the country has been located in the capital, at the end of the revolutionary decade in Mexico City, the nationalization of enterprises formerly owned by industrial firms in the United States and Great Britain was carried out.
During the Second World War, most of the inhabitants of Mexico City were supporters of the anti-Hitler coalition.
In 1968, the games of the XIX Olympiad were held in the capital of Mexico.
Foreign trade relations with Canada and the USA are of great importance for the development of the financial and economic sphere of the city.
In 1999, the construction of the Mayor Tower skyscraper began. This building is now tallest building in Latin America.
Population
More than half of the population of the capital are mestizos of Spanish-Indian origin, about 20% are descendants of the inhabitants of ancient Mexico City - Indians, the rest are Europeans.
Ecology of Mexico City
Due to the high level of air pollution from exhaust gases in the city, a thick cloud of smog constantly hangs over it. However, the sky remains high and azure blue, especially in spring and summer.
Last changes: 04/09/2015
Earthquakes in Mexico City
Throughout the year, small tremors are periodically observed in Mexico City, which usually do not cause much concern to the locals and do not cause destruction. Sometimes stronger earthquakes occur.
The largest of the earthquakes occurred on September 19, 1985, 7:19 AM local time, as a result of which 10,000 people were killed and a 100-meter television tower collapsed.
One of immutable attributes Mexican capital - street organ grinders (Organ grinder). All of them receive a license from the state and are required to wear a special uniform.
About 40% of the inhabitants of the Mexican capital are below the poverty line. About a third of the city's inhabitants live in slums.
Last changes: 04/09/2015
Mexico City public transport
The basis of public transport in Mexico City is subway(11 lines, 163 stations), the largest in Latin America (fifth in terms of traffic in the world). The 12th metro line is currently under construction.
You can also move around the city by trolleybuses, light rail(occupies an intermediate position between the tram and the light metro) and buses.
To solve the transport problem, introduced the new kind public transport - metrobus, a large articulated bus that runs in a dedicated lane.
A common and convenient mode of transport remains Taxi, and bright green Volkswagen "bugs" prevail.
Last changes: 04/09/2015
Bus stations in Mexico City
There are several bus stations in Mexico City:
Terminal Buses del Norte- buses arrive here from Acapulco, Guadalajara, Monterrey, cities near the American border and in the north of the country.
Terminal de Autobuses del Poniente- serves cities in the east: Toluca, Manzanillo, Colima, Puerto Vallarta.
Terminal de Autobuses del Sur Taxquena- buses arrive here from southern cities countries such as Acapulco, Puebla, Tepoztlán.
Terminal de Autobuses del Oriente- serving and southern directions, and cities in the Gulf of Mexico: Cancun, Puebla, Merida, Campeche and Veracruz.
Airports in Mexico City
Mexico City is served by two main airports:
Benito Juarez International Airport(Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México "Benito Juárez"). The main airport located in the eastern part of the city. The airport terminals are connected by a light rail line and buses.
Adolfo López Mateos International Airport(Aeropuerto Internacional Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos) - located 40 km southwest of Mexico City, in the city of Toluca, and receives domestic flights from Cancun, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana and other cities, as well as from the USA and Canada.
How to get to Mexico City
There are no direct flights from Russia to Mexico City.
It is most convenient to get from Russia to Mexico City with a transfer at one of the European airports, with airlines,.
An airline flies from Moscow to Mexico (2 times a week). From Cancun to Mexico City can be reached daily by local airlines. The distance between Mexico City and Cancun is about 1650 km.
Attractions Mexico City
- was one of the main temples in the capital of the Aztec state of Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City). The pyramid towered 60 m above the ritual area of the city, on its top there were two temples in honor of the god Huitzilopochtli (the god of the sun and war) and the god Tlaloc (the god of rain and fertility).
Templo Mayor was built around 1325, and by the beginning of the 16th century, the temples became the center of religious life for all the Aztecs who lived in Mexico (at that time up to 300 thousand). Many small buildings and platforms around the temple formed a complex. On one of the platforms leading to the temple, there is a relief depicting tzompantli - a stand for skulls.
Most of the complex was destroyed in 1521 during the conquest by the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes. The remains of the lower part were found during cable laying on February 21, 1978.
The excavations lasted until 1982, and the ruins and the museum are now open to the public.
- the name of a hill in the center of Mexico City, around which there is a park of the same name with an area of about 800 hectares. It is the largest urban park in America.
