Volcanic activity provides several benefits to human geography, including the formation of fertile soils from weathered lava, the availability of geothermal energy from subterranean heat and the creation of new land and islands. These factors explain why human populations often settle near dangerous volcanoes, balancing the high risk of eruptions against the significant economic and agricultural advantages provided. ANSWER: (D) All of the above
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Volcanism is a constructive geographical force. First, it creates extremely fertile soils (like the basaltic soils of Italy and India) which support dense agricultural populations. Second, it offers a clean source of geothermal energy, heating homes and powering industries in nations like Iceland. Third, it is the primary process for creating new land, as seen in the growth of the Hawaiian Islands. Additionally, volcanic regions are major hubs for tourism and provide valuable mineral deposits like sulfur and obsidian. Thus, despite the hazards, volcanoes play a crucial role in resource availability and the expansion of habitable Earth.