Australia is one of the most urbanised nations in the world, yet it possesses a vast land area of nearly 7.7 million square kilometres. Considering the continent's physical environment, which of the following best explains why the population is so heavily concentrated in coastal regions rather than being distributed evenly across the continent?
- The environmental limitations of the vast, arid interior restrict large-scale human settlement to the more temperate coastal zones with reliable water resources.Answer
- BThe interior of the continent consists of fertile, high-rainfall plains that the government has restricted from development to ensure an even population balance.
- CNational regulations mandate that at least 90% of the population must reside in capital cities to support international trade and maritime security.
Answer
The correct answer is that the environmental limitations of the vast, arid interior restrict large-scale human settlement to the more temperate coastal zones with reliable water resources.
The correct answer identifies that Australia's settlement pattern is driven by the physical environment. Most of the continent's interior is arid or semi-arid, meaning it lacks the rainfall and fertile soil necessary to support large cities. Consequently, the population has clustered in the temperate coastal regions where resources are more abundant.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The influence of climate and geography on population distribution
Hints
1
Consider the difference in climate between the center of Australia and the coastal regions.
2
Think about why major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are located where they are.
3
Recall that much of the Australian 'Outback' is characterized by desert and very low rainfall.
Practice More
Review a map of Australia's climate zones and compare it to a map of major city locations to see the correlation.
Estimated Time:1m 30s