O-Level Geography Chapter 1 Topography of Pakistan Affect Of Topography On Economic Activities
Affect Of Topography On Economic Activities
Mountains
In the Northern areas of Pakistan life is at times harsh. Food and fodder can only be grown in summers because the winters are too cold to support crop growth. Also, most of the soils are thin and infertile except for those in the valleys. Thus, the area available for crop growth is limited. Hence the stockpiling of food and maintenance of the stock becomes necessary. Furthermore, animals must be kept in sheds during the winter. Transhumance is the practice of the seasonal movement of people with their livestock over relatively short distances, typically to higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in the winters. During the summers, when the snow retreats from higher parts of mountain slopes; grass can grow as temperatures become warm and sunlight intensity and its duration increases. This comes at a time when the lower valley pastures have already been exhausted by the grazing animals during the winter. As the winter starts, grass grows back in the lower valleys and the animals are moved back towards the valleys. Here they are kept in sheds (which also stores fodder etc). Their products like milk, meat, skins are utilized throughout the year Other than that communication services are limited during the winters. There is a risk of sabotage by terrorists and damage by heavy flooding. Landslides frequently knock out communication poles. Roads are blocked by landslides and railway lines can be also blown away by avalanches. Building roads and railway is difficult due to steep slopes, narrow gorges and deep narrow valleys, which add to the construction time and cost. Sometimes heavy machinery can’t be used as these machines cannot climb steep slopes. Many builders die due to landslides etc. Also in these sparsely populated areas there is a small pool of trained labour, which can build and maintain roads and railways etc. On the other hand frostbite can occur and if not treated properly can result in death. People have to wear thick clothes and stay indoors to keep warm. They involve themselves in making crafts etc Only in the summer months do these areas receive significant amount of tourists, which helps to increase the earnings of the local people (who are employed in hotels or sell ornaments etc).
Plains
The plain areas of Pakistan consist of mainly Indus Plain and Kachi Sibbi Plain These are fertile areas, where agriculture forms an important part of daily life. Almost ample land is available for crop growth and other such activities. Population density is high thus a large pool of trained labour is available. It is economical to build big schools, colleges and hospitals 24 Chapter 1: Topography of Pakistan Temperatures are also bearable although summers are a bit hot, so crops can be grown in both summers and winters. Water is available either from rivers or from wells/karez etc. Since these are flat areas it is easy to build roads, railways as machines can be used. Thus the road and rail density is high. It is easy to transport goods etc. Land for making factories and runways etc is also available, thus more commercial activities can be carried out. In Indus plain the bar upland is both flat and safe from flooding on account of its height and is perfect for buildings etc.
Deserts
Deserts are vast expanses of barren land. It must be noted that here too both the topography and climate are rough. Food can only be grown during the rainy season which brings less than 200mm of rainfall in only the wetter southern parts of the Thar desert. People (nomads) have to move along with their animals and belongings in search of water (near oasis) and food/fodder. Water availability is a major hindrance to permanent settlement at a single place. Usually the people stay for some weeks at a place where there is food and water for livestock. In places of permanent settlement, embroidery and weaving etc is common Alternating sand dunes mean that crop areas as well as roads and railways can be covered by sand completely in a matter of days. Thus before any such project is carried out the sand dunes are at first flattened, irrigation facilities are built up to grow certain trees and bushes whose roots prevent soil erosion. All of this is not cheap Population density is low and there is very small pool of skilled labour (don’t write no pool of skilled labour), which can help in building and construction of buildings, roads etc. Also it is uneconomical to build roads and railways as they will be used very few people Population density is low so there is less need for providing major health and educational facilities, although these facilities are present but to a limited extent only.
Mangroves
The presence of a delta means that there is a constant risk of flooding, which can inundate houses and sweep away crops and livestock Furthermore there is little firm land (don’t write no firm land) to build houses and factories upon. Ground water is salty and is not fit for agriculture. The soil is also too wet due to constant flooding and thus contains little air (there are pores in-between the soil particles which contain air and are necessary for plant growth) Population density is low so there is less need for providing major health and educational facilities, although these facilities are present but to a limited extent only.
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