The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) defines urban areas as every seat of municipality (city) and district (village). This classification, urban area, does not take into account the size of the city or the number of inhabitants.
Some basic characteristics of an urban area are: continuous buildings, housing, curbs, sidewalks, lighting, health services, education, environmental sanitation, leisure, among others.
Thus, the urban population has easier access to hospitals, schools, sewage treatment, running water and leisure. Another element that attracts thousands of people to cities is the process of industrialization and the mechanization of rural activities, triggering the rural exodus (migration from the countryside to the city).
However, urban expansion without proper planning has generated a series of social and environmental problems. The occupation of inappropriate places for housing is one of them, as houses are built on hillsides, areas close to rivers, etc.
The destination and treatment of waste are problems for cities
Another negative point is the large production of waste and the inappropriate destination of this waste. Dumps are formed in the open, a fact that causes pollution of the soil, atmosphere, groundwater, in addition to generating many diseases.
Traffic congestion, violence, housing in inadequate places, social inequality and the homeless population are other common problems in large Brazilian urban centers.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
Kids School Team
