At 8000 ft above sea level theyre called mountains but are actually a vast system of interlocking canyons. Two mountain ranges run across the country from north to south the sierra madre oriental and sierra madre occidental. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/kids/photos/Countries/H-P/Mexico-Map-cut.ngsversion.1506976635442.adapt.710.1.jpg Mexico Mexico plateau and mountain ranges create 3 tectonic plates.