Question

Define clustered settlements.

Hint:

Think 'nucleated' — houses packed tightly together, not spread out.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Rural settlements are classified by their spatial pattern into clustered, semi-clustered, hamleted, and dispersed types.

Step 2: Definition:
A clustered (or compact/nucleated) settlement is one where houses are built very close to one another in a small, compact area, forming a dense mass of buildings with narrow, winding streets.

Step 3: Typical Location and Cause:
These are common in fertile plains and river valleys of India (e.g. northern plains), where flat land, water availability, and the need for defence/community life encourage people to build close together.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Clustered settlements are compact, closely-built rural settlements where houses cluster tightly in a limited area, typically found in fertile river-plain regions.