Final answer:
The location of an area determines the direction of surface water flow towards the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico based on the geography and topography of the land.
Step-by-step explanation:
The location referred to in the question is a crucial determinant for the direction of surface water flow, whether it is towards the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. This is because the geography and topography of the land shape and influence river systems and drainage basins, which ultimately determine the direction of water flow.
For example, in the United States, rivers like the Mississippi flow into the Gulf of Mexico while rivers like the Columbia flow into the Pacific Ocean.