It's the result of a geological phenomenon called subsidence, which usually happens when too much water is drawn from underground, and the land above begins to compact. According to new modeling by the two researchers and their colleagues, parts of the city are sinking as much as 20 inches a year.

Why is the land in Mexico City sinking?

The phenomenon is called subsidence, and it could be a big problem for nearly half of Mexico City's population. Subsidence happens when too much groundwater is extracted, causing the land above it to compact, and sink.

Why is Mexico City sinking inches per year?

The vast majority of water we use comes from aquifers, subsurface bodies of water bounded by impermeable sediment and rock. Long-term, unsustainable extraction of aquifer water has been known to cause subsidence, and it was thought that this was the cause of subsidence in Mexico City.

Is Mexico City above water?

The Mexican capital, situated in a high-altitude valley, relies mostly on water pumped from its underground aquifer and reservoirs dozens of kilometers away to meet water demand in its wider metropolitan area, home to more than 20 million people.

What is the smell in Mexico City?

Experts agree the main source of the fetid air that blows into some areas of Mexico City intermittently is from an overwhelmed sewage system.

Why Mexico City's Geography SUCKS

What happens when Mexico City sinks?

Some areas have already sunk below the original lake bed, while others remain on slightly higher ground. While this lack of uniform sinking might sound like a good thing, it ultimately leads to a higher risk of intense surface fracturing, which can damage infrastructure and cause contamination of water supplies.

Why is the ground beneath Mexico City subsiding?

As water extraction drove groundwater deeper underground, the 100-meter-thick, salty, clay-rich lake bed was left high and dry. Its very fine mineral grains have since been steadily repacking themselves more tightly, causing the ground to shrink and subside.

Is Phoenix AZ sinking?

It is the fastest sinking city in the world. And the same geological phenomenon is happening in metro Phoenix, according to researchers at Arizona State University and the state government. In extreme cases, cars and a horse have been swallowed by the cracks it creates.

Where does Phoenix get its drinking water?

The city of Phoenix 's water supply comes primarily from the Salt River Project (SRP) which brings water by canal and pipeline from the Salt and Verde Rivers , and the Central Arizona Project (CAP) which transports Colorado River water. A small amount of Phoenix' supply comes from wells, or groundwater.

Is Phoenix a valley or basin?

One such basin encompasses most of the city of Phoenix in central Arizona (Figure 1). This subsurface basin, herein called the Phoenix basin, underlies the western part of the Salt River Valley; many hydrologists use the term western Salt River Valley synonymously with the Phoenix basin.

Is Florida sinking?

Along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of Florida, the land surface is also sinking. If the oceans and atmosphere continue to warm, sea level along the Florida coast is likely to rise one to four feet in the next century. Rising sea level submerges wetlands and dry land, erodes beaches, and exacerbates coastal flooding.

Is there a lake under Mexico City?

Lake Texcoco (Spanish: Lago de Texcoco) was a natural lake within the "Anahuac" or Valley of Mexico. ... The entire lake basin is now almost completely occupied by Mexico City, the capital of the present-day nation of Mexico.

Which city sinks every year?

Today, Jakarta is the world's fastest-sinking city. The problem gets worse every year, but the root of it precedes modern Indonesia by centuries. In the 1600s, when the Dutch landed in Indonesia and built present-day Jakarta, they divided up the city to segregate the population.

Is Mexico City doomed?

Doomed Mexico City now 'unstoppably sinking' with some parts now falling half a METRE a year. MEXICO CITY is sinking at an alarming rate, according to new data. Scientists think the problem is largely unstoppable because some parts of the city are now too low to save.

How many feet a year does Mexico City sink?

Mexico City is sinking by an estimated one meter (3.2 feet) every year, while it simultaneously faces a water crisis. The ancient Aztecs, who were conquered by the Spanish under the command of conquistador Hernán Cortés in the 1500s, were the first to build a city in the region.

How fast is Venice sinking?

Sitting on shifting tectonic plates, Venice essentially tilts to the East. Experts have measured that on average, Venice sinks about two millimeters every year.

Is Tokyo sinking?

And in many of the most populated coastal areas, the land is sinking even faster than the sea is rising. Parts of Tokyo for instance sank by 4 metres during the 20th century, with 2 metres or more of sinking reported in Shanghai, Bangkok, and New Orleans. This process is known as subsidence.

Which cities will be underwater in 2050?

Jakarta, Indonesia. The capital of Indonesia is the fastest sinking city in the world—it's sinking at the rate of 6.7 inches per year. By 2050, 95% of North Jakarta will be submerged, according to researchers. The region has already sunk 2.5 meters in 10 years and almost half the city is below sea level.

Why New Orleans is sinking?

Both human and environmental factors are to blame for New Orleans' sinking land. Before people settled in the area, the Mississippi River routinely deposited sediment along the coast. The construction of levees prevented this natural build-up, allowing air pockets to form in the soil.

What is Mexico City built on?

The city was originally built on a group of islands in Lake Texcoco by the Mexica (Azteca) in 1325 as Tenochtitlan. It was almost completely destroyed in the 1521 Siege of Tenochtitlan and subsequently redesigned and rebuilt in accordance with the Spanish urban standards.

What happened to the Aztecs?

Invaders led by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés overthrew the Aztec Empire by force and captured Tenochtitlan in 1521, bringing an end to Mesoamerica's last great native civilization.

Is Mexico City built over Tenochtitlan?

Early History

During the Aztec period, Mexico City was initially built over a lake, the Lago de Texcoco. Aztecs built an artificial island by dumping soil into the lagoon. Later, the Spaniards erected a second Mexico City atop the ruins of Tenochtitlán.

Is California going underwater?

No, California is not going to fall into the ocean. California is firmly planted on the top of the earth's crust in a location where it spans two tectonic plates. ... The Pacific Plate is moving northwest with respect to the North American Plate at approximately 46 millimeters per year (the rate your fingernails grow).

What US city sank?

Scientists say Mexico City has sunk past the point of no return, and that could mean infrastructure damage and water insecurity for millions.

Is Miami going to sink?

Miami, Florida is at great risk of being underwater. ... Miami's sea level is rising on an average of 1 inch every 3 years. It is 8 inches higher than in 1950. Scientists now think that in the next 15 years, the sea level will rise another 6 inches, at a slightly higher rate.