Question

Describe the different patterns of rural settlements.

Answer 1

There are five patterns of rural settlements:

1. Dispersed settlements: These are composed of distant and isolated dwellings. Such settlements are largely found in hilly areas or in other areas with poor accessibility.
2. Nucleated settlements: These are composed of dwellings that are close to one another in an area. These are found in river valleys and flat plains, having good accessibility.
3. Linear settlements: These are linear and elongated settlements composed of dwellings built in a line. These are found along the banks of rivers or along transport channels like roads and railways.
4. Circular settlements: These are composed of dwellings in a circular pattern and are found in water-scarce regions where they develop around a water source like a lake or an oasis.
5. Radial settlements: These are composed of dwellings built along the streets which spread out from a central point in different directions. They are also known as star-shaped settlements.