In Aztec times, it was the location of the country residence of the emperor, which was connected to Tenochtitlan by an embankment and an aqueduct. Under the Spaniards - a hunting reserve with the palace of the viceroy, in which in 1833 a military academy was located.
In September 1847 there was major battle at Chapultepec between American and Mexican troops.
Among the attractions of Chapultepec are the zoo of the same name, a rock with a relief image of Montezuma I, Chapultepec Castle and the National Museum of Anthropology - the world's largest collection of the heritage of the Mesoamerican civilization.
- the former residence of the emperors and presidents of Mexico on the Chapultepec hill in Mexico City, at an altitude of 2325 m above sea level.
Founded in 1785 by Viceroy Bernardo de Galvez. Due to high costs, construction was suspended, and the king ordered the palace to be sold at auction. Buyers were found only in 1806 - they were the city authorities of Mexico City. The palace finally became inhabited in 1833, when a military academy was placed here. At the same time, an observation tower, nicknamed the “high knight” (caballero alto), was attached to the building. During the American invasion of Mexico, a fierce battle broke out for possession of the palace, known as the Battle of Chapultepec.
In 1864, Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg chose the palace as his country residence. He engaged several European and Mexican architects to redesign the palace in a fashionable neoclassical style. Botanist Wilhelm Knechtel set up a garden on the roof of the building. From the palace to the capital, the Promenade of the Empress was laid (now Paseo de la Reforma Boulevard, the central city highway).
After the execution of the emperor, the Mexican National astronomical observatory, then until 1939 it served as the residence of the presidents of Mexico. Now the main exposition of the National Historical Museum is located here.
National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología)- the most important state museum of Mexico, located in Chapultepec Park in the capital of Mexico City. The museum contains a unique collection of pre-Columbian archaeological and anthropological artifacts found in Mexico.
is the main avenue in Mexico City. Its length is 12 km, the name is translated as "the road of transformations" (referring to the reforms of Benito Juarez).
The main attraction of the avenue is the “Angel of Independence” (El Ángel) column, a 45-meter column crowned with the Angel of Independence, which has become calling card cities.
The avenue was created in the 60s of the XIX century during the time of Emperor Maximilian and was originally called Empress Avenue, in honor of the monarch's wife. It was modeled after the great boulevards of Europe (such as the Champs Elysées).
The avenue runs from Chapultepec Park, next to Torre Mayor (currently the tallest building in Latin America) and continues through the Zona Rosa quarter, Juarez Avenue and Francis I Avenue to Madero Street.
- the tallest building in Latin America, located in Mexico City. The height of the 55-storey building is 225 meters. The construction of the tower lasted from 1999 to 2003. The skyscraper can withstand an earthquake of up to 8.5 on the Richter scale.
Most of the premises are used for offices. An observation deck is located on the 52nd floor.
- a tower in Mexico City, one of the most important sights of the city. Located in the heart of Mexico City, height 183 meters, 45 floors.
The tower was the most tall building city until 1984 and one of the first skyscrapers in the world to be successfully built in a seismically active location.
On September 19, 1985, the tower survived during strongest earthquake when many buildings were destroyed in Mexico City, both in the center and on the outskirts of the city. The design of the Latin American Tower survived the onslaught of the elements without any problems, finally securing the title of the safest skyscraper in Mexico City.
- a museum dedicated to the life and work of the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
The house in the Coyoacan area at 247 Londres Street has belonged to the Kahlo family since 1904. Here Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907 and died on July 13, 1954. Here is her ashes in an urn in the shape of the artist's face, standing by her bed. Since 1955, the house has been converted into the Frida Kahlo Museum.
In this house, Frida lived intermittently with her husband, Mexican artist Diego Rivera. In 1937-1939, Leon Trotsky and his wife Natalya Sedova lived with them, who in April 1939 moved to a house on a nearby street (now Trotsky's house-museum).
The museum contains several paintings by the artist, personal items, books and a personal collection of pre-Columbian statues. According to the color of the external and internal walls, the house is called "Blue", or "Azure".
Museum of Leon Trotsky (Museo Leon Trotsky)- a museum dedicated to Leon Trotsky, located in the Coyoacan district in the house where he lived recent months life and where his murder took place.
Leon Trotsky arrived in Mexico in 1937 at the personal invitation of Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas, who granted him political asylum. In 1937-1939 Trotsky lived in Coyoacan with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in their blue house”, which now houses the Frida Kahlo House Museum. However, Trotsky later moved into a house on a nearby street (on the corner of Rio Churubusco and Vienna).
