MEXICO, a central plateau State of the Republic of Mexico. Pop. (1930) 990,112, largely Indian. Area, 8,267 sq. miles. En closed within its boundaries, except on the south, is the Federal District and capital city of Mexico with an area of 572.5 sq. m., which is not included in that of the State. The State is divided into two unequal parts by the Sierra de Ajusco and Montes de las Cruces, which form a wooded ridge across it from east to west, with a general elevation of about io,000 ft. above sea-level, or about 2,500 above the plateau level.
A considerable part of the northern section of the State consists of the Valley of Mexico, a nearly circular flat-floored basin, once the bed of a great lake but now covered with swamps, sodden meadows and small lakes. The surrounding country drains into this depression, but an artificial outlet ha's been created by the opening of the Tequixquiac tunnel. Beyond its margin the plateau drains west to the Pacific through the Lerma, and north-east to the Gulf through the San Juan and Panuco. South of the Sierra de Ajusco the country is roughly mountainous and drains to the Pacific through tributaries of the Balsas. Within the depression of the north are the lakes of Zum pango, San Cristobal, Xaltocan, Chalco, Xochimilco and Texcoco, the last-named three lying partly or wholly in the Federal District. Texcoco has the lowest level and its water is brackish and un drinkable, though that of the streams flowing into it and of the other lakes is fresh. Lake Xochimilco is celebrated for its "float
ing gardens" or chinampas (see MEXICO, FEDERAL DISTRICT OF). The principal industries of the State are mining and agriculture. The principal agricultural products are cereals, sugar, maguey (from which "pulque" is made), coffee and fruit. In recent years the mining of gold and silver has taken high rank, particularly in the district of El Oro in the western part of the State. Stock raising has also had a profitable development, owing to the proxim ity of the national capital. The manufacturing industries are im portant ; among the manufactures are cotton and woollen fabrics, flour, dairy products, glass-ware, pottery, bricks, wines and spirits. The making of "pulque" is one of the chief industries of the State, and the product is sent in large quantities to the national capital. The State is traversed by the Central, National, Mexican Interna tional and Interoceanic railways, and by short lines from the na tional capital to neighbouring towns. The capital is Toluca, pop. (1930) 41,234; other towns are El Oro de Hidalgo (pop. 7,79o), Amecameca de Juarez (pop. 7,422), Zumpango (pop. 4,484), 3o m. N. of the capital, and Tenango Degollado (pop. 6,157). Many smaller towns are scattered about.