How many human settlements are there in South Africa?
Source: StatsSA (2012a) Human settlements | 79 Human settlements | 79 Linked with these figures there has been a general decrease in the per centage of households who draw water from natural water sources such as streams, rivers, dams, wells and springs, and who now have access to tapped water.
How does South Africa's settlement structure affect the natural environment?
South African settlement structure specifically has a marked impact on the natural environment, mostly due to low-density sprawl, reliance on private motorized transport, and large informal settlements.
What are the benefits of water-based settlements?
Most water-based ‘wet point’ settlements have many benefits such as water for cooking, washing and drinking. Rivers and lakes can be used to water farmland. Water bodies also have aquatic living beings like fish which can be grabbed for diet, and traversable rivers and lakes can be used for shipping.
What are the characteristics of a rural settlement?
The establishment’s size is relatively small. Usually, rural settlements are settled near water bodies such as rivers, springs, and lakes where water can be readily obtained. Sometimes the requirement of water drives people to settle in otherwise disadvantaged places such as islands encompassed by swamps or low lying river banks.
How does body of water affect settlement?
Historically we can see that people sell water so they could use it for transportation and agriculture. Water affects where people settle in that people tend to settle near bodies of water. People settle near water, because they use it as transportation, agriculture, and to sustain themselves and their communitites.
Why is water important for human settlement?
Water is essential for human and animal life, for nature and for the economy. As a resource and commodity, it has a key function in our economic system, for food production, hygiene and health, energy and education.
How does geography affect settlement patterns in North Africa?
The trade routes changed from the north to the south because of the climate changes. Farmers in the forests along the coasts would trade with farmers in the south savannahs and with the herders in the sahel. In time, salt and gold made the trade routes even bigger.
What is the relationship between Rivers and patterns of human settlement?
Across all six populated continents, human settlements are clustered near the outlets of major river basins, with settlement density decreasing exponentially with distance upstream. This downstream clustering suggests an optimum distribution of humans in large river basins for trade, transport and resource utilization.
Why did humans settle near water?
Historically, humans have chosen to live close to rivers for domestic and agricultural water supply as well as for navigation purposes, which has led humans to follow the courses of rivers during migrations1–3 and locate in proximity to rivers when establishing settlements4,5.
Which are the main sources of water for the human settlements?
Rivers as Sources of Water Supply River water is vital for human existence. It is used in various domestic activities, in agriculture, irrigation and industry.
How did geographic features affect the settlement of Africa?
How did geographic features affect the settlement of Africa? Geographic features affected the settlement of Africa because the deserts influenced the trade routes because they had to pass through the deserts to trade, they always settled around oases and rivers because Africa is really hot.
What is the dominant factor in the location of the population settlements in North Africa and Southwest Asia?
The location of the population in North Africa and Southwest Asia is most often dependent on access to oil.
What geographical features are found in North Africa?
Three main physical features of North Africa are the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, and the Nile River. Most of North Africa's population lives along the Mediterranean coast or along the Nile River. The ethnic majority in the Maghreb are Berber, with Arabs dominating in Egypt.
What are the factors that influence the settlement pattern?
1 Physical Environment. One of the most basic factors affecting settlement patterns is the physical geography of the land. ... 2 Transportation Systems. Settlement patterns have always been affected by the technology available to settlers, and especially by methods of transportation. ... 3 Economic Concerns. ... 4 Government Policies.
What is human settlement describe its different types according to their shapes?
The patterns of rural settlements on the basis of forms and shapes are: Linear Pattern In such settlements, houses are located along a road, river, canal edge of a valley or along a levee. Rectangular/ Cross-shape Pattern Such patterns of rural settlements are found in the plain areas or wide intermontane valleys.
Why are rivers important to civilizations?
A river gives the inhabitants a reliable source of water for drinking and agriculture. Additional benefits include fishing, fertile soil due to annual flooding, and ease of transportation. The first great civilizations, such as those in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, all grew up in river valleys.
Why were water sources important to colonial settlers?
New England waterways were one of the best things about the region, attracting colonists with ample water to drink, water for power and water for transportation. The first colonies chose locations on the coast for commerce and travel but were mindful to ensure access to pure drinking water.
What is water settlement?
The settlement of Indian Water Rights is a process by which the water claims of major water rights holders are settled providing certainty that improves water resource management.
How does water influence the location of urban settlement?
Physical factors that influence the location of a settlement include; 1. Water supply – settlements need water, they often locate on wet point sites for this. Settlements built away from rivers and water supplies to avoid flooding are located at dry point sites.
Which factors affect the human settlement?
Factors can be push or pull....Physical FeaturesBody of water (transportation routes, water for drinking and farming)Flat land (easy to build)Fertile soil (for crops)Forests (timber and housing)
Which two seas were the only people of the ancient world to be able to control both western and eastern foreign trade?
To the east another natural boundary, The Red Sea, extends roughly parallel to the Nile. Because of these two seas, the Egyptians were the only people of the ancient world to be able to control both western and eastern foreign trade.
Why did Egypt have long periods of isolated growth without foreign invasion?
Long periods of isolated growth without foreign invasion occurred because Egypt had natural borders that were impossible, or very difficult to cross. So immense is the significance of the Nile River to the development of Egyptian civilization, that we cannot separate the history of Egypt from its geography and other natural aspects.
What did the Greeks say about the Nile?
