por We explain what the rural environment is, its characteristics, economic activities and differences with the urban environment.
What is the rural environment or rural space?
He rural environment or rural space It refers to the areas of a region that have large tracts of land and very little population in it.
Generally, the rural environment is associated with work in the fields and with obtaining the resources offered by these types of areas, such as livestock or agriculture, although they are not the only activities that are carried out there.
Regarding population, each country defines its rural areas with a different number of inhabitants. These numbers can be from 2,000 people or more, but they are always areas with very low population density.
Usually, the rural environment is where the raw materials are extracted that will later be processed and turned into food and goods that will be used by all people.
Features of the rural environment
Some of the most outstanding characteristics of the rural environment are the following:
population size
The populations that exist in rural areas are very small compared to urban populations.
These populations can vary from a small hamlet to a small town; and are usually made up primarily of houses of no more than two stories.
In addition, a very common phenomenon can occur in these types of areas and that is that some people can live a little far from the population, having their homes in their fields.
population density
Being a place that contains few houses, obviously the population density is very low. This means that most of the people know each other and have a little stronger ties than those that can be found in a city.
Contact with the nature
People who live in rural areas have daily contact with nature and lead a much healthier lifestyle than those who live in large cities, since, for example, the air they breathe is not as polluted as that of the cities.
sources of work
The main sources of work found in rural areas have to do with the primary sector, such as livestock or agriculture. This is due to the use of the large tracts of land that can be made available for these purposes.
However, the type of work that can be found in rural areas has been changing over time, coming to find activities in the tertiary sector, or services.
Social interaction
The low population density means that most people know who the others are and the links that are generated between them are stronger.
Less pollution
Pollution in rural areas is much less than that found in urban areas, this is due to the lower concentration of people, infrastructure and means of transport.
rural economic activities
The economic activities that take place in rural areas are not only focused on what comprises the agricultural industry or primary production as most people believe, there are also others such as those described here:
rural tourism
Rural tourism, made up of ecotourism and adventure tourism, among others, is one of the non-traditional economic activities that can be done in rural areas.
Basically, they consist of offering tourists a different experience from the traditional ones, showing them a little about what life is like in that region, making them participate in the typical activities of the place or taking them to see very beautiful natural places, among others.
Industry
Rural areas are home to a good number of small and medium-sized industries which, for the most part, are responsible for satisfying the basic needs of the region.
However, some large industries take advantage of the low cost of land and the possibility of occupying a large space offered by these types of areas and are located in these sectors.
Extraction of natural resources
The extraction of natural resources such as mining or the extraction of petroleum products, among others, is a typical activity in rural areas and consists of taking advantage of the available resources of the sector.
In most cases, this type of activity is detrimental both for the health of the people who live nearby, and for the places where they are carried out, since they end up being totally modified.
Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the most traditional activities in rural areas and also one of the main sources of income for the people who live in these areas.
The type of agriculture that is carried out in rural areas depends on various factors such as the climate, the type of soil and the needs of the region or country where it is located.
At first, this activity required a large number of workers; but today, with the advancement of technology and the modernization of the sector, much less personnel is required to do so.
Cattle raising
Together with agriculture, they are two of the most characteristic activities of the rural environment and, like this, their diversification is linked to the region where they are located and the needs of the people.
Differences with the urban environment
The main differences that can be found between rural and urban areas are the following:
Tranquillity
Life in rural areas is usually much calmer and less stressful than in urban areas and one of the reasons for this may be linked to the time it takes to get to where people need to go.
Trust
People who live in rural areas tend to trust their neighbors, since they have known them all their lives. On the other hand, in cities people are more suspicious of each other because they don’t know each other.
Cultural offer
The cultural offer in rural areas is much less than what can be found in the cities, which is where the cinemas, theaters and clubs are located.
Education
In general, in rural areas you can find at most up to secondary education, but if a person wants to do a university degree, they must go to the city to do it.