It is believed that he was forced to leave them by too obvious passion for the temperamental Mexican.
In May 1940, the first unsuccessful attempt a group of Stalinists led by Siqueiros. On August 20, 1940, Trotsky was killed in the house by NKVD agent Ramon Mercader.
or Palace of Fine Arts- the opera house in Mexico City, built of Carrara marble and characterized by exceptional pomp of decor in the Beaux Arts and Art Deco styles.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the theater was known as a long-term construction. The construction of the theater, designed by the Italian Adamo Boari, lasted from 1904 to 1934, although the opening was originally scheduled for October 1908. The famous Mexican muralists Diego Rivera, Alfaro Siqueiros and José Clemente Orozco worked on the decoration of the walls. Rivera's philosophical fresco "Man at the Crossroads" is especially famous.
In 1954, the theater hosted a farewell to Rivera's wife, Frida Kahlo.
Xochimilco (Xochimilco)- one of the 16 districts of Mexico City, located 18 km from the city center. Known around the world thanks to the ancient canals of the Aztecs - chinampas, reminiscent of the remains of Lake Texcoco, on which the city of Mexico stands.
Here you can ride the trajinera gondola along the ancient canals, get acquainted with the main industry of this area - the cultivation of flowers and plants, and listen to traditional Mexican music performed by mariachi and marimba ensembles.
This is one of the most visited tourist places, in 1987 the Xochimilco canals were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Zocalo Square (El Zócalo) or Constitution Square- the main square and the center of the historic center of Mexico City. In ancient times, it was the central square of the Aztec capital (the ruins of their main temple are nearby). Today it is one of the largest city squares in the world (240x240m), popular protests are periodically held here.
National Palace- built in 1692, on the site of another palace, almost destroyed by fire in 1659. Located in Zocalo Square in the center of Mexico City. Currently, it houses the presidential residence and the country's parliament.
- one of the largest and oldest cathedrals in America, located on Zocalo Square. Construction was carried out between 1573 and 1813, on the site of a small church built in the 1520s, during the time of the first conquistadors. The maximum height of the building is 65 m, length - 110 m, width - 54.5 m.
The cathedral has five naves and 14 limits. Its main shrine is the Altar of Departure, created in the 17th century from gold, marble and onyx. Unique decoration Cathedral It is considered the Royal Chapel - at the beginning of the 18th century it was skillfully decorated by the wood carving master Jeronimo Balbas from Seville. This luxurious carved retablo is made in the Latin American style and is considered one of the first works of original art Mexico.
Tourists visiting the National Cathedral in Mexico City are also told about its other features. For example, about the painting, the alleged author of which is the Spanish artist Bartolome Esteban Murillo, about the tombstone of Augustine Iturbide installed on the territory of the cathedral in 1838, about amazing stone vessels for holy water that sound like metal when you knock on them with a coin.
As in many other large churches, under the building of the Cathedral there is an underground tomb - a crypt. The tombs of the bishops of Mexico City from the 16th and 17th centuries are kept here.
Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe- Roman Catholic Church, the national shrine of Mexico. This is one of the most important places pilgrimage of Catholics from all over the world, which is visited by several million people every year. It is especially crowded here on December 12, the day of the feast of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.
According to legend, on Mount Tepeyac in 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to a local resident, an Indian, Juan Diego. The priests did not believe his story of a miraculous vision. The next day, the Mother of Jesus again appeared before Diego and ordered him to pick roses. The Indian was very surprised to see a luxuriantly flowering bush out of season, and having fulfilled the order, he hid the bouquet under his cloak. When he again came to the priest and unfolded the cloak, instead of flowers, the image of the Virgin Mary surrounded by a radiant halo appeared on it. Now no one doubted the coming of the saint, and a temple was erected on the site of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin.
Later, the temple building was unable to accommodate the huge number of pilgrims seeking to see the relic, and a larger basilica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe was built nearby, in which to this day a cape hangs over the altar with miraculously. Surprisingly, the past centuries did not bring any damage to the holy cloak: it did not dilapidate or fade.
The construction of the old basilica was carried out in the period from 1531 to 1709. The current basilica was built between 1974 and 1976.
In 2001, a surprising discovery was published: digital processing the image printed on the cape showed that 13 figures are reflected in the eyes of the Virgin Mary, apparently those who were present at the first demonstration of the miracle.
Today, for Mexicans, the patroness and the holy Virgin Mary is the fulfiller of all desires. According to legend, anyone can ask her for anything they want, but every year on the day the wish comes true, you need to thank Blessed Virgin, making a pilgrimage to the basilica built in her honor. At the same time, you need to crawl the last hundred meters on your knees without interrupting the prayer.
