Describe and explain the link between physical and human resources against the population density and distribution of population in the UK.
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Introduction
Describe and explain the link between physical and human resources against the population density and distribution of population in the UK. The world's population is unevenly spread across the land surface. The explanation for the uneven distribution lies in a mixture of physical and human factors as well as the historical development of the area. Factors having a positive impact are likely to encourage a high population density whereas those having a negative impact are likely to deter population leading to sparsely populated areas. Within any one country there are also variations. The UK is one such country. The densely populated conurbations and south east of England contrast sharply with the sparsely populated uplands in the north and west of the UK. Before the industrial revolution in the UK was quite even, although the more fertile agricultural areas such as East Anglia were able to support much higher densities of population than the cold, wet uplands which were sparsely populated. This pattern can still be seen today. ...read more.
Middle
There is also the presence of coal in the area accessible to the outside world and for trade. This presence of coal led to mass rural to urban migration during the industrial revolution giving it a high population density. The area also has good infrastructure with good export trade and wealthy markets due to the two ports on both the east and west coasts of the area. The east port makes trade to Europe easy and the west Ireland and beyond. The north part of England is fairly sparsely populated with a population density of 0-10 people/ per sq km in the upland areas of the region and 11-50 in the lower areas. This is again due to the unsuitability for agriculture and their remoteness. The land is too steep for farm machinery; the soils are too thin and rocky with a poor infrastructure. However as with Scotland there is an exception on the east coast and on the west. These two areas are the old industrial core regions of England. ...read more.
Conclusion
London has exerted strong long term influence as the capital and centre for administration and finance. The area is of national and international importance, setting of cumulative causation and multiplier effect. It is the hub of a national route network. Its expanding population provides prosperous market, helping towards making it the greatest entrepreneurial centre in the UK. It has benefited from a shift in economy from heavy industry to light, service industry, including banking and insurance, especially since the mid- 1930s. the focus is now high technology industry and further service growth. Prosperity has spread especially since the 1960s. People's desires and higher core costs led to decentralisation of population and economic activity into the more spacious rural areas, particularly along the M4 and M3 growth corridors into East Anglia. The south west has a sparse population density of 11- 150 people/ sq km. However this is set to change. The south west was part of the more remote upland fringe until recently. Now with lower cost, rural setting and developing motorway and commuter train links, it attracts both retirement and working households, service and high technology growth, as well as tourists. ...read more.
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