| 1 | Again the land is flat; the countryside sparsely populated. | |
| 2 | The epicenter is a pasturing area and sparsely-populated. | |
| 3 | Yushu prefecture, whose population is about 97% Tibetan, is remote, sparsely populated, mountainous and poor. | |
| 4 | Earthquakes are a frequent occurrence on the Tibetan plateau, but there are usually few casualties because the area is so sparsely populated. | |
| 5 | The sparsely populated region also provides safe haven for drug smugglers and Iranian rebel groups. |