Final answer:
The interstate highways map of the southeastern United States most directly relates to land use externalities, indicating the significant impact of infrastructure on regional development and alterations in land utilization influenced by various economic and technological factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
An interstate highways map of the southeastern United States most directly relates to land use externalities. When looking at regions such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and parts of North Carolina, it's the transformation of these areas due to infrastructure investments, including highways, that impact land use patterns. Development patterns have been influenced by factors such as geography, natural resources, and the movement of people for economic opportunities.
For example, areas like the Mississippi Delta and the lower Mississippi River valley have historically been among the poorest, yet other parts of the South have seen prosperity due to urbanization, driven by the migration to cities like Atlanta and Miami, altering the land use over time. Additionally, advancements such as air-conditioning have made regions within the Sun Belt, including parts of the southeastern U.S., more attractive for service-sector jobs, further changing land use patterns. The fishing industry, mineral deposits, and recreation are certainly affected by infrastructure developments, but the data from the map is most directly connected to changes and considerations in how the land is utilized.