Chp 5 – Landforms - Notes

Short Answer Questions

Question 1

What is meant by a landform? Give two examples.

Answer

A landform is a natural feature on the surface of the earth. For example- mountains, plateaus.

Question 2

Why are the fold mountains called so?

Answer

Fold mountains are the result of large scale earth movements caused by stresses in the earth’s
crust. Such stresses may be caused by weight of the overlying rocks, movements in the
mantle, the expansion or contraction of some part of the earth, etc. These stresses subject the
rocks to compressive forces, producing wrinkling or folding along the lines of weakness.
Hence, these mountains are called fold mountains.

Question 3

Give two chief characteristics of the fold mountains.

Answer

Two chief characteristics of the fold mountains are-

1. The fold mountain system has parallel ranges.

2. A fold mountain region is also a region of sudden forces such as of volcanoes and
earthquakes.

Question 4

Give one example of each:

(a) Young fold mountain.

(b) Old fold mountain.

Answer

(a) Young fold mountain - The Himalayas

(b) Old fold mountain - The Aravallis
Question 5

Give one example of residual mountain and an example of depositional plain.

Answer

An example of residual mountain - Nilgiri mountains

An example of depositional plain - Northern plains of India

Question 6

Draw a well labelled diagram to show the formation of a residual mountain.

Answer

Question 7

How is a rift valley formed? Give one example of a rift valley.

Answer

If there are two parallel faults, the valley floor may sink and a rift valley is formed. For
example- African Rift Valley.

Question 8

Give a brief definition of a plateau.

Answer

Plateau is defined as an area of high ground, 500 feet above the ground level. Plateaus have
steep slope on one side. The upper part is generally flat and is called tableland.

Question 9

What is an intermontane plateau? Give one example.

Answer

The plateaus surrounded by hills and mountains on all sides are called intermontane plateaus.
For example- Tibetan plateau.

Question 10

Give two points of importance of landforms.

Answer

The importance of landforms are-

1. The mountain ranges of the world are the abode of snow and glaciers. They are thus
the source of perennial rivers.
2. Mountains, plateaus, plains and valleys are beautiful sculptures of nature on the
surface of the earth. They add to the beauty of the earth.

Distinguish between each of the following

Question 1

Fold Mountains and Block Mountains.

Answer

Fold Mountains Block Mountains

They are formed

due to folding of Block mountains are formed due to faulting.
the rocks.

Fold Mountains
are formed when
two tectonic
plates move
Block Mountains are formed when the two tectonic plates move away from
towards each
each other causing cracks on the surface of the Earth.
other leading to
the folding of the
layers of the
Earth.

They are
characterized by
They are characterized by steep slopes and flat slopes.
large scale
complex folds
that have greater
 Fold Mountains Block Mountains

height but are

comparatively
narrow in width.

For example- the

Himalayas in For example- Black forest mountains in Europe.
India

Question 2

Intermontane plateaus and Volcanic plateaus.

Answer

Intermontane plateaus Volcanic plateaus

These are surrounded by

hills and mountains on all They are formed by numerous volcanic eruptions that slowly build
the sides. They are formed up over time.
along with fold mountains.

For example- the Tibetan

For example- the Peninsular plateau of India.
plateau.

Question 3

Structural plains and Depositional plains.

Answer

Structural plains Depositional plains

These plains are formed

These plains are formed by the deposition of materials which have
due to uplift or
been brought by various agents of transportation.
subsidence of land.

For example- the Great

For example- Northern Plains of India.
Plains of USA.
Structured Questions

Question 1(b)

Describe the formation of mountains and their types.

Answer

A mountain is a very steep land or hill rising to great heights above the land surrounding it.
Mountains are classified into three types based on the forces that have formed them.

1. Fold mountains — Fold mountains are the result of large-scale earth movements caused
by stresses in the earth’s crust. Such stresses may be caused by weight of the overlying rocks,
movements in the mantle, the expansion or contraction of some part of the earth, etc. These
stresses subject the rocks to compressive forces, producing wrinkling or folding along the
lines of weakness. For example- the Himalayas in India.

2. Residual Mountains — Mountains which are subjected to weathering and erosion for a
longtime, are lowered down and called residual or relict mountains. Denudation and erosion
by natural agents like winds, water, snow etc., cause the mountains to be lowered but some
resistant areas may remain and form residual mountains. They may also be formed on
plateaus that are dissected by rivers. For example- Nilgiri in India.

3. Block Mountains — It is an uplifted land mass situated between two adjacent faults. The
central block is upthrown or land on the outer-sides of the faults is downthrown so that the
central mass appears like a highland. Its surface is like a plateau, but it has steep edges. For
example- Vosges in Europe.

Question 1(c)

Give a reason for each of the following:

(iii) Residual mountains are also called mountains of denudation.

Answer

(iii) Residual mountains are also called mountains of denudation as they are formed due to
denudation and erosion by natural agents such as winds, water, snow etc.

Question 1(d)

Draw a well labelled diagram to show the formation of block mountain.

Answer
Question 2(a)

Describe the characteristics of two different types of plateaus.

Answer

The characteristics of Intermontane plateau are-

1. These plateaus are surrounded by hills and mountains on all sides.

2. They are formed along with fold mountains.
For example- the Tibetan plateau.

The characteristics of Volcanic plateaus are-

1. They are formed by numerous volcanic eruptions that slowly build up over time,
forming a plateau.
For example- the Peninsular Plateau of India.

Question 2(b)

Describe the characteristics of structural plains.

Answer
The characteristics of structural plains are-

1. These plains are formed due to uplift or subsidence of land.

2. Diastrophic forces may cause uplift of a portion of land beneath the ocean water or
may cause submergence of coastal land under ocean water.
3. For example- The Great Plains of USA were formed due to the uplift of land
submerged under water while the Coromandal plains in India are a result of mild
submergence followed by sedimentation.

Question 2(c)

Give a reason for each of the following:

(i) There are different types of plains.

(ii) Alluvial plains are regarded as the granaries of the world.
(iii) The landforms on the surface of the earth are symbols of the energy of the earth.

Answer

(i) There are different types of plain based on the way they are formed. While some have
been formed due to depositional activities of rivers and winds, some are formed due to the
upliftment and submergence of lands.

(ii) Alluvial plains are regarded as the granaries of the world because they are formed by the
deposition of rivers. So, the soil in these plains is very fertile and supports agriculture.

(iii) The landforms on the surface of the earth are symbols of the energy of the earth as they
are basically a result of enormous heat generated inside the earth and climate factors
operating on the surface of the earth.

Question 2(d)

Explain the chief characteristics of depositional plains and their types.

Answer

Depositional plains are formed by the deposition of materials which have been brought by
various agents of transportation. Depositional plains are of three types-

1. River Deposition — The most widespread of these are alluvial plains like the Northern
Plains of India; the flood plains like the Mississippi Plains in the USA, deltaic plains in Egypt
and India.

2. Wind Deposition — Most such plains are sandy deserts like the Sahara in Africa and the
Thar desert in India. They have irregular and undulating surface made by existence of sand
dunes and hallows. Loess plains in China are formed from deserts.

3. Marine Deposition — These plains are found in coastal regions. Examples are the east
coast of India, the estuarine banks in the Netherlands, coast of Germany and Denmark.