Not only Mexicans, but also pilgrims and tourists from many countries come to Mexico City to visit the famous basilica and see the wonderful cape. The shrine was attacked several times, for example, in 1921 one of the visitors laid flowers with a bomb on it. Fortunately, there were no casualties, the cape also remained unharmed. Since then, the sacred relic has been placed under bulletproof glass, and visitors are forbidden to approach it: you can see the cape by going up and down on special escalators.
- a public city park in the center of Mexico City, one of the most popular places for citizens and tourists for walking.
AT old times this site, on which the Alameda Park is now located, was the market of the Aztecs. When the conquistadors took over the area in the mid-16th century, heretics were burned on stakes at the site during the Spanish Inquisition. Heretics included anyone who practiced magic or religions other than Catholicism, and also questioned the legitimacy of secular and especially religious power.
In 1592, the ruler of New Spain, Viceroy of King Luis de Velasco, made it a public park. The current area of the park is about twice the size of what it was in the 16th century.
- a square in the historic center of Mexico City, primarily known for the performances of folk musicians - mariachis. Many tourists come here every evening to listen to these extraordinary open-air concerts.
The Museum of Tequila and Mezcal is open on the square, more than 400 varieties of alcoholic drinks traditional for Mexico are presented here, and the process of their production is shown. The museum building also houses Cultural Center Mexican music.
Garibaldi Square has an agave garden - a plant used to produce mezcal and its variety - tequila.
The works of modern architecture in Mexico City include numerous public buildings, built between 1930 and 1970, campus (1949-1954), Olympic Stadium(1951-1953), but also, of course, the "Mecca" of all football fans of the planet, the famous Azteca Stadium, built in 1968 and one of the largest stadiums in the world. Capacity - 105,000 people.
Mexico City Video
USA. The New York agglomeration occupies only 0.2% of the country's territory, but provides 11% of its GDP. In terms of the value of its products and services, it surpasses all of Canada. New York is not only the economic capital, which ranks first in the development of industry and transport, but also the financial capital of the United States, the most important center non-productive activities, management, information, culture.
The boundaries of New York are defined by five building blocks of the city. The historical core of the city is usually understood as New York County, which occupies the small island of Manhattan. Together with four neighboring counties, it forms the city of New York proper within the municipal boundaries, or the so-called New York City. Then comes the concept of Greater New York, which is more than nine in area and more than twice the size and population of New York City. In this case, urban areas are added to New York within the municipal boundaries, located mainly to the north and west of it. When talking about the agglomeration of Greater New York, they also take into account urbanized territories, adjacent to New York City from the west and southwest and located not within the state of New York, but within the state of New Jersey. As for the New York planning district, this concept, corresponding to a kind of "super-agglomeration", is used less frequently.
The population of the Greater New York metropolitan area in 1950 was 12.3 million; - 14.2 million, but since the 1970s, it has remained at the same level - from 16 million to 16.5 million people. In 2000, this agglomeration ranked fifth in the world in terms of size.
Los Angeles, founded by Spanish missionaries in 1781, owes its growth first to agriculture, then gold, cinematography (Hollywood), oil, and more recently - a complex of military-oriented industries: the production of aircraft, missiles, spaceships, as well as devices and electronics for them. As an industrial center, it is second only to New York.
Los Angeles - One of the largest cities in the world in terms of area, it stretches along the ocean coast for 100-200 km, and on its streets-highways, house numbers reach 12 and even 16 thousand. The Los Angeles agglomeration includes more than 220 settlements, and ¾ of its population lives in the suburbs.
Latin America is one of the most highly urbanized regions in the world. Among the largest agglomerations in terms of size and significance, there are four largest, belonging to the category of super-cities - Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
Mexico. Mexico City is the oldest of the capitals of the Western Hemisphere. The city was founded by the Aztec Indians in 1325 under the name Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco. By the beginning of the Spanish conquests, Tenochtitlan had become one of the largest cities in the world with a population of 300,000 (according to other sources, 500,000) people. After the capture and destruction of the Aztec capital by Hernan Cartes, the Spaniards built a new city in its place - Mexico City, which became the capital first of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and in 1821 of independent Mexico. In 1900, the population of Mexico City was 350 thousand, and in 1940. - 1.6 million people, but in the future it began to grow much faster, by an average of 5% per year. As a result, Greater Mexico City has become the largest agglomeration in Latin America and the second or third in the world. More than ¼ of the country's GDP is produced in Mexico City, not only the highest bodies of its legislative, executive and judicial authorities are located here, but also many large enterprises, corporate headquarters. Greater Mexico City employs 3.5 million people, or 14% of the country's economically active population. The population of Greater Mexico City is growing, firstly due to its high natural increase and, secondly, due to the constant influx of migrants. In most literary sources, the number of migrants arriving in Mexico City annually (mainly from the states of Central Mexico) is estimated at 300-400 people.
