The region of Central Mexico consists of
four states including Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, and Morelos. The Valley of
Mexico or the Tehuacan Valley are also considered part of Central Mexico. This
region encompasses the mountain ranges of the four "Sierras". These highlands
surround the Tehuacan valley located in the Central Plateau of Mexico. To the
north are the Sierra de Pachuca mountains, to the east are the Sierra Nevada
range, to the south lie the Sierra de Ajusco, and finally to the west are the
Sierra de las Cruces range.
The weather of Central Mexico consists of five months of a rainy season that starts in May and ends in September; like that of Guerreros. The other months are somewhat dry but have occasional rain showers. During the rainy season, the rain falls in heavy downpours in the afternoon and ends in the evening. The winter weather is influenced by a tropical, dry, high pressure. The summer climate is affected by the moist air of the northeast trade winds. Altitude is important in determining temperature in Central Mexico. In the higher altitude, the average temperature is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which is cool for the tropical region. In surrounding lower areas, temperatures can climb into the 90 degrees Fahrenheit range. January is typically the coldest month and May is generally the warmest.
In Central Mexico, there is little native vegetation left because of the European conquest. Many of the species of oak and pine that covered the highlands have been cut for construction or to make charcoal. Agricultural crops include wheat, oats, barley and rye. Fruit and eucalyptus trees from Australia now line roads and highways. The date palm tree is planted in parks and lines many streets in Mexico. The Calla Lily, a native of Africa, grows along canals in areas such as San Juan in Teotihuacan. Central Mexico also contains many of the wild species of plants and animals that Guerrero does, such as the iguana, the white-tail deer and jaguars.
