about / contact / guestbook / maillist / policy / sitemap / shop / learn on the internet
ShareThis  You are here: home > geotopics > settlements > what are the characteristics of settlements?
What are the characteristics of settlements? Settlements come in all different shapes, sizes and locations. The function of a settlement can be identified by looking at its shape, size, site and situation.
Find out more about this topic below: What is a settlement? What do we mean by site and situation of a settlement? What are the functions of a settlement? What is a settlement hierarchy?
What is a settlement?
A settlement is a place where people live. A settlement could be anything from an isolated farmhouse to a mega city (settlement with over 10 million people).
Settlements can either be temporary or permanent. Temporary settlements include things such as refugee camps.
Recreational - fun, non-essentials like parks.Transport - roads, railways, and airports.Agricultural - farmland.Residential - housing.Commercial - businesses and factories.
Converting mined land to its future valuable use - not a process of burying wastes, smoothing out the landscape and applying a green mantle of relatively valueless vegetation.
