Why does Mexico have severe air pollution?

Answer 1

It has many franchise and packing plants that emit harmful chemicals. One of the most polluted cities is Mexico City, which has a dense fog of gases and chemicals that hovers above the city, similar to Los Angeles.

Answer 2

Mexico City is located on a valley, surrounded by mountains which trap the smog and prevent any strong-enough winds to clear up the air pollution. This is known as a 'cook-pot effect'; it worsens during winter months due to very light wind currents and dry climate.

As for earthquakes, some 500 years ago the valley had a large lake known as Lake Texcoco at the bottom, and the Aztec civilization settled among several islands within the lake, connected by large stone bridges. When Spanish conquistadors conquered the Aztecs in 1521, they began to dry-up the lake and settle on the newly-formed dry land. Present-day Mexico City sits atop the dessicated remains of Lake Texcoco, but the ground still keeps a high water concentration which turns deadly during earthquakes, due to an effect known as 'soil liquefaction' (see related questions).

Answer 3

Mexico City resides on a valley surrounded by hills and mountains, which prevent strong winds to clear up the air pollution trapped within the city.