The United States and Mexico share a 2,000-mile border that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. The border region is shared by ten states, wetlands, numerous mountain ranges, canyons, rivers and deserts. The United States-Mexico border is “Located between a developed and a developing country, the United States-Mexico border region is a formally defined transnational region. The region extends approximately 2,000 miles along the entire length of the international border, 62.5 miles (100 kilometers) north and south of the border, and 62.5 miles into the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico . Economic, political and social changes continue to reshape relations between the two nations and bring direct and indirect prosperity to communities along the border and across the country. However, despite these opportunities, the border region faces many environmental challenges, including environmental degradation that affects air, water, and soil quality along the Rio Grande River. Environmental degradation leads to the destruction of ecosystems by human activities. Due to the limited scope of this article, only some of the environmental issues along the Rio Grande River will be identified specifically, rapid population growth, industry growth, air pollution, large and surface areas. water quality, ecosystems, deforestation and Rio Grande water quality. The Rio Grande River, or Río Bravo as it is known in Mexico, is the natural border between the United States and Mexico, from El Paso, Texas, to Brownsville, Texas, however, the Rio Grand River no longer flows naturally because the vast networks of diversions and dams control the natural flow of the river. “The Amistad International Dam, built jointly by the United States and Mexico... middle of article......environmental microbiology. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 1992.pp. 125-156. Accessed December 2, 2013. Souers, Amy and Peter Kelly. 200. “Rio Grandee is among the most endangered rivers in the country. » American rivers. Search." Accessed December 2, 2013. Telephone interview with Kenneth N. Rakestraw, Chief, Water Accounting Division, International Boundary and Water Commission, Austin, Texas, May 6, 1998. Google Search. " Accessed December 1, 2013. Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, Watershed Management Division Regional Water Quality Assessment in the Rio Grande Basin Austin, Texas. 1994. Research." Accessed December 3, 2013. United States Environmental Protection Agency and Secretar_a de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. State of the Border Region 2010. Border 2012: United States-Mexico Environmental Program. Report on indicators 2011. Accessed in December 2, 2013.