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The term habitat comes from ecology, and includes many interrelated features, especially the immediate physical environment, the urban environment or the social environment.

The original natural habitat of the human species was the large river valleys of the world, such as the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Yellow, Ganges, Amazon, Mississippi, etc. In pre-history, the rivers were used as a source of fresh water & food (fish and game animals), as well as a place to wash, and a sewer. The rivers carved the valleys. The valleys blocked the winds and shaded the inhabitants, creating cooler temperatures in the daytime, and warmer temperatures at night. The first civilizations grew from these river valley communities.^{[citation needed]}

'Habitat' is also defined as a home/building.

Specific human habitats include:

Dwellings and shelters

houses, dugouts, yaodongs, tents, camps, campers, huts.

Settlements,

hamlets, villages, towns, cities, squatter camps, shanty towns.

Intentional communities

Kibbutzim, commune, ecovillages.

Other

Offices, Prisons, Monasteries

A more extensive list can be found in Category:Human habitats.

[edit] See also

• Neighborhood Watch
• Built environment
• Habitat for Humanity International a charity related to housing.
• India Habitat Centre
• Town planning
• Sustainable habitat