Which of the following settlement type is the largest?
Answer Details
In the context of settlement types and their sizes, the largest is a megalopolis.
Let me explain this in simple terms:
**City:** A city is a large and permanent settlement with a significant population and infrastructure. It is larger than a town but smaller than the other types of settlements listed here.
Agglomeration: This term generally refers to an area where multiple cities or towns are grouped together, sharing infrastructure and services but still remaining as distinct entities. It is more about the process of these settlements growing together.
Conurbation: A conurbation is a region that consists of a number of cities or towns which have merged together over time through population growth and expansion. They are physically connected but maintain individual identities.
Megalopolis: A megalopolis is a massive urban region made up of multiple large cities and their surrounding areas, which have expanded to merge into one continuous urban area. It's much larger than a conurbation. One classic example is the Northeastern megalopolis in the USA, which includes cities like Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
In summary, of all the settlement types listed, a megalopolis is the largest as it comprises multiple, even significant urban areas that have expanded to form a vast, continuous area.