Answer: It includes features like mountains, hills, plains, valleys, and deserts. The topography of an area was important for early human settlement. Farmers preferred to settle in flat, open areas such as plains and valleys.
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1. Water nearby. If you look at many of the world's largest cities, there is usually a river nearby, or the city is located close to the ocean. Water provides many opportunities. Settling nearby freshwater or along coasts is one feature that attracts people.
2. Flat terrains also attract people. Flat terrains can be used in many ways: farming, raising livestock, also I would say it's generally easier to move around on flat land.
3. Fertile land. I don't know if this counts as a physical feature, but Fertile land helps to grow crops, and I would say that places with Fertile land have good weather.
4. Climate and weather. Again, I don't know if this counts as a physical feature, but it definitely is a reason people choose to settle somewhere.
5. Mountains. Not so much nowadays as in the past, but Mountains would be a good natural defense from enemies. For example, the Roman empire had the Alps to protect them from invasions. And by mountains, I mean people would settle nearby the mountains for protection, not in them!
