Landforms of the Earth" 5

SYLLABUS
Landforms of the Earth Mountains, plateaus and plains. (definition, types and their formation).
Mountains - fold, residual and block. Plateaus - lntermont and Volcanic. Types of plains - structural,
depositional. Examples from the world and India.

OUTLINE
OF THE CHAPTER
Sub-units- 1. Landforms of the Earth 2. Mountains - introduction 3. Types of mountains and their significance 4. Plateaus
5. Types of Plateaus - Significance of plateaus 6. Plains 7. Types of plains - Significance of plains.

The systematic study of the Earth's relief features fundamental influence on the patterns of huma
is called Geomorpholoy (geo - earth; morpho - life and activity. Thus, the study of landforms is a
form, fogy - science), but one can also call it a study primary concern to the geographer.
of landfirms (!\mountain chain is an effective barrier betwee
1. LANDFORMS OF THE EARTH rou s of eo le who live in adjacent lowlands
• Landforms,the geological destructive configurations It may also serve as a climatic barrier as in the cas1
or conformations of the Earth's surface, have of Himalayas or may shield a lowland from prevailini
moisture bearing winds thus causing a desert.

The Matterhorn, Swiss Alps A River Course

The Thar Desert, Rajasthan

Coastal Features

Fig. s.1 : Landforms of the Earth

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 • A plain on th oth r hand b (a) Fold Mountains . ,
d • chains such as the Himalayas
High moun t ain a '
n life may nourish. Andes, Al ps a nd Rockies are known as new-
d in ith II nt fold mountain systems.
barb ur n fish• o an trad fhe term fold is a reference to the way in
r hi . th m untain , climates
which such mountains have been form .
an m • • h in d altitude
Throug h ou t millions of years the slslow
d • as d human activity
r ork. movemen t s Of the Earth's . crust have caused
• ndf rm on the Earth's surface these mountains to be raised
thr ugh an rderly series of changes.
r fo r , land ape features are sorted out on
f th ir f01m and origin.
r r to make a systematic study and for the
f onvenience, the landforms have been
i id d into three orders of relief. These classify
land cape by scale, from enormous ocean basins
and continents down to local hills, spurs, cliffs,
valleys, gorges and river terraces.

NTAINS - INTRODUCTION
efinition
• A portion of land surface rising considerably above
the surrounding either as a single eminence area
or in a range of chain is known as mountain.
• Mountain systems show evidences of enormous
forces which have folded, faulted and generally Fig.5.2: CalicoGhost town in California - Anticline
deformed large section the Earth's crust. and Syncline
The name given to the group of processes which • The movements which have resulted in mountain
collectively produce a mountain system is orogenesis,
building were horizontal movements the effect
from the Greek word oros for 'mountain and genesis
of which was to cause the crust of the Earth to
for 'to come into being'.
wrinkle in a similar way in which a tablecloth
oun a Building or Formation wrinkles if it is pushed along the table.
()rogeny (Orogenesis) • he arched or upraised parts of the folds are
An orogeny is a period of mountain building. known as anticlines and the troughs as synclines.
Orogenesis is the process of mountain building, These folds can vary greatly in size.
leading to the formation of the intensely deformed
belts which constitute mountain ranges) Regional
metamorphism and granite placement are always
found in the deeper levels of an orogenic belt.

3. TYPE OF OU AI
Mountains are often classified according to
their mode of formation, viz.,
Fold Mountains (b) Block Mountains
Residual Mountains
Fig.5.3 •Young Fold Mountain - Matterhorn in Swiss Alps

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Vlv-1
 (b) Block Mountains
Sometimes movement of the Earth's crust causes
cracks Where such_movement leaves a block
o h1 d standing between two areas of lower
land, the highland is known as a 'Block Mountain
or Horst.
A C A C

Fig. 5.4: Old Fold Mountain -Aravalis in India

B (i) D
Young Fold Mountains Vosges Black Forest
During the physical history of the Earth,
mountain building appears to have proceeded
more actively at some periods than others.
• The newest group of fold mountains include the Granite, etc. New rocks of various types
Himalayas, Alps, Rockies and Andes.
§ Stratified rocks of various types
• During an earlier period of folding (the Carboni- (iii)
ferous) the Pennines, Appalachians, the Ca e Fig.5.5 : Formation of Block Mountains
ranges of South Africa and the dividing range of
Australia were uplifted. Th older fold mountains
which have been subjected to the forces of
denudation (such as weather, rivers, glacier;, etc.)
for long geological periods much lower and
les rugged than the newer fold mountains)
The term 'new-fold' is applied to the mountain
ranges which have been folded most recently

Young Fold Mountains and Volcanoes

Most of the active volcanoes are found in the Fig.5.6: Fault Block Mountain- Pakistan
neighbourhood of fold mountains where the
crust of the Earth has been fractured during the The Vosges and Black Forest Mountains are
examples of such fo_rmations.The mountains are
process of folding
usually very stee -side and often the summit
• All round the Pacific Ocean there are many levels are roughly the
active and extinct volcanoes as in New Zealand,
the East Indies, Ja pa
an, and North and Central • Another example is Fault Block Mountain in
South America. Pakistan and Vin a and Satpura in In ia.

