14.4 What are the implications of Living in Tectonically Active Locations?

Question 1

What are the reasons that people continue to live in tectonically active locations?

Answer 1

• Is often expensive and impractical to leave
• Poverty is also a major limitation to this
• Both Indonesia and Japan only exist because of earthquake and volcanic activity- home to 0.4 billion people
• Volcanic soils and tropical climate
• weathered lava produces fertile soils which allows for intensive farming that supports high population densities
• In Iceland, this is not possible
• No level of development or technology are a guarantee of safety for tourists and residents- unpredictable
• geothermal energy
• Volcanic minerals