2007-02-01 14:19:02 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Just taking the USA into account, if you eliminate the areas likely to have disasterous earthquakes some day (Not just Alaska and California.... there is the New Madrid fault in SE Missouri, a dangerous on in Alabama, and one in New England I think), and the areas with common tornadoes (there goes the Central and Southeast states), Hurricanes (East Coast and Gulf Coast is out), volcanoes (Count out Pacific Northwest and anything close to Yellowstone, and Hawaii), Tsunamis (There goes the rest of the coasts), floods....
Wait, we cant all live in North Dakota, can we?
Besides, many people have roots in those areas. Something is going to kill you someday. Living in fear of death to the point you avoid enjoying life sort of eliminates the whole purpose of living a long life, doesn't it?
2007-02-01 15:24:47 · answer #1 · answered by Now and Then Comes a Thought 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People don't look at hazards, they look for convenience and luxury. People love to build in big, flat valleys...which generally are floodplains. That's just a case of geology kind of setting us up, excellent farmland was immediately recognized but the fact that there would be perodic floods probably wasn't.
They love the beautiful coast, they don't consider the hazards of hurricanes. They love the view at the top of a hill, and don't consider the problems of erosion and the likely undermining of their foundations.
Plus, it's kind of hard to find a place that doesn't have some geologic hazard. New York, which is pretty tectonically stable, has problems in some areas with radon being emitted from black shales. California, with its perfect climate, has the San Andreas Fault. The Caribbean islands have a lot of tectonic activity and some big earthquakes fairly frequently, Mt St. Helens didn't look like it was going to blow until it went...it's hard to know all the hazards, but I'm pretty sure you can find them anywhere.
But I think the big draw for the really obviously bad places to build are:
1. flat land
2. scenery
2007-02-01 22:27:16 · answer #2 · answered by kiddo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you mean for instance.....near earthquake faults and low areas near the ocean that can be flooded?
if so, it's because either the land is either cheap or the views are really good...ie Los Angeles.
No point in having a good view when the earth is shaking or the tide is too high though.
2007-02-01 22:28:22 · answer #3 · answered by Kunta Kinte 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are dumbas ses! :)...know wonder why half of the idiots from Katrina lost their homes. Louisiana , well at least part of it is below sea level, therefore if there is a flood-you betcha it will destroy everything in it's path. contractors built anywhere just to make the big check and they rebuke the consequences, just for that chunk of change.
2007-02-01 22:27:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we like the view, literally!
2007-02-01 22:26:41 · answer #5 · answered by Trapped in a Box 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a cheaper mortgage and some solitude, maybe?
2007-02-01 22:26:36 · answer #6 · answered by PD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe for the view................or they just don't know..........or care
2007-02-01 22:28:01 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