The basis of the Greater Mexico City agglomeration is the Federal District established in 1970, covering 16 urban areas and occupying an area of 1.5 thousand km2.
In addition to the Federal District, the Greater Mexico City agglomeration also includes more than a dozen districts adjacent to the state capital of Mexico City. Satellite cities have formed here, acting as both independent industrial cities and bedroom cities, and their population is growing primarily due to the influx of migrants.
Brazil. The second place in the hierarchy of Latin American super-cities is occupied by Sao Paulo, second only to Tokyo, Mumbai and Mexico City in terms of population in the world.
The first small settlement on this site was founded by Jesuit monks on January 25, 1554, the day of St. Paul (hence the name of the city). São Paulo received city rights in 1711. But even after that, for a long time it remained a relatively small provincial town; in the 70s of the XIX century, its population was only 30 thousand people. However, already in 1900 it increased to 240 thousand, and in 1920. - up to 580 thousand people, which is primarily due to the coffee boom and the massive influx of immigrants. In the second half of the 20th century, São Paulo turned into the "economic capital" of Brazil, giving 2/5 of its industrial production, and, moreover, into the largest industrial center in Latin America. The population of Sao Paulo grew rapidly: in 1950. it was 3.7 million people, in 1970. - 5.9 million, and in 1980. - 8.4 million, in 1995. - 9.6 million people.
In the Greater São Paulo agglomeration, three socio-geographical zones are usually distinguished. First, it is the central zone. Here is the business center of the agglomeration, mainly the "elite" part of its population is concentrated. Ministries, corporate headquarters, banks, etc. are located here. Secondly, it is an intermediate zone, where the less well-to-do strata of society mainly live. It is characterized by a higher building density and a much less satisfactory housing condition. Thirdly, this is a peripheral zone - the habitat of the poorest layers, recent migrants from the countryside, where people live in conditions of extreme crowding. (In total, 1/3 of the population of São Paulo lives below the poverty line.)
Numerous satellite cities practically merge with the peripheral zone: Santo Andre, San Bernardo do Campo, etc.
According to the forecast, in 2010 the population of Greater São Paulo will reach 20.1 million people.
The Rio de Janeiro agglomeration ranks 21st in the world, but in Latin America it is in fourth place. Its population in 1990 was 9.5 million people.
This city was founded by the Portuguese in 1565. on the coast of Guanabara bay. At first, it served as a military and administrative outpost, but after the discovery of gold deposits in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais and the development of the plantation economy, it turned into the main port of the country, as well as the center of the slave trade. By the beginning of the 20th century, Rio de Janeiro had become the largest city in Latin America with a population of over 800,000 people. On the eve of the First World War, it exceeded 1 million.
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America and the whole world. Its central part is occupied by a mountainous cape, which closes the entrance to Guanabara Bay from the west. Here are the administrative, business and wealthy residential areas with skyscrapers and wide avenides, the famous five-kilometer Copacabana embankment with an ideal arch of beaches, which at one end rests on the picturesque mountain of Pan di Azukar (“sugar loaf”). And as if in the rear of this area rises a higher mountain Corcovado (“hunchback”) with a huge white marble figure of Christ installed on it.
Argentina. The Greater Buenos Aires agglomeration in terms of population ranks 11th in the world and third in Latin America.
Buenos Aires was founded in 1536. on the low-lying coast of La Plata Bay, at the initial stage of its development it was a rather provincial settlement, whose inhabitants were mainly engaged in smuggling. In 1880 Buenos Aires has become official capital Argentine Republic. Since that time, its rapid growth begins. In 1914 its population exceeded 1.5 million, in 1920. - 2.3 million people. At this stage, the city grew mainly due to the influx of European immigrants.
The Greater Buenos Aires agglomeration, covering an area of 3800 km2, consists of two parts - the Federal Capital District and 19 districts surrounding it. The Federal Capital District serves as the core of the agglomeration. Here are government offices, a business center, the main historical and architectural sights. Some of the suburbs included in the Greater Buenos Aires agglomeration perform industrial functions, and some are residential. Here you can find both areas of fashionable villas and villas miseria - poverty quarters.
