major landforms of the earth

Major Land Forms Of The

EarthBy Faraz Iqbal

6-BH

Contents

1. Introduction2. Mountain3. Plateau4. Plains

Introduction

Land forms are the natural shapes or features called landforms.

There are many different types of landforms found on the Earth.

A natural elevation of the Earth’s surface having considerable mass, generally steep sides.

Contents• Fold Mountains• Block Mountains• Volcanic Mountains

Mountain

Fold mountains are the most common type of mountain. The world’s largest mountain ranges are fold mountains. These ranges were formed over millions of years.Fold mountains are formed when two plates collide head on, and their edges crumbled, much the same way as a piece of paper folds when pushed together.

Fold Mountains

Instead of the earth folding over, the earth's crust fractures (pulls apart). It breaks up into blocks or chunks. Sometimes these blocks of rock move up and down, as they move apart and blocks of rock end up being stacked on one another.

Block Mountains

Volcanic Mountains are formed when molten rock (magma) deep within the earth, erupts, and piles upon the surface. Magna is called lava when it breaks through the earth's crust. When the ash and lava cools, it builds a cone of rock. Rock and lava pile up, layer on top of layer.

Volcanic Mountains

Plateau Plateaus are raised areas of land with a flatter top. It differs from a mountain in that a mountain has a jagged peak at the top. Plateaus form either when mountains get worn down and their tops are not as jagged or when a large portion of flat earth is pushed up from the earth.

Types of plateaus• Intermontane Plateaus• Piedmont Plateaus• Continental Plateaus

Intermontane Plateau

Intermontane plateau that are comparatively

Completely and partially covered by the mountains

Piedmont PlateauPiedmont plateaus that are found at the foot of a range of mountains

Continental Plateau

Continental plateaus means when compared to surrounding plains, some plateaus are found to higher.

Plains An extensive level, usually treeless area of land on Earth’s surface

Types of plains• Structural Plains• Alluvial Plains• Glacial Plains• Coastal Plains

Structural Plains

Due to andogenic forces, an area can be raised or lowered. These actions are called uplift and subsidence respectively. These actions cause plains to be formed. They are called structural plains.

Alluvial Plains

The plains which are formed by the deposition of sediments brought down by the rivers from the high altitudes are called alluvial plains

Glacial Plains

Glacial plains which are formed by the movement of the glaciers under the force of gravity .Such plain are found in Canada, Siberia, etc.

Coastal plains• The plains are at the coasts of the sea due to the deposition work of the sea waves.