4.2.1. Geographical Factors

♤ Availability of water: It is the most important factor for life. So, people prefer to live in areas where fresh water is easily available. Water is used for drinking, bathing and cooking

– and also for cattle, crops, industries and navigation. It is because of this that river valleys are among the most densely populated areas of the world. It is no wonder that civilizations like the Indus and Mesopotamia developed at the banks of rivers which ensured adequate and assured water supply for settlement. Deserts have low density of population due to scarcity of water. Only oases within the deserts are densely populated and here the population is limited by the availability of water.

♤ Landforms (Relief): People prefer living on flat plains and gentle slopes. This is because such areas are favourable for the production of crops and to build roads and industries. The mountainous and hilly areas hinder the development of transport network and hence initially do not favour agricultural and industrial development. So, these areas tend to be less populated. The Ganga plains are among the most densely populated areas of the world while the mountains zones in the Himalayas are scarcely populated. The thinness of the atmosphere at latitudes above 4000m makes breathing difficult and exertion very fatiguing. Therefore only those high plateaus where farming and communications have been relatively easy have settlements and everywhere else the settlements are concentrated in the valleys.

♤ Climate: An extreme climate such as very hot or cold deserts is uncomfortable for human habitation. Areas with a comfortable climate, where there is not much seasonal variation attract more people. Areas with very heavy rainfall or extreme and harsh climates have low population.

♤ Soils: Fertile soils are important for agricultural and allied activities. Therefore, areas which have fertile loamy soils have more people living on them as these can support intensive agriculture.