Final answer:
The Yucatán Peninsula features flat landscapes and limestone bedrock with thin soil, which contrasts sharply with the high, fertile peaks and diverse ecosystems of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terrain of the Yucatán Peninsula is markedly different from that of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. The Yucatán Peninsula is characterized by low-lying limestone bedrock, flat landscapes, and is known for having sinkholes called cenotes. The region's soil is relatively thin and not as fertile due to the underlying limestone, and it lacks significant elevation changes. Tourism, especially in areas like Cancún and around Mayan ruins, has become a major economic driver due to the peninsula's geography.
In contrast, the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental are extensions of the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, respectively. These mountain ranges feature high peaks, such as those exceeding 9,843 feet in the Sierra Madre Occidental, and are situated along Mexico's coastlines. The Sierra Madre ranges include diverse ecosystems and have climates that vary with elevation, with cooler climates at higher elevations, and serve as a home to robust agricultural areas and ranch land within the broad plateaus.