Mexico's Largest Land Area: The Mexican Plateau

The Mexican Plateau (Meseta Mexicana) is Mexico's most extensive physiographic region, covering roughly one-third of the country's total land area. It spans the central and northern interior, bounded by three major Sierra Madre ranges:

• Sierra Madre Oriental – eastern edge
• Sierra Madre Occidental – western edge
• Sierra Madre del Sur – southern boundary

Average elevation: ~2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level.

Major Cities on the Plateau

• Mexico City (Valley of Mexico, southern plateau)
• Guadalajara (western plateau, near the Río Grande de Santiago)
• Puebla (central plateau, east of Mexico City)
• Other key cities: León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas

Sub-Regions

• Mesa del Norte – Northern plateau: arid, basin-and-range, mining centers
• Mesa Central – Central plateau: higher, more temperate, densely populated, agricultural/industrial core

The plateau's elevation moderates temperatures, making it habitable despite its latitude. It has been the demographic and economic heart of Mexico since pre-Columbian times.