# The Perfect Environment for Humans?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 21, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436 "2004-05-21T21:16:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/1 "2004-05-21T21:16:13Z")
I’m trying to identify the most perfect physical environment for human beings on Earth.
I would guess the major criteria would be:
1. most comfortable average ambient temperature (mid 70’s Fahrenheit)
2. smallest extremes in temperature variation (never too hot, never too cold)
3. enough rainfall to ensure a lush environment, without extreme periods of precipitation or drought.
4. No major geological or climatic dangers endemic to the area – e.g. earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes
5. An abundance of natural food sources, both animal and vegetable
6. No severe natural hazards or predators.
Feel free to add additional qualifying criteria that don’t conflict with those listed above.
I guess I’m looking for the closest thing to paradise on Earth – year round comfortable temperatures, no significant environmental dangers, no extremes of weather.
My first thought would be Southern California, but then you get the earthquakes, so that’s out. Most equatorial regions are too hot and wet. Somewhere in the South Pacific?
And no, I don’t care if YOU think seasons are nice, or that variety is the spice of life. I want the most perfect, stable, peaceful environment out there.
I’m hoping for a GQ theme here, but if this starts to degenerate into an IMHO thing, mods, please move….
-P
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### Author:  [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/2 "2004-05-21T22:35:20Z")
Sounds like most indoor shopping centers, and at least one bar I know.
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### Author:  [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/3 "2004-05-21T22:54:06Z")
Based on a literal reading of the criteria so far I am going to suggest SE Australia. Byron Bay is said to be a fairly nice town in that part of the world.
BYRON BAY CLIMATE
Max Average Temperature
Deg C/ Deg F
Winter(June-Aug):20 / 67
Spring(Sep-Nov):23 / 74
Summer(Dec-Feb):27 / 81
Autumn(Mar-May):24 / 76
BYRON BAY RAINFALL
Average Rainfall - mm
Winter(June-Aug): 124
Spring(Sep-Nov): 100
Summer(Dec-Feb): 169
Autumn(Mar-May): 193
The temperature range seems to be about right although possibly slightly too warm in summer. One of the most geologically stable areas on the planet. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Too far south for cyclones to be a serious problem. Subtropical rainforest and wet sclerophyll environment combined with sub-tropical coral reef and inshore ecosystems ensures food year-round.
> [@](#):
>
> 1. most comfortable average ambient temperature (mid 70’s Fahrenheit)/quote]
> 2. smallest extremes in temperature variation (never too hot, never too cold)
That fairly much limits it ot the subtropics and warm temperate regions.
> [@](#):
>
> 1. enough rainfall to ensure a lush environment, without extreme periods of precipitation or drought.
OK, so we can rule out a lot of the Southern Hemisphere where a high pressure ridge over most of the sub-tropics ensures regular droughts and uneven rainfall.
> [@](#):
>
> 1. An abundance of natural food sources, both animal and vegetable
How do you define both abundant and natural? Few areas are unable to support one or two people year-round with little effort. However once the population exceeds half a dozen nomadism is necessary in all areas to avoid starvation.
> [@](#):
>
> 1. No severe natural hazards or predators.
This point really needs clarifying.
How do you define severe? Humans have nor predators to speak of. Is a tiger severe? A jaguar? A rattlesnake? Is a wildfire severe? Malaria?
If you want no predators at all then you really are restricted to Australia and a few other islands.
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### Author:  [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/4 "2004-05-21T23:29:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> How do you define both abundant and natural? Few areas are unable to support one or two people year-round with little effort. However once the population exceeds half a dozen nomadism is necessary in all areas to avoid starvation.
Upon reflection, I think that the ‘abundant and natural’ question really should refer to resources - meaning the ability to support a fairly self-supporting small community. I’m talking about arable land suited to a variety of crops, water sources, and natural game stocks or the ability to ranch/farm livestock.
> [@](#):
>
> This point really needs clarifying.
> How do you define severe? Humans have nor predators to speak of. Is a tiger severe? A jaguar? A rattlesnake? Is a wildfire severe? Malaria?
