Population
Population Patterns:
What encourages human settlement in one place versus another?
Today the world’s population is over 7 billion people. The population is total number of people that live
in an area. Certain places on earth have more positive features that attract larger populations while others
places have negative features which discourage a large population. Therefore the Earth’s population is
spread unevenly among the continents. Physical features, climate and resources all played a part in early
human settlement and population, and still do today.
Long ago, the first settlements were built near fresh waterways, like rivers. The fresh water was very
important for survival. The fresh water was used for humans and animal consumption (drinking), farming,
and fishing. Waterways were also used for transportation by ships or small boats to move people and
products. Today, those small towns have grown into great urban areas with large populations. These cities
offer more opportunities for labor, recreation and educational.
Open flat plains were another physical feature that encouraged large human settlements. Primarily,
leveled lands are ideal physical features for the most living space because it was easier to build
communities on flat land. Another positive feature is that they are usually the best land for farming. Plains
near a river are a double bonus because the rivers created fertile soil. The land is fertile because the
fresh water was nearby and was easier to be channeled to the farmland or the rivers would flood, bringing
the nutrients to the land. Detroit began as a small fort next to the Detroit River and grew into a large
city. Later, many suburbs grew around the city, like Dearborn.
Climate and resources are other factors that encourage human settlement. Adequate rainfall and mild
temperatures attract larger populations. Extreme climates (very cold, hot, and dry) deter large population
settlements. A nation with many natural resources can produce more jobs and a great economy. Nations
with an abundant amount of resources usually have a large population. The largest populations are typically
found in nations in the northern hemisphere. We have seven continents but the majority of the world’s
population, 81%, lives on only three continents: Asia, Europe, and North America. They have the most
desirable climate, abundant resources and suitable landforms with access to water.
Physical features and climates can create challenges for humans. The other continents have smaller
populations due to harsh climates or tough physical features. In South America, most people live near the
coastal plains. The rest of South America has mountains, dry plains, deserts and the largest rainforest- the
Amazon. Antarctica is inhabitable due to the year round polar climate. Australia’s population is
concentrated on some coastlines because the rest of the continent is arid or semi-arid. Africa is a large
continent however it also has the largest desert in the world-The Sahara- taking up most of the land in the
north and southern tip.
Population Patterns Review
Directions:
1. Use the article to find details to answer the following questions.
2. Use QAR *highlight proof in the article
*write the Q # next to the proof
*write RT, TS or AM next to the question
1.
What does population mean? __________________________________________________
2. List the four reasons why rivers are an important resource to live near for large populations.
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3. List two reasons why the physical features of plains encourage attract a large population.
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4. Other than plains and rivers, think of two other physical features that encourage large human
population settlements. Explain your choices.
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5. List the three most populated continents.
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5b. What is their total percentage of the world’s population? ______________________
6. List the other continents and their negative feature that affect them to have less population.
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