Definition: Uninhabitable area

Category: Geographic Information Systems

Some countries, especially those which share the Alps, have mountainous regions which are completely uninhabitable. The limit of these mountainous regions may be more or less sharp, but does in general follow the limit where cultivation becomes impossible. 

The recommendation is to include forests and other uninhabitable regions in the surface area. However, the German case with areas outside any commune can be solved by creating pseudo-communes, having surface area but most often no inhabitants.

Wetlands and mires are proposed to be included in the surface area, except such wetlands which are due to tidewater. Wetlands in tidewater areas are classified according to the recommendations for the coastline.