Write short note on: Impact of climate on population distribution.

Answer: Climate is one of the most important physical factors affecting where people live.

• Moderate climate attracts people: temperate and monsoon regions with moderate temperature and adequate rainfall (western Europe, eastern USA, India, eastern China) are densely populated because they suit agriculture and comfortable living.
• Extreme cold: polar and high mountain regions (Greenland, northern Canada, Siberia, Antarctica) are almost uninhabited due to a very short growing season and frozen ground.
• Extreme heat and dryness: hot deserts (Sahara, Arabian, Thar, Australian deserts) are sparsely populated because of water shortage; people concentrate only at oases and along rivers like the Nile.
• Hot and very wet climate: equatorial regions (Amazon, Congo basins) are thinly populated due to dense forests, humidity and diseases.
• Climate also affects soils, vegetation and water supply, and so indirectly the distribution of population.