Geoheritage Within Cities: Urban Geosites in Mexico City

Geosites, or sites of geological and geomorphological interest, are not restricted to rural, open or outdoor areas. Valuable geoheritage examples can be found as well in urban spaces. An urban geosite can be defined simply as a site of geological or geomorphological interest within a city and may be natural, derived from geological processes or man-made structures where representative types of rocks were used for their construction. They may also represent a place of interest associated with representative geological and geomorphological processes related to the development of the urban area itself. In this paper, three urban geosites within Mexico City are described: an ecological reserve, an emblematic historical building in the old centre of the city and an archaeological area. All sites show the relation between geology-geomorphology and society in this urban space. The paper aims to promote the geological and geomorphological heritage within cities and the knowledge of earth sciences among members of the general and specialized public.