NEO-VOLCNICA, CORDILLERA

also called Eje Volcnico (Spanish: Volcanic Axis), volcanic mountain range traversing central Mexico from Cape Corrientes on the west coast, southeast to Jalapa and Veracruz on the east coast. The nation's culturalhistorical centre, the Cordillera forms the southern boundary of Mexico's Mesa Central and contains such volcanic peaks as Citlaltpetl (Orizaba; 18,406 feet ), Popocatpetl (17,930 feet ), and Iztacchuatl (Ixtacihuatl; 17,159 feet ). The mountains enclose numerous basins and plateaus. The temperate climate and rich volcanic soil, protected by the surrounding peaks, became the locus of the Aztec civilization in the 13th century. The Aztecs built Tenochtitln, their capital city, on the islands of Lake Texcoco. When Hernn Corts destroyed the city in 1521, he established Mexico City on the same site. It rapidly became the economic, industrial, and political centre of Mexico, and by the late 20th century it had over 9,800,000 residents. The Cordillera Neo-Volcnica is mined extensively for silver and for lead, zinc, copper, and tin. The population of Mexico City has fostered the development of commercial agriculture in many of the valleys and basins.