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Mexico City is sinking so fast that the subsidence can be spotted from space

The Independent·Megan Janetsky·about 1 month ago
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#mexico#city#cabral#nasa#water#photo
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Mexico City is sinking by nearly 25 centimetres (10 inches) annually, new satellite imagery from NASA has revealed, positioning it among the world's most rapidly subsiding major cities. This sprawling urban centre, home to approximately 22 million people across 7,800 square kilometres (3,000 square miles), was originally constructed on an ancient lake bed. This historical foundation is evident in many downtown streets that once served as canals, a feature still present in its rural outskirts. The relentless pumping of groundwater and extensive urban development have severely depleted the underlying aquifer. This has caused Mexico City to sink for over a century, resulting in a noticeable tilt in many historic monuments and older structures, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, which began construction in 1573. The shrinking aquifer also exacerbates a persistent water crisis, which experts anticipate will only intensify.…

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