Mexico City

Flanked by mountains on the high-elevation Valley of Mexico sits Mexico City, the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. With over 21 million inhabitants, it represents the largest metropolitan area in the Western hemisphere. The dwindling canals of the beautiful southern Xochimilco district are a stark reminder of Mexico City’s geographical heritage. The city, for the most part, rests in the empty basin of Lake Texcoco. Over-extraction of the underlying aquifer caused the city to subside a staggering 9 meters throughout the 20th century. Today, its treasured monuments are visibly sinking.

In Mexico City, pockets of awe-inspiring beauty often juxtapose with the jangling crush of modernity. This booming metropolis literally pulses with energy, making you soar to heights one minute and crash with exhaustion the next. You will undoubtedly find, among Mexico City’s many varied and reasonably priced neighborhoods, the perfect landing pad. However, heavy traffic congestion is a compelling reason to live near where you work. Explosive growth in the latter part of the 20th century resulted in sprawling shantytowns and “marginal zones.” These have placed considerable pressure on the city’s infrastructure. However, architects and urban planners have begun rolling out a plan to restore the local lakes, aimed at alleviating subsidence and groundwater pollution problems. Separately, the government has instigated a series of rigorous measures to tackle air pollution.

Mexico City is a vibrant overlay of far-flung, ancient and modern cultures. Against a backdrop of Aztec temple ruins, Baroque cathedrals and modern icons, there is never a dull moment in this emerging Alpha city.