Human Geography frq essay - map image link: https://assets.learnosity.com/organisations/537/VH874869.g02.png

Question

The map shows the major rivers, mountain ranges, desert regions, and population densities in China. Mapping the distribution of a population is a geographer’s first step to understanding where people settle and why some areas have greater population densities than other areas.

 

1. Identify what each point symbol on the map represents.
2. Identify TWO topographic features shown on the map.
3. Describe TWO ways that topography affects the spatial pattern of population distribution shown on the map.
4. Describe ONE way that the availability of natural resources may affect population distribution.

Answer 1

1.The map key (bottom left) states that each point represents one million people

2. Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. Topographical maps depict features that include landforms (mountains, valleys, etc.), water courses (rivers, for example), vegetation, and manmade features. Elevation is also recorded, usually in reference to sea level.

3. Topography affects population distribution in mountain ranges and hills, for example, because of the challenge of building roads, making trade and travel though the areas difficult and not worth it. The accessibility to water and agricultural land, especially in high altitude areas, is also not worth setting up house.

Deserts, such as the Taklamakan, are characteristically extremely dry. Naturally, this makes it hard for human life because of the risk of not having food or water. In China, where there is more accessible and survivable land elsewhere, people will choose to settle there.

4. Natural resources encourage a higher population because the resources can be used in industry and manufacturing. As a population grows so will the need for more resources, encouraging people to settle where there is an abundance of a resource such as freshwater, farmland, oil, etc.