A Look at the Dark and Mysterious Side of Mexico

Mexico City is literally sinking because it was built on a drained lakebed. As millions of residents pump water from the aquifer below, the soft soil compacts, causing parts of the city to drop more than 30 centimeters (one foot) per year—a rate among the fastest in the world.

This sinking damages roads, pipes, and buildings, creating cracks and tilts across the city. Engineers warn that some areas may never be recoverable. Despite this, the city keeps growing, with skyscrapers rising even as the ground beneath them quietly slips away, reshaping the landscape year by year.