Major Landforms - Geo

Landforms

Natural features on the Earth's surface defined by their shape and structure, created through geological processes.

Endogenous processes

Large scale processes occurring within the Earth's crust, resulting in movements such as those of convergent plates, leading to the formation of mountains and deep-sea trenches.

Exogenous processes

Processes occurring on the Earth's surface, influenced by external forces like water, wind, and ice, including weathering, erosion, and sedimentation.

Fold mountains

Mountains formed during an endogenous process where sedimentary rocks fold upward (anticline) or downward (syncline).

Block Mountains

Mountains formed from enormous pressure causing blocks of rocks to fracture, either above or below the surrounding area

Volcanic Mountains

Mountains formed when magma erupts from within the Earth and solidifies into rock after cooling.

Mountain System

Several parallel or less parallel ranges of mountains connecting to form a continuous series.

Importance of Mountains

Mountains provide fresh water sources, cause orographic rainfall, act as climatic barriers, house hydroelectric power facilities, and maintain ecological balance.

Plateaus

Flat elevated land with steep slopes, formed by upliftment of the Earth's crust or volcanic activity.

Types of Plateaus - Intermontane Plateaus

Plateaus bordered by mountains, such as the Tibetan Plateau.

Types of Plateaus - Piedmont Plateaus

Plateaus with mountains on one side and plains or seas on the other, like the Patagonian Plateau.

Types of Plateaus - Continental Plateaus

Plateaus uplifted abruptly from coastal plains, for example, the Arabian Plateau.