The capital of Mexico is Mexico City, also known as Ciudad de México or CDMX. It is the largest city in Mexico and the most populous city in North America. Mexico City is located in the Valley of Mexico within the high Mexican central plateau, at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft) . It has been continuously inhabited for nearly 700 years and was once the heart of the ancient Aztec civilization. Today, it is one of the most important cultural and financial centers in the world.