Case Study: UK Population Distribution
Facts:
1. Population in the UK is unevenly distributed (spread) for a variety of reasons.
2. Some places are crowded (densely populated).
3. Some places have few people (sparsely populated).
4. Some places have a population density in between densely and sparsely.
5. Places like cities/towns, ports, industrial centres and areas near major transport routes tend to be densely populated.
6. 10% of the UK population live on 30% of the UK land area in the north west highlands of Scotland, whereas 30% of the UK population live on just 10% of the UK land area in the south east of England! This makes the south east of England very crowded and the north west of Scotland very sparse.
Factors Affecting Population Density in the UK:
1. Flat land (Relief = height of the land)
2. Agriculture (farming)
3. Settlement location
4. Raw materials
5. Climate
6. Industry
7. Transport links and communication
8. Distance to markets (not Wakefield market, but the large population who would buy your goods)
North West Highlands of Scotland: sparsely populated (<20>
Why?
- harsh climate and environment (over 1800mm of rain per year/fewer sunshine hours) Atlantic and polar winds
- relief is mountainous - difficult to build, farm and travel
- lack of good transport links
- distance from other places - the distance would be a factor to discourage industry locating in this region
- poor farming conditions (poor soils, hilly relief). This results in a type of farming called Crofting (poor, subsistence farming where not much profit if any is made).
Norfolk: (20-100 people per km2)
Why?
- Less than average amounts of rainfall (1000-1800mm per year - enough for crop growing) and long sunshine hours. Warmer temperatures 16C average. Climate is an advantage for farming in this region
- flat land to build and farm on
- rich fertile soil
- short travelling distances (countryside location but people can commute daily into the big cities and towns of the south east, like London, on the motorway network)
- large nearby market to buy products from
- developed port industry
- developed tourist industry around the coast
Merseyside: (>100 people per Km2)
Why?
- flat land to build on
- Cities like Liverpool developed on the coast and River Mersey (trade/import and export)
- settlements and commuter areas developed where people lived and travelled in to work in the cities such as Liverpool
- port industry grew and associated industries close by to the ports developed
- market gardening farming conditions
- less harsh climate than north west highlands of Scotland, but more rain and slightly lower temperatures than Norfolk
- transport links (M62/M6 and rail developed). Government investment to develop the region
London: (>100 people per km2)
Why?
- Capital city
- Flat land to expand
- Location of Government and lots of Government investment
- Financial institutions
- Transport 'Hub' of the UK (rail, motorways, airports)
- Gateway to Europe
- Pre 1950 Worlds biggest port
- Fashion, retail, Arts
- Tourist
- One of the world's major cities (migrants attracted 'bright lights and opportunities')
No comments:
Post a Comment