Lake Texcoco

Lake Texcoco was the central lake in the Valley of Mexico, surrounded by settlements including Tenochtitlan. Spanish colonial drainage and later urban growth transformed it into a largely drained lakebed.

Valley of Mexico: A highland basin in central Mexico that contains Mexico City and a chain of former lakes. Lake Texcoco occupied the basin’s lowest central area.
Nezahualcoyotl's dike: A pre-Hispanic barrier across Lake Texcoco, built to separate fresher western waters from the eastern lake. The dike helped manage salinity and protect Tenochtitlan from flooding.
Tenochtitlan: The Mexica capital, founded on islands in Lake Texcoco and conquered by Spain in 1521. Its location and growth depended on the lake’s islands and waters.
Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire: The Spanish-led campaign that overthrew Mexica rule and captured Tenochtitlan in 1521. Colonial authorities inherited a city built within the lake system.
Lake Xochimilco: A southern lake in the Valley of Mexico, historically linked to the basin’s other lakes. It formed part of the interconnected lake landscape around Texcoco.
Albarradón de Ecatepec: A colonial-era dike in the Valley of Mexico designed to control water and reduce flooding. It formed part of the engineering response to floods around the lake basin.
Tlatelolco: A Mexica city-state and major market on an island adjoining Tenochtitlan. Its island location placed it within Lake Texcoco’s urban network.
Mexico City: The capital of Mexico, built over and around the former Mexica capital of Tenochtitlan. The modern metropolis expanded across Lake Texcoco’s drained bed.
Lake Chalco: A former freshwater lake in the southeastern Valley of Mexico. Its waters and settlements belonged to the same lake system.
Desagüe of the Valley of Mexico: A long-running system of canals and tunnels built to drain water from the Valley of Mexico. Its construction progressively emptied Lake Texcoco and neighboring lakes.

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