why do people live in tectonically active locations?

Question 1

why might people chose to live in tectonically active area

Answer 1

• tourism
• no choice
• farming
• history + culture
• not aware of the risks
• spiritual beliefs

Question 2

tourism

Answer 2

• effects of a volcano are not common eg exploding volcano, hot springs + mud pools creates popular attractions
• multiplier effect -> more people visit the area, more investment = benefits the community
  eg the Blue Lagoon in Iceland has increased the local economy = tourist attraction
  eg Pompeii, which was created due to the volcano Mount Vesuvius, popular as people go to visit it ruins
• become holiday destinations = main source of income eg Hawaii where 21% of their economy comes from money made from tourism.
• people may choose to stay in this location for the economic benefits eg jobs for restaurants, hotels and tourist centres.

Question 3

no choice

Answer 3

• do not have enough money in order to move out of the area
• Low income is likely to be a big factor as tectonically active areas may be cheaper as not many chose to live there
• in Indonesia (most volcanoes than any country) the GDP per capita is $12,382 which is over $6000 dollars less than the worldwide average which is $18,381 -> may not have the ability to move out

Question 4

farming

Answer 4

• incredibly fertile soils + minerals
• when they are eventually eroded, they become the richest soils on the planet.
• Mount Vesuvius had two large eruptions 35,000 and 12,000 years ago -> now intensively cultivated + are producing lots of fruit and vegetables such as grapes, oranges
• Fertile soils efficiently produce plants yields, protect the plants from diseases + withstand erosion better -> farming market very popular as people are able to boost their profits with less problems such as desertification and diseases affecting yields.

Question 5

history + culture

Answer 5

• Hawaii (very active region) = very different culture than many places, it is a very relaxed and happy environment.
• Hawaii’s history eg monarchy which has been overthrown, its cultures still live on which many of citizens find very important and want to continue.
• Another example is La Soufriere in St Vincent people stay bc of the scenery as the volcano is seen as an attraction. -> learnt to live with it as they gain more experience and have a constant flow of information which makes them feel safer.

Question 6

not aware of the risks

Answer 6

• Eyjafjallajökull, erupted in 2010 and 47% of people did not evacuate -> did not see the need in evacuating + wanted to protect their livestock instead. Lots of people did not think that the evacuation orders were relevant to them and stayed in their homes.
• > perception of risk could be lower due to reliance on monitoring of Icelandic volcanoes

-> stay in those locations as they do not understand the effects or have not experienced them before.