According to the UN forecast, in the first decade of the XXI century. the population of Buenos Aires will not grow; in 2010 it will amount to 12.1 million people.
5. Greater Mexico City Agglomeration
Mexico City is the oldest of the capitals of the Western Hemisphere. The city was founded by the Aztec Indians in 1325 under the name of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco. By the beginning of the Spanish conquests, Tenochtitlan had become one of the largest
the largest cities in the world with a population of 300 thousand (according to other sources - 500 thousand) people. After the capture and destruction of the Aztec capital by Hernan Cortes, the Spaniards built a new city in its place - Mexico City, which became the capital of the first vice-kingdom of New Spain, and in 1821 - independent Mexico. In 1900, the population of Mexico City was 350 thousand, and in 1940 - 1.6 million people, but later it began to grow much faster, an average of 5% per year. As a result, Greater Mexico City has become the largest agglomeration in Latin America and the second or third in the world.
More than 1/4 of the country's GDP is produced in Mexico City, not only the highest bodies of its legislative, executive and judicial authorities are located here, but also many large enterprises, corporate headquarters. 3.5 million people, or 14% of the economically active population of the country, work in Greater Mexico City, 200 thousand industrial, commercial and other enterprises work. The population of Greater Mexico City is growing, firstly due to its high natural increase and, secondly, due to the constant influx of migrants. The ratio of these two factors at different stages was not the same. However, in the last two or three decades, in connection with the implementation of family planning programs, natural increase has tended to decrease, so that the importance of mechanical increase has increased. Already in the first half of the 1970s. its share accounted for half of the total population growth. In most literary sources, the number of migrants annually arriving in Mexico City (mainly from the states of Central Mexico) is estimated at 300-400 thousand people.
Naturally, such a rapid population growth in Mexico City creates many complex problems. With such an "explosive" growth, the capital cannot provide many of its residents with either housing or work. Hence the growth of slums and so-called proletarian colonies - habitats for people with low incomes; 40% of the city's population lives below the poverty line. The transport problem is of great difficulty, especially in connection with the extremely insufficient development of public transport. The same can be said about the problem of water supply, which usually worsens during the dry season (November-April).
Located at an altitude of more than 2000 m above sea level in a closed intermountain basin with relatively little rainfall, Mexico City is experiencing a lack of water. The main source of the city's water supply is groundwater, which is extracted using pumping units. As a result, only in recent decades, the city has settled by about 7 m. Let us add that 20% of the population of the capital of Mexico is not provided with running water. But perhaps even more serious for Mexico City is air pollution. Air pollution in Mexico City exceeds all acceptable standards, causing allergic, cancerous and other diseases. Particularly harmful are the emissions of several million cars - the main source of smog. It is no coincidence that Mexico City, like Los Angeles, is often called a smogopolis. The basis of the Greater Mexico City agglomeration is the Federal District established in 1970, covering 16 urban areas and occupying an area of 1.5 thousand km2. The central place in it is occupied by the Cuautemoc area, named after the last supreme ruler of the Aztecs, who organized the defense of Tenochtitlan in 1520–1521. and executed by the Spaniards. Here is the government and business center of the city, which, by the way, was especially badly damaged during the earthquake in September 1985. Around it, quarters with a predominance of the middle strata of the population have grown. Aristocratic quarters occupy mainly the western and southern parts of the Federal District. In the 1950s in the south, the original national university complex was built. And industrial areas are located in the northern and eastern parts of the district. Most of the proletarian colonies are also concentrated in industrial development areas. As for the slum quarters - thugourios, they can be found in many central areas. In addition to the Federal District, the Greater Mexico City agglomeration also includes more than a dozen districts (municipalities) adjacent to the state capital of Mexico City. Satellite towns have formed here, playing the role of both independent industrial cities and bedroom towns, and their population is growing, primarily due to the influx of migrants. The ratio between the central city and the suburban area, at least until recently, has been constantly changing in favor of the latter. Since the mid-1970s, when the General Settlement Law and the Federal District Development Law were passed, measures began to be taken to limit the growth of Greater Mexico City. At the same time, 14 regional "centers of balance" were identified - cities that were supposed to take on at least part of the functions of the metropolitan agglomeration. Recently, all these measures began to lead to encouraging results. It is expected that in 2010 Greater Mexico City will have 22 million, although relatively recently the figure was 25.5 million.
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