Question

Observe the satellite view of Mumbai and Gangtok, respectively. Find out their population density and likely reasons for the difference.

Answer 1

The main reasons for this difference are:

• Mumbai is a major commercial and industrial centre with many job opportunities, attracting people from different parts of India.
• It is located on relatively flat coastal land, making large-scale construction and transportation easier.
• Mumbai has limited land but a very large population, resulting in high-rise buildings and crowded settlements.
• Gangtok is located in the Himalayan mountains, with steep slopes and rugged terrain, which limits the amount of land suitable for construction.
• Gangtok has a much smaller population and fewer large industries, so population pressure is lower. The surrounding mountainous and forested areas also encourage more dispersed settlement.

Thus, the satellite images show that Mumbai is more densely built-up, while Gangtok has more open, hilly and forested areas, mainly because of differences in terrain, economic opportunities and population size.