Yes, that was pretty ambiguous, sorry. I’m trying to pin down a definition, but I would not consider a single tiger or venomous snake severe - but an abundance of them might be. A wildfire would probably not be severe as an isolated incident, but a natural propensity to brush fires on a regular basis would be. Malaria, yes - as would any native diseases that generally kill or debilitate a significant portion of the population.
i’m trying to find a new home for my cult, you see… 😃
Note: the above comment was a joke. I am not a cult leader. Really. Except for the Sacred Order of the Scantily Clad Boobie Women Who Love Picker. now accepting applications, inquire within…
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### Author:  [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/5 "2004-05-22T04:49:16Z")
I believe humans need a society and challange as well as the basics.
If the environment is ‘safe’ then the humans will find a way to make it unsafe. They’ll go climb mountains, etc.
If it’s boring enought, they’ll divide into multiple tribes and fight each other.
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### Author:  [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/6 "2004-05-22T10:38:20Z")
> [@Blake](#):
>
> Based on a literal reading of the criteria so far I am going to suggest SE Australia. Byron Bay is said to be a fairly nice town in that part of the world.
> BYRON BAY CLIMATE
> Max Average Temperature
> Deg C/ Deg F
> Winter(June-Aug):20 / 67
> Spring(Sep-Nov):23 / 74
> Summer(Dec-Feb):27 / 81
> Autumn(Mar-May):24 / 76
> BYRON BAY RAINFALL
> Average Rainfall - mm
> Winter(June-Aug): 124
> Spring(Sep-Nov): 100
> Summer(Dec-Feb): 169
> Autumn(Mar-May): 193
Byron Bay is too full of hippies. I would be inclined to go more north in Australia if anything. Even Sydney gets too cold in the winter if we’re talking about communities with no central heating. Probably somewhere between Coffs Harbour and Brisbane would be ideal, a bit more inland to avoid the humidity.
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### Author:  [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/7 "2004-05-22T10:44:16Z")
Even Byron Bay is too warm for the OP. Brisbane is going to be way to hot. Got to about 105 there last summer IIRC.
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/8 "2004-05-22T16:06:19Z")
> [@Master Wang-Ka](#):
>
> Sounds like most indoor shopping centers, and at least one bar I know.
hehehe…we must frequent the same bar. Buy you a shot. 😉
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### Author:  [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/9 "2004-05-22T16:51:13Z")
Think there might be some part of South Africa or Zimbabwe that would qualify?
Southern Italy outside of any volcanic zones?
Portugal? Southern France? Parts of Turkey?
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### Author:  [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/10 "2004-05-22T18:08:56Z")
> [@Blake](#):
>
> Even Byron Bay is too warm for the OP. Brisbane is going to be way to hot. Got to about 105 there last summer IIRC.
Those temperature statistics are misleading. You need the minimum temperatures as well. Since Byron is on the antarctic ocean, nights there get COOOLD. Not quite freezeing but it certainly feels like it when the humidity seeps into your bones.
It may get to 105F as a maximum but generally it hovers between 75 - 85F which is what I would prefer.
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### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/11 "2004-05-22T18:09:07Z")
The mildest climate in the world is probably [Nouadhibou, Mauritania](http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/mauritania/fahrenheit/nouadhibou.htm) although places like San Diego and Perth aren’t too bad either. But that’s only temperature-wise. They don’t get much rain.
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### Author:  [@sarcophilus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sarcophilus)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/12 "2004-05-22T22:11:54Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#):
>
> Since Byron is on the antarctic ocean, nights there get COOOLD.
Is this the Byron Bay in New South Wales or Tierra del Fuego?
Byron is on the south Pacific Ocean, and would also win my vote
Though it is very windy on occasion, natural exfoliant at the beach!
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### Author:  [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/13 "2004-05-24T15:45:06Z")
Oops, I had Byron Bay pegged as Australia’s southmost point instead of it’s eastmost point.
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### Author:  [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/14 "2004-05-24T18:47:36Z")
Oahu or pehaps Tahiti might fit the OP.
🆒 \<== Tanned, with sunglasses
RR
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### Author:  [@Eurograff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eurograff)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-environment-for-humans/246436/15 "2004-05-25T06:14:42Z")
Hmm, why hasn’t anyone mentioned New Zealand? Temperature variation might be too high, but otherwise sounds like a perfect place. Or Pacific islands in general, the surrounding ocean makes the climate pleasant almost everywhere.
Other than that, most of the mediterranean zones don’t sound too bad. Like California, central Chile, South Africa, southern part of Australia and of course the Mediterranean itself. At least from European viewpoint southern France or most of Italy and maybe Catalonia and Greece sound like almost perfect physical environment.