Central Mexico

The Mexican heartland, where the country's population, politics and founding myths are all concentrated. The valley of Mexico and the surrounding highlands held Teotihuacan, the Toltecs and the Mexica before the conquest, and Tenochtitlan may have been larger than any European city of its day. Cortes built Mexico City on its ruins, deliberately, and the viceroyalty then governed New Spain from the same spot for three centuries - so the seat of power has not moved in seven hundred years. The region's silver at Guanajuato, Zacatecas and Taxco funded the Spanish empire and reached China through Manila. Independence began at Dolores in 1810, the revolution's central campaigns were fought across these states, and the Basilica of Guadalupe here is the most visited Catholic shrine in the world. Bajío industry and the capital's service economy now dominate national output. The valley's lake was drained over centuries, which is why Mexico City sinks measurably and floods anyway. Nahuatl is still spoken in the region. Around a fifth of Mexicans live in the metropolitan area. The region covers the valley of Mexico, the Bajio and the surrounding highlands. Mexico City sits at around 2,240 metres. Teotihuacan, Xochicalco and the historic centre are all World Heritage sites. The 1985 earthquake killed thousands and reshaped the city's politics. Popocatepetl remains active on the valley's rim and erupts regularly. Guanajuato and Queretaro preserve colonial silver-town centres. The Bajio is now a major car manufacturing belt supplying North America. Pulque and later tequila both come from the highlands.

• Existed: 1521 CE – present
• Type: Entity