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Difficulty: MediumUrbanization and Urban Settlement Problems

In many rapidly growing cities of developing nations, the uncontrolled lateral expansion of urban land cover into adjacent rural zones leads to the loss of prime agricultural land, habitat destruction, and excessive costs for extending municipal utilities. Which urban settlement phenomenon best describes this process?

  1. Urban sprawlAnswer
  2. B
    Counter-urbanization
  3. C
    Rural-to-urban migration
  4. D
    Urban renewal

Answer

Urban sprawl is the unrestricted spatial growth of urban areas into neighboring countryside and agricultural land.
The correct answer is urban sprawl because it specifically refers to the low-density, unchecked physical expansion of cities into nearby rural landscapes and farmland, creating ecological and infrastructure problems.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the scenario description
The scenario describes uncontrolled physical spatial growth of a city into surrounding agricultural land.
Identifying key geographical indicators (lateral physical expansion, land conversion, peripheral utility extension) helps categorize the urban settlement phenomenon.
2
Distinguish between spatial expansion processes and demographic/redevelopment processes
The correct term for low-density outward physical expansion into rural hinterlands is urban sprawl.
Urban sprawl specifically focuses on the physical footprint expansion of urban land use beyond city boundaries.

Key Concept

Urban Sprawl and Environmental Consequences
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Urbanization and Urban Settlement Problems

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