arable land
land that is suitable for farming
population density
total population divided by total land area (tells us how crowded an area is)
population distribution
where people are living in a country; packed together in cities or spread out in the countryside
archipelago
a chain of islands (Japan has 4 big islands and over 4,000 smaller islands)
climate of Japan
mostly temperate; snowfall isolated to the far north and in the highest mountains
physical geography of Japan
a chain of volcanic islands (Mount Fuji is the most well known)
population of Tokyo
most populous city in the world
Ring of Fire
zone of earthquake and volcanic activity surrounding the Pacific Ocean (Japan is found here; undersea earthquakes can trigger tsunamis)
How density affects transportation in Japan
Public transportation systems have been developed (subways in cities and high-speed bullet trains connecting large urban areas throughout the country)
Residents of Tokyo must have a place to park their car off the street in the city (automated parking garages developed to save space)
How density affects housing
Many Japanese families used to live in rural areas with their extended family (grandparents, etc.) Urbanization has decreased this practice due to limits on space.
Homes, rooms, appliances, etc. are built smaller in order to make more efficient use of space. (capsule hotels)
How density affects land use
Height restrictions used to be placed on buildings in Japan. New earthquake resistant engineering allows for skyscrapers in earthquake prone areas.
Underground shopping centers, restaurants, etc. have also been developed. Terracing allows farmers to grown crops on steep hillsides.
Shallow wetlands filled in with rock and dirt to create more land. Disturbs the natural environment and not the strongest foundation for building. (airport constructed on man-made island)
How density affects health
Dense cities struggle with pollution (smog) and waste removal issues.
The Japanese enjoy one of the longest life expectancies in the world. Strict environmental laws. Some wear medical masks to protect themselves and others from the spread of disease.
population of China
1.3 billion people (largest in the world)
land area of China
roughly equal to the size of the United States
population distribution of China
most of the country's people live in the east; very sparsely populated in the west
zero population growth
achieves when the country's population stops growing; births equal deaths (goal of the one-child policy)
rate of natural increase
tells us how fast a country's population is growing each year (BR-DR=GR)
doubling time
the time it takes for a country's population to double (China was doubling every 40 years before population restrictions were established)
Plan 1: Slow Population Growth
One-Child Policy implemented due to large family sizes under Mao Zedong.
Benefits: reduced strain on food and water, less of a problem having too many workers for too few jobs, healthier mothers and babies, parents have more money and time, women have time for careers
Drawbacks: led to preference for males who carry on the family name after marriage and take care of aging parents, some women have chosen to abort female babies to try for a male which could lead to a shortage of wives for men in the future
Plan 2: Provide More Clean Energy
China was largely dependent on burning coal for energy production; creates pollution and led to diseases.
Three Gorges Dam (largest in the world) would produce 1/9 of China's electricity through hydroelectric power.
Benefits: clean energy source, helps with flood control, improves river shipping in the lake behind the dam
Drawbacks: ancient historical sites covered by rising waters behind the dam, water will cover towns and cities forcing people to move, altered ecosystems, dam sits along an earthquake fault line (dangerous)
Plan 3: Promote Economic Growth
China was once closed off to the rest of the world under Mao Zedong. Wanted to be self-sufficient.
New leaders wanted more economic growth after his death. Businesses were not interested in being controlled by China's communist system, however.
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were created to attract foreign businesses to areas of China with more freedom from government oversight.
Benefits: created jobs, helped migrants from rural areas send money home to their families, improved the standard of living for some
Drawbacks: widening gap between the rich and the poor (income gap), created a "floating population" of workers who left families to work in SEZ cities
Background on Canada
Shares a 5,000 mile border with the U.S.
2nd largest country in the world by land area
First settlers to this region came across a land bridge from Asia while following herds of animals (10,000 years ago+)
French and English settlers came along later (1600s)
Settlement in Canada
Canada has around 30 million people (1/10 the U.S. population)
Very low overall population density
Most Canadians live in urban areas within 100 miles of the U.S. border
ecumene
the land that is most suitable for permanent settlement (ecume is excellent)
ideal conditions: coastal, flat, fertile, near a river, with a temperate climate
Northern region
Largest land area but smallest population
Inuit people speak Inuktitut
Homes made from kits in factories
Hunting and gathering, little economic activity
Atlantic region
First region where Europeans settled; fishing was profitable
English is predominately spoken, with some French
Lighthouses warn fishermen of landfall
Fishing and small amount of farming
Core region
Most populous area with 3 large cities (Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal)
English in Ontario and French in Quebec (largest French speaking population found here)
Buildings have strong British and French influence; Gothic style architecture
Factories, trade & manufacturing, business
Prairie region
Farming used to be major industry, now mining and oil are booming
English spoken as first language, but German, Ukrainian, and French as well
Barns with silos for storing grain
Farming, mining, oil and natural gas
Pacific region
Vancouver is largest city, some live on western slopes of the Rocky Mountains, large population of Asian people
English first, but other Asian based languages like Chinese, Punjabi, and Tagalog
Buildings heavily influenced by British design, some even built to look like castles
Shipping industry, hydroelectric power, forestry
3 rings of a city
Urban core
Urban fringe (suburbs)
Rural fringe
metropolitan area
a population center that includes a large city and its surrounding suburbs
megacity
a metropolitan area with over 10 million residents
megalopolis
a chain of closely linked metropolitan areas
BoshWash
ChiPitts
SanSan
Texas Triangle
suburbs
residential areas built on the edges of a city; once forests or farmland that were purchased and cleared by developers
urban sprawl
the rapid (and often poorly planned) spread of cities
begins in an urban area and spread into rural areas
Urban core
Transportation options in colonial cities (walking and horseback) kept cities compact.
Late 1800s: electric street car allowed core to extend outward along rail lines.
Urban fringe
Early 1900s: automobiles became part of the American way of life
Led to the development of suburbs as families could now live further from the core and move along highways
Rural fringe
Small towns, farms, or open spaces that lie just beyond the suburbs
As population grows, these areas are overtaken by development
Arguments FOR urban growth
Rural land is less expensive
Unused land is developed and put to good use
Suburbs are a good place to raise a family
New homeowners pay taxes which go toward city improvements
Arguments AGAINST urban growth
Suburban building destroys natural habitats
Existing areas should be revitalized first
Greater travel distances make cars a necessity
Traffic jams and pollution increase
Describing Europe's Population Today
Small land area but large population = high density
Europe has the oldest population
Europe has the lowest birthrate
total fertility rate
the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime
Europe: 1.5
U.S.: 2
Africa: 5
replacement rate
the number of babies needed to replace the people who die each year
life expectancy
the average number of years a person can expect to live in a country
increasing across Europe (leads to an aging population)
Dilemma 1: A Shrinking Population
Causes: women are pursuing higher levels of education and careers, access to birth control, high cost of living in Europe means both parents often work, childcare is expensive
Problems: industries geared toward children suffer, jobs are lost, labor shortages force businesses to close or move elsewhere, fewer people to serve in military (lost power)
Dilemma 2: An Aging Population
Causes: rise in life expectancy, baby boom generation after WWII is reaching retirement age, families are having fewer children (average age increases)
Problems: smaller workforce has to support retirement payments (pensions) of the large elderly population, health care services provided to elderly, increased taxes to pay for these government services
Dilemma 3: A Declining Workforce
Causes: more workers retire each year than join the workforce
Problems: shortages of skilled workers, businesses may close or leave the country, fewer workers means less tax money going to government which could cause economic problems