Natural constraints of the development of the city of Lar (southern Fars province)
Subject Areas : Geopolitic
1 - ندارد
Keywords: Natural constraints, development, Lar, Zagros, water deficit, public
, 
, participation,
Abstract :
The city of Lar is the largest settlement of Laristan. At an elevation of 915 m a.s.l., it islocated on the Dasht-e-Lar piedmont plainwithin the folded Zagros Mts. The ancientcity oofLar is situated in the northwestern part of the dasht. The new city, which wasrebuilt after the devastating earthquake if 1339 (1960) is situated on the Tang-e-Asadalluvial fan in the southern part of the plain. Up to 1339 there had not even been asingle dwelling at this place. By now not only the Tan-e-Asad alluvial fan has beencompletely taken over by urban land use. Housing activity has also continued towardsthe mountain, where the valley floor is very narrow and where there is a considerableflood hazard.These two cities grow north- and southward, respectively, and are likely to joinin the near future. The long-term natural limiting factors of urban development are themountains to the north and south of the 6 km wide Dasht-e-Lar.Earthquakes always have to be reckoned with, making it an obligation to construct allbuildings in an earthquake-resistant way. The warm and dry climate with very hotsummers and the water deficit for drinking and other purposes is the principal andoldest problem of the city. The prolonged drought of the last years has increased thewater problem. Due to the salt domes in the Lar area, the surface and ground watersfrom the Mishan and Gachsaran formation and the local marlstones are mainly saltyand alkaline.Against these natural constraints are set a relatively high urbanization culture,especially with respect to public participation and considerable public help for the cityas a whole.This paper has made use of the conventional research methods of geography,primarily based on repeated field trips to Larestan. The urban planners should becomeaware of the environmental realities of the Lar region and should follow a line ofdevelopment that should provide the same opportunities for everybody. In theirrelationship with the environment they should prefer the ecocentric to theanthropocentric approach.
