Study of Settlements (Settlements)

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Define a settlement.

A settlement is a place where people live that includes buildings, infrastructure, transport networks, social activities and economic activities functioning as a single integrated unit.

What is a site?

The exact piece of land on which a settlement is built.

What is a situation?

The location of a settlement in relation to its surrounding environment and nearby features.

What is meant by settlement complexity?

The classification of a settlement according to the number and variety of services and functions it provides.

Which settlements are generally more complex?

Urban settlements because they provide a wide range of services and economic functions.

Which settlements are generally less complex?

Rural settlements because they provide fewer services and perform fewer functions.

What is a settlement pattern?

The arrangement of buildings according to how close together or far apart they are.

What is a nucleated settlement pattern?

A settlement pattern where buildings are closely grouped together.

What is a dispersed settlement pattern?

A settlement pattern where buildings are scattered and far apart.

What is settlement shape?

The arrangement of buildings according to the feature around which they develop.

What is a wet-point settlement?

A settlement built close to a water source because water is scarce in the surrounding area.

What is a dry-point settlement?

A settlement built away from a water source because excess water or flooding poses a threat.

What is a rural settlement?

A settlement with a small population, limited development, mainly primary economic activities and relatively few services.

What is an urban settlement?

A densely populated settlement with extensive development, many services and mainly secondary, tertiary and quaternary economic activities.

What is the function of a settlement?

The purpose of a settlement and the main economic activities carried out there.

What four features are found in every settlement?

People, Buildings, Infrastructure and transport networks, Economic and social activities.

Can settlements be temporary or permanent?

Yes. Most settlements are permanent, while refugee camps are examples of temporary settlements.

What determines where a settlement develops?

Its site and situation.

What is the main difference between site and situation?

Site = exact land where the settlement is located. Situation = location relative to surrounding features and other places.

Which concept focuses on physical characteristics of the land?

Site.

What is meant by site factors?

Physical factors that influence the exact location of a settlement.

List the main site factors.

Water supply, Relief (topography), Soil, Climate, Aspect, Natural vegetation, Building materials, Natural resources, Defence, Tradition.

Why is water an important site factor?

Drinking water, Irrigation, Livestock, Domestic use, Industry, Supports farming.

Why does fertile soil encourage settlement?

Produces better crops, Supports agriculture, Increases food production, Improves farming income.

Why does relief influence settlement location?

Flat land is easier to build on. Gentle slopes are easier to farm. Steep slopes are difficult to build on.

Why are north-facing slopes preferred in the Southern Hemisphere?

Receive more sunlight, Are warmer, Better for crop cultivation, More comfortable for settlement.

What is the thermal belt?

The warmer mid-slope zone where frost is less common, making it suitable for farming and settlement.

Why are forests important site factors?

Provide timber, Supply fuel, Supply building materials, Protect against strong winds.

Why are minerals important site factors?

They attract mining settlements and create employment opportunities.

Why is defence an important site factor?

High ground allows inhabitants to detect approaching enemies more easily and provides natural protection.

Give two examples of defensive sites.

Hilltops, Elevated ridges.

Why do wet-point settlements develop?

Because water is scarce and people need reliable access to a water source.

Why do dry-point settlements develop?

To avoid flooding, marshes and waterlogged ground.

What is meant by situation factors?

Factors relating to a settlement's location relative to surrounding features.

List the main situation factors.

Roads, Railways, Rivers, Harbours, Airports, Markets, Nearby settlements, Accessibility, Resources.

Why is accessibility an important situation factor?

It allows people, goods and services to move easily to and from the settlement.

Why is proximity to markets important?

Reduces transport costs, Makes selling products easier, Saves time, Increases profits.

Why are transport routes important?

They connect settlements, improve trade, increase accessibility and encourage economic growth.

What is the difference between a site factor and a situation factor?

Site factor = influences the exact physical location of the settlement (e.g. fertile soil, water, relief). Situation factor = influences the settlement's relationship with surrounding areas (e.g. roads, markets, nearby towns).

(Very Common IEB Exam Question) How can you distinguish between site and situation in an exam source?

Ask yourself: "Why is the settlement built exactly here?" → Site. "How is the settlement related to surrounding places?" → Situation. Tip: If the answer involves soil, water, relief, climate or natural resources, it is usually a site factor. If it involves roads, transport, markets or nearby settlements, it is usually a situation.

What is the main function of a rural settlement?

Rural settlements are generally unifunctional and are mainly associated with primary economic activities.

What is the main function of an urban settlement?

Urban settlements are multifunctional and are mainly associated with secondary, tertiary and quaternary economic activities.

What are primary economic activities?

Activities that extract or use natural resources directly from the environment. Examples: Farming, Forestry, Fishing, Mining.

What are secondary economic activities?

Activities that process raw materials into finished products. Examples: Manufacturing, Processing industries, Construction.

What are tertiary economic activities?

Services provided to people and businesses. Examples: Banking, Education, Healthcare, Retail, Transport, Tourism.

What are quaternary economic activities?

Knowledge-based services involving research, information and technology. Examples: Universities, Scientific research, IT services, Data analysis.

Why are rural settlements regarded as unifunctional?

Because they mainly depend on one dominant economic activity, usually farming or another primary activity.

Why are urban settlements regarded as multifunctional?

Because they contain many different economic activities and provide a wide range of services.

State four characteristics of rural settlements.

Low population density, Mostly primary activities, Large open spaces, Limited services and infrastructure.