Their gratitude for this is reflected in their religion. Source: www.wikipedia.com. Ancient Greeks said that Egypt was the gift of the Nile. The Ancient Egyptians settled themselves on the narrow strip of alluvial soil along both banks of the Nile.
What is the biggest river in Africa?
The Nile is the biggest river in Africa, and is the result of the joining of three rivers from Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia. It starts in south (Upper) Egypt and ends at the country's northern border with the Mediterranean Sea (Lower Egypt). This separation of the country into two regions stems from ancient times.
Which river divides itself into the Mediterranean Sea?
In its lower (northern) part, the Nile River splits itself many times and spills into the Mediterranean Sea across a huge delta plain.
Who were the first people to live in the desert?
The earliest inhabitants of this region were Stone-Age hunter-gatherers who roamed an immense area rich in wildlife, which is now a desert. With radical changes in climate, these people gradually replaced their nomadic culture with the settled life of agriculturalists.
What is alluvial soil?
Alluvial soil is rich earth deposited by floods, usually over riverbanks. The Nile flooded annually in summer this way, renewing the fertility of the soil and the Egyptians' ability to grow crops and feed themselves over and over again. Their gratitude for this is reflected in their religion. Source: www.wikipedia.com
What factors influence the location of rural settlements?
3.1 Some factors influencing the location of rural settlements are: 3.2 Rural Settlement Patterns. We all live in clumps of houses. You may call it a village, a city or a town; all are patterns of human settlements. The study of human settlements is essential to human geography because the form of settlement in any particular region reflects ...
Where do people settle?
Usually, rural settlements are settled near water bodies such as rivers, springs, and lakes where water can be readily obtained . Sometimes the requirement of water drives people to settle in otherwise disadvantaged places such as islands encompassed by swamps or low lying river banks. Most water-based ‘wet point’ settlements have many benefits such as water for cooking, washing and drinking. Rivers and lakes can be used to water farmland. Water bodies also have aquatic living beings like fish which can be grabbed for diet, and traversable rivers and lakes can be used for shipping.
What are some examples of planned settlements?
Sites that are not instinctively chosen by villagers themselves, planned settlements are established by governments by giving shelter, water and other infrastructural facilities on acquired lands. The plan of villagisation in Ethiopia and the canal communities in Indira Gandhi canal command area in India are some examples.
Why is the study of human settlements important?
The study of human settlements is essential to human geography because the form of settlement in any particular region reflects a human relationship with the environment. A human settlement is defined as a region populated more or less permanently. The houses may be planned or redesigned, buildings may be remodelled, functions may change, ...
What is a linear pattern?
Linear pattern: In such settlements houses are established along a road, river, railway line, canal edge of a valley or along a levee. Rectangular pattern: Such models of rural settlements are found in plain regions or wide intermontane valleys. The roads are rectangular and cross each other at right angles.
What are the benefits of a wet point settlement?
Most water-based ‘wet point’ settlements have many benefits such as water for cooking, washing and drinking. Rivers and lakes can be used to water farmland. Water bodies also have aquatic living beings like fish which can be grabbed for diet, and traversable rivers and lakes can be used for shipping.
What is compact settlement?
Compact or Nucleated settlements: These settlements are those in which a large number of houses are constructed very close to each other. Such settlements grow along river valleys and in fertile plains. Communities are closely knit and share common professions.
Where did the dispersed settlement pattern originate?
In the United States, the dispersed settlement pattern was developed first in the Middle Atlantic colonies as a result of the individual immigrants’ arrivals. As people started to move westward, where land was plentiful, the isolated type of settlements became dominant in the American Midwest.
What are the two categories of settlements?
Using as classification criteria the shape, internal structure, and streets texture, settlements can be classified into two broad categories: clustered and dispersed.
What are the main economic activities in the mountain region?
Mining, livestock raising, and agriculture are the main economic activities, the latter characterized by terrace cultivation on the mountain slopes. The sub-mountain regions, with hills and valleys covered by plowed fields, vineyards, orchards, and pastures, typically have this type of settlement.
What is a scattered village?
A scattered dispersed type of rural settlement is generally found in a variety of landforms, such as the foothill, tableland, and upland regions. Yet, the proper scattered village is found at the highest elevations and reflects the rugged terrain and pastoral economic life. The population maintains many traditional features in architecture, dress, and social customs, and the old market centers are still important. Small plots and dwellings are carved out of the forests and on the upland pastures wherever physical conditions permit. Mining, livestock raising, and agriculture are the main economic activities, the latter characterized by terrace cultivation on the mountain slopes. The sub-mountain regions, with hills and valleys covered by plowed fields, vineyards, orchards, and pastures, typically have this type of settlement.
What is linear settlement?
Linear Rural Settlements. The linear form is comprised of buildings along a road, river, dike, or seacoast. Excluding the mountainous zones, the agricultural land is extended behind the buildings. The river can supply the people with a water source and the availability to travel and communicate.
What is clustered rural settlement?
A clustered rural settlement is a rural settlement where a number of families live in close proximity to each other, with fields surrounding the collection of houses and farm buildings. The layout of this type of village reflects historical circumstances, the nature of the land, economic conditions, and local cultural characteristics. ...
When was Rundlinge invented?
The current leading theory is that Rundlinge were developed at more or less the same time in the 12th century, to a model developed by the Germanic nobility as suitable for small groups of mainly Slavic farm-settlers.