Common questions about Mexico City

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was Mexico City founded by the Mexica people?

The Mexica people founded Mexico City in 1325 when they arrived at the shores of Lake Texcoco and built their capital, Tenochtitlan, on a small, marshy island.

Who destroyed Tenochtitlan and when did the siege end?

Hernán Cortés and his indigenous allies destroyed Tenochtitlan during a three-month siege that ended in August 1521 when the last Aztec emperor, Cuauhtémoc, surrendered.

Why does Mexico City sink today?

Mexico City sinks because it was built on the soft clay of the drained Lake Texcoco, and the over-extraction of groundwater causes some areas to sink as much as 9 inches per year.

When did Mexico City legalize same-sex marriage?

Mexico City became the first federal entity in Mexico to legalize same-sex marriage in 2009.

What year did the 1985 earthquake occur in Mexico City?

The 1985 earthquake occurred in Mexico City and forced ordinary citizens to take charge of rescue efforts after the government response was paralyzed by bureaucracy and corruption.