State four characteristics of urban settlements.

High population density, Extensive infrastructure, Many services, High building density.

Compare the population of rural and urban settlements.

Rural settlements have a relatively small population. Urban settlements have a large population.

Compare land use in rural and urban settlements.

Rural: agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining dominate. Urban: commercial, industrial, residential and recreational land uses dominate.

Compare the availability of services in rural and urban settlements.

Rural settlements provide basic services only, while urban settlements provide a wide range of specialised services such as universities, hospitals and shopping centres.

Why do urban settlements have more services than rural settlements?

Because they have larger populations, greater demand and a larger customer base.

Why are buildings closer together in urban settlements?

Because land is expensive and many people live and work in a small area.

Arrange the following settlements from smallest to largest.

Farmstead → Hamlet → Village → Town → City → Metropolis → Conurbation → Megalopolis.

What is a farmstead?

A single farmhouse together with its outbuildings and surrounding farmland.

What is a hamlet?

A small grouping of a few farmsteads with very few services.

What is a village?

A larger grouping of farmsteads with basic services that support the surrounding rural area.

What is a town?

An urban settlement that provides services to surrounding rural areas and has a larger population than a village.

What is a city?

A large urban settlement with many economic functions, extensive infrastructure and a large population.

What is a metropolis?

A major city that dominates a region and is surrounded by smaller dependent towns. Examples: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg.

What is a conurbation?

A large urban area formed when neighbouring towns and cities grow and merge together. Example: Witwatersrand.

What is a megalopolis?

A massive urban region formed when several conurbations join together. Example: BosWash (Boston–New York–Washington).

What is meant by settlement complexity?

The level of services and economic functions offered by a settlement.

Which settlements have high complexity?

Large urban settlements such as cities and metropolises.

Which settlements have low complexity?

Rural settlements such as farmsteads, hamlets and villages.

Why does settlement complexity increase as settlements become larger?

Because larger populations require more specialised goods, services and employment opportunities.

Give five examples of high-complexity services.

Universities, Specialist hospitals, Airports, Corporate headquarters, Government departments.

Give five examples of low-complexity services.

Primary school, Small clinic, General dealer, Petrol station, Post office.

What determines a settlement pattern?

The distance between buildings.

What is a nucleated settlement pattern?

Buildings are closely grouped together in one area.

What is a dispersed settlement pattern?

Buildings are widely spaced and scattered over a large area.

Which settlement pattern is found in all urban settlements?

Nucleated.

Which settlement pattern is commonly associated with large commercial farms?

Dispersed.

Give four reasons why nucleated settlements develop.

Scarce water supply (wet-point settlement), Security and defence, Small fragmented farms, Communal farming.

Give four reasons why dispersed settlements develop.

Large commercial farms, Abundant land, Mechanised farming, Avoid flooding (dry-point settlement).

State four advantages of nucleated settlements.

Easier provision of services, Better security, Easier sharing of farming equipment, Stronger community interaction.

State four disadvantages of nucleated settlements.

Less privacy, Greater spread of diseases, Traffic congestion, Competition for land and water.

State four advantages and four disadvantages of dispersed settlements.

Advantages: Greater privacy, Large farms, Less noise, Less overcrowding. Disadvantages: Difficult and expensive to provide services, Long travelling distances, Poor accessibility, Reduced security due to isolation.

What is settlement shape?

Settlement shape refers to the arrangement of buildings according to the physical or human feature around which the settlement develops.

What determines the shape of a settlement?

The surrounding physical and human features, such as roads, rivers, railway lines, mountain passes, coastlines or central facilities.

How is settlement shape different from settlement pattern?

Shape describes the arrangement of buildings (e.g. linear, round). Pattern describes how close together or far apart buildings are (nucleated or dispersed).

What is a linear settlement?

A settlement where buildings develop along a linear feature such as a road, railway, river, valley or coastline.

Give five factors that may cause a linear settlement.

Roads, Rivers, Railway lines, Valleys, Mountain passes.

Why do linear settlements commonly develop along roads?

Easy access to transport, Easier movement of goods and people, Better accessibility, Reduced transport costs.

What is a circular (round) settlement?

A settlement that develops around a central feature.

Give examples of central features around which circular settlements develop.

Church, Village green, Water well, Kraal, Park.

What is a T-shaped settlement?

A settlement that develops where a secondary road joins a main road, forming a T-junction.

What is a crossroads settlement?

A settlement that develops where two or more major roads intersect.

Why do crossroads settlements often grow rapidly?

Excellent accessibility, Increased trade, More transport routes, High movement of people and goods.

Which settlement shapes are most commonly tested in IEB Geography?

Linear, Circular (Round), T-shaped, Crossroads.

Which physical features may influence settlement shape?

Rivers, Valleys, Coastlines, Mountain passes, Relief.

Which human features may influence settlement shape?

Roads, Railways, Bridges, Harbours, Airports.

Why are many settlements found at transport intersections?

Because transport routes increase accessibility, trade and economic opportunities.

What is meant by the function of a settlement?

The main purpose of the settlement and the economic activities carried out there.

Which three factors are closely related to a settlement's function?

Site, Situation, Economic activities.

Can the function of a settlement change over time?

Yes. As economic activities change, settlements often develop new functions.

Give examples of settlement functions.

Agricultural, Mining, Industrial, Commercial, Administrative, Tourist, Fishing, Transport.

Why is understanding settlement function important?

It explains why the settlement exists and how most people earn a living.