Investigating the Role of Natural Factors in the Geographical Distribution of Rural Settlements (Case Study: Sahneh County)

understanding the Impacts of environmental potentials power on the pattern of rural settlements is the first step in understanding the spatial organization and management of spatial relations in the rural settlements . This knowledge can, in turn, prevent reactionary backwardness, population escape and the destruction of rural settlements as well as cause the underlying integrity of the place - Space and sustainable development of rural areas. Therefore, to study the effects of the powers of the natural environment, on the pattern of rural settlements is essential. The purpose of this study will be investigating the role of natural factors in the location of rural settlements in Sahneh. This research is applied in nature, and descriptive-analytic in method. Data collecting was conducted using the library and field and for data analysis as well as implementation and understanding of the problem results the geographical information system software, as well as integration and combination of the layers of information to the field was used. The results showed that the dominant pattern of distribution of rural settlements in Sahneh city, is a liner and a total of 189 villages in the city, have been located often in the range of 1500 to 1250 meters altitude, type in water and plain lands. On the other hand, one of the most important criteria for rural settlements to locate Sahneh city, extent and quality of the land is for agricultural purposes that this, has been followed compression of space and activities and excessive exploitation of the natural environment. Finally, regression fit model showed that water resources, soil resources, climatic conditions, topography, elevation, slope, vegetation and land use have the greatest effect on the geographical distribution of settlements. So you have to protect environmental resources and the selection of suitable sites for production and stable employment for residents of settlements, to provide field survival and sustainable development of rural areas.