How Geographic Features Influence Settlement

1. Vegetation-plant life natural to an area

1.1. Forests-provide resources...building materials, fuel, paper, chemicals wood, fruit, rubber, medicine. Provide shelter from the sun and winds and prevent rain from washin away soil. Protect living creatures.

1.2. Desert-little rain fall and plants. Made of sand, bedrock, gravel, boulders, soil. May have dunes or oasis. Can be flat land, mesas, or mountains. Located in all parts of the world, including tropical or polar places.

1.3. Grasslands-grass is major natural vegetation. Gets more rain than a desert and less than a forest. Provides habitat for various species of animal life. Major grasslands found in the interior parts of a continent.

1.4. Tundra-cold area with very few plants. Plants with short roots survive. Valuable mineral deposits found under soil. Home to various types of animals (even cold weather animals).

2. Climate-the year-round weather conditions of an area.

2.1. Can be classified as tropical, dry, mild, continental, polar, and high elevation.

2.2. Different parts of the world have different climate

2.3. Weather conditions can affect the vegetation and animal life in an area

2.4. People choose to live or not live in an area because of its climate

2.5. Can influence the development of cities

3. Soil-the materal which covers mst of the earth's land surface.

3.1. Can be made of various amounts of sand, silt, clay, and other materials

3.2. The makeup of the soil determines which plants will grow and whether erosion will ocur

3.3. soil contans nutrients for plant growth

4. Water-most cities found on coastlines

4.1. Transportation-ships bring or take away goods

4.2. Food-drinking water, seafood, irrigation for crops

4.3. Resources-water provides power for industries (hydroelectric energy)

4.4. Recreation-boating, fishing, swmming

4.5. Safety-storms/flooding, some cities are protected from enemies by the coastline

5. Landforms-the shape that land can take

5.1. Transportation-mountain slopes can limit building opportunities and transportation

5.2. Recreation-hiking, camping, natural walks, scenic views

5.3. Food-farming can be accomplished on various landforms

5.4. Safety-cities built on hills and mountains are protected from their enemies; can be affected by severe weather conditions such as heavy snow, ice, mudslides, and forest fires

5.5. Resources-natural resources such as coal, silver, lead, lumbe, tin, and gems.