Historical Background of Water Resources in Mexico

Abstract

The hydrology of Mexico is closely linked to the geological, physiographic, and climatic features of the country. Over millions of years, the interaction of various tectonic plates gave rise to a complex landscape composed of mountain ranges, high plateaus, coastal plains, and inland basins, which shaped the distribution and dynamics of all of Mexico’s water systems. These natural conditions allowed for the emergence of volcanoes which, when they erupted, influenced how water infiltrates, flows, and is stored in rivers, lakes, and aquifers.

With the aim of describing how natural processes and historical decisions from different eras have shaped today’s water systems, this document analyzes this historical evolution—through a timeline that traces the formation of the territory—and the changes that led to transformations in water management across Mexico. This allows for the identification of some of the main challenges associated with water availability, distribution, and management in the contemporary context.

To document these water resources, various maps of great value due to their age are presented, including some currently housed in the Archivo de Indias in Seville, Spain.