Limnological regionalization of Mexico

Mexico, with its unique northwest‐southeast horn‐like shape, attains its largest continental area toward the northwest. It spans more than 15° of latitude and longitude. Two‐thirds of its territory lie 800 m or more above sea‐level. The relief, dominated by mountains, is rugged. Climate is varied and includes arid, steppe‐like, temperate and tropical lands, with a general trend of increasing aridity north of the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt. Such a heterogeneous physiographic‐climatic scenario leads to a wide diversity of epicontinental aquatic resources, with a general trend of increasing water availability south of the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt. Nonetheless, Mexico scarcely holds 0.1% of the worlds’inland aquatic resources. In order to characterize, plan, and manage aquatic resources of so extensive an area, it is important to undertake a limnological regionalization. Considering the hydraulic, climatic, geographical and geological attributes of Mexico, a lake inventory and regionalization is provided to improve knowledge of the extent of Mexican limnological resources.