Mountains: Spectacular mountain scenery is familiar to everyone, but steep slopes and often harsh weather conditions can make life difficult for the people that live there. This book shows the houses, the occupations, both traditional and modern, and mountain communities ways of life around the world. Rivers: Some of the earliest human settlements were beside rivers, and riverside communities continue to be important today. With examples from every continent, this book shows how those early settlements flourished and how peoples have used rivers as a source of food and a means of transport, how they cope with floods and the modern perils of pollution and overcrowding. Coasts: Coastal communities, with their links to exploration and fishing and the modern holiday industry, can be fascinating places. This book looks at the pleasures and perils of living by the sea and shows how people around the world have adapted to these special conditions. Cities: Around half the world's population lives in urban areas and the cities of the world continue to grow rapidly. This book shows what life is like in a city, how housing and transport systems have adapted for huge populations and also why living in the world's great cities may be challenging but can also be enjoyable and rewarding.