Why do people continue to live in areas of tectonic/volcanic activity?

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Why do

people continue to live in areas of volcanic and earthquake activity?

Fertile

soil

Ash is a

fertiliser, and as soil around volcanoes is often covered in ash, it is very

fertile, which allows for high crop yields. Furthermore, the weathering of volcanic

rock releases potassium into the soil, which is essential for plant growth. The

magma carries nutrients and minerals such as iron from below the earth’s crust.

The ash then delivers these to the soil. Volcanoes are popular with farmers, as

they can produce better quality crops, therefore they can make more money,

although living on a volcano could prove to be highly dangerous. Many farmers

choose to live in these areas for the fertile soil.

An example

of where volcanic soil is used in farming is Mt Vesuvius in Italy. Here,

many products are grown, such as olives, vines, nuts and fruit (mainly oranges

and lemons) are grown. Mt Vesuvius is still an active volcano, however many

people still choose to live there, due to the fertile soil.

Tourism

Many people

live in areas of volcanic and seismic activity because they are popular tourist

areas. This provides money making opportunities. Tourists visit these areas due

to their spectacular scenery, leisure prospects, volcanic features (Hot springs, mud baths, and

geysers) and some even to ski. These all provide money for locals working in

the industry. Tourist facilities also employ many people. Many people choose to

live in these areas for employment in the industry.

An example

of tourism in an area of tectonic activity is the Blue Lagoon spa in Iceland. It is

one of the country’s top visitor attractions. The water is vented from a lava

flow and is used primarily to generate electricity, before it is fed into the Lagoon.

Reportedly, over 1.2 million people visited the Lagoon in 2010 alone, which is

an increase from the previous year, even as world tourism figures are falling

rapidly. This shows that volcanoes are popular tourism destinations which can

produce a high income for residents and locals, which is a major reason why

people decide to live in such areas.

Minerals

Minerals are

carried up to the earth’s crust in the magma by convection currents in the

mantle, however many of these are left in the volcanic rock during the eruption,

and so they aren’t carried into the soil. These minerals are often sought

after, so mines are set up in volcanoes. This leads to employment, and brings

money into the area if the minerals are rare. Mined materials include gold,

silver, copper and sulphur. Miners live in areas of volcanic activity for

employment.

In Indonesia, the

Ljen volcano has a crater lake, which is the site of a sulphur mining

operation, because of the high sulphur levels on the lake floor. This is labour

intensive, however many miners still move to this area to find work there,

despite the fact that the volcano is still active and there is little

protection from harmful substances.

Building

materials

Once the

volcano has erupted, the solidified lava can be used for building. In many

cases, ash that is left lying on unused soil has been compressed to form

bricks, which are then built into places such as homes for residents. This

creates jobs in construction; so many builders might want to live in areas of

volcanic activity.

Many

builders move to areas of tectonic activity because there is work. An example

of this is Mt Smart stadium in Auckland,

New Zealand,

which has been constructed around the remnants of the volcanic cone of Mt

Smart. Many builders live in these areas because the materials from the

volcanoes are built into buildings, which mean work and income.

Geothermic

energy

Geothermal

energy is inexpensive. It is used often on divergent plate boundaries, where

the crust is remarkably thinner. This makes it easier for the heat from the

mantle to power generators, which convert it into steam. This is treated to get

rid of any dangerous dissolved materials, and is used to power homes, schools

and workplaces.

An example

of this is the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.

Before the water reaches the Lagoon, it is passed through turbines, which

generate electricity. This is possible at divergent plate boundaries, where the

crust is significantly thinner. This geothermal energy, from different areas of

Iceland,

powers 70% of homes, providing 10% of the country’s overall energy.

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