Mexico City Faces Severe Sinking Crisis, NASA Reports
'A Very Big Problem': Mexico City Is Sinking Up To 10 Inches A Year. NASA Says It's Visible From Space
News 18
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Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate of up to 10 inches (25 cm) per year, according to NASA satellite data. Built on a former lake bed, the city's infrastructure is at risk, with significant implications for its 22 million residents due to water shortages and structural damage.
- 01Mexico City is sinking up to 10 inches (25 cm) annually, making it one of the fastest-sinking cities globally.
- 02The city was built on an unstable old lake bed, leading to significant subsidence.
- 03Over-extraction of groundwater has caused the aquifer to shrink, exacerbating the sinking and water shortages.
- 04Historical structures, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, are tilting due to uneven sinking.
- 05The subsidence is severe enough to be detected from space.
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Mexico City, with a population of approximately 22 million, is experiencing a sinking crisis, with some areas descending by 10 inches (25 cm) each year, as reported by NASA's satellite observations. The city was constructed on a former lake bed, which is inherently unstable, leading to gradual subsidence over the past century. This issue has been exacerbated by excessive groundwater extraction, causing the aquifer to shrink and resulting in severe water shortages. The uneven sinking has also begun to affect critical infrastructure, including the subway and drainage systems, posing risks to housing and public services. Notably, historical landmarks such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, which started construction in 1573, are now leaning due to this phenomenon. Researchers, including Enrique Cabral from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, emphasize the urgency of addressing this
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The sinking of Mexico City threatens its infrastructure and exacerbates water shortages, impacting daily life for millions.
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