• Another belt of active volcanoes is associated (c) Residual Mountains

with the fold mountains of the West Indies. Wh an area of highland remains standing above
he mountains of young fold type are characterised the eneral level after rivers and other natural
by ruggedness of relief and rounded contours agents have lowered the surface of the surrounding
of mountain areas which have been subjected to area, term residual mountain is used. Sometimes
weathering agents for long periods of timee.g. !.f1! such highlands are called mountains of denudatzon,
d
psand the Scottish Highlands. e.g. Helvellyn Residual Mouh am.
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 •cation and so tend to separate
to comm uI11 . is . .
Traffic across mountains 1s limited to
I
people. ff .
the passes, which are often so high as to be
snowbound in winter. Such ranges as the Alps,
c can only be crossed with great
A ndes, et .,
difficulty by constructing tunnels.

4. PLATEAUS
Definition
Plateau is an elev d tract of relatively flat land,
Fig. 5.7: Helvellyn Residual Mountain, usually limited on at least one side by a steep slope
Lake district, England falling abruptly to lower land.
Significance of Mountains SlJ The large scale deformationof the Earth's crust which
(i) Mountains are effective climatic barriers and produced continents, oceanbasins and mountainranges,
the climates of reg10ns on either side of a etc., is known as diastrophism. All thehighest lateaus
high mountain· range are very different. For of the Earth are the direct products of as ooisro.
example, the coast lands of British Columbia Since their uplifts they have been modified by various
have an equable climate and heavy rainfall agents of erosion an and in 1:1-anycases by volcanism and
while the lands to the east of the Rockies have minor Earth movements. For convenience they may be
an extreme climate and light rainfall. classifiedas below.
(ii) The swift streams of mountains are frequently
sources of hydro-electric power, especially 5. TYPES OF PLATEAUS
in countries which have no coal such as (a) Intermontane plateaus
Switzerland and Norway. (b) Volcanic plateaus
(iii) In North America, the Western Cordillera (a) Intermontane Plateaus
provides gold, copper, lead and silver, especially
These mclude the highest, lar eest and in many
in the states of Nevada and Montana. The
pects most cocomplex plateaus of the world.
Andes provide tin and copper (Bolivia), gold
Th
They are surrounded by mountains, hence known
and platinum (Columbia) and silver (Peru).
as Intermontane plateaus \[heir surfaces show an
The highlands- of East Australia are important
extraordinary variety o •t opographic features.
for copper and gold.
For example :
(iv) The lumbering industry is specially important in
(i) Plateau of Tibet
British Columbia, Washington and Oregon (soft
woods), the Central American mountainous (ii) The Plateau of Bolivia and Peru
lands (hard woods), the Himalayan slopes (iii) The Mexican Plateau
(teak and sal) and the Scandinavian mountains
(soft woods).
(v) To provide food for the mining communities
in inaccessible mountain areas, agriculture has
bbeen developed. For example, in Salt Lake
City in Utah.
(vi) Mountain pastures have been utilised most
/ extensively for cattle rearing in Switzerland
/ and Scandinavia.
(vii) High mountain ranges are also barriers Fig. S.B(a): Plateau of Tibet

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,,..,__
 MountainRange Mountain Range orld are arid or semi-arid. The elevation does
n allow long growing season. Agricultural
lntermontane Plateau
deve is difficult due to their isolated

ossible in certain places which

so Two important areas of this
type are Deccan land ofof India (in patches) and
Columbia plateau of Washington and Oregon
States of USA.
• Some plateaus are rich in minerals. Chhotanagpur
plateau of India is a storehouse of minerals. It
Fig. 5.8{b) : lntermontane Plateau includes plateaus of Ranchi, Haza ibagh and
Kodarma. Coal, iron, mica, bauxite, etc.,'at found
The Tibetan plateau is the wo Id's highest as in abundance. Bolivia and Peru are known fo
well as most ex ensi e intermontane plateau. tin and copper mines.
Other examples are, Columbian plateau, North
American Cordillera,Bolivian, Peruvian and 6. PLAINS
Mexican plateaus. .
Definition
(b) Volcanic Plateaus - J0 Plains are extensive fiat areas of low altitude.
(rhe lava eru ted from the volcanoes has They have a local relief of less than 150 metres above
resulted into numerous volcanic lateaus. Some sea level. An important characteristic of plains is that
Snake river region of Idaho
as Snake river region of Idaho (USA) have flat they have completely level or nearl levei surface.
surfaces called lava plain. Some plains have gently rolling toppgraphy and the
The plateau of peninsular India, especially slope is gradual.
the north wester Dec n is an example of
lava plateau. It has enormous accumulation 7. TYPES OF PLAINS
of basaltic rocks. Other important plateaus According to their situation and mode of origin,
are South African plateau, Colum plains can be classified into following types :
and Ethiopia The Columbian plateau (a) Structural Plains
has about 2 layers of lava suggesttng that 20 These plains lie near the coast They are
different v"olcanic eruptions have formed this formed as a esult of emergence of sea bottom
plateau.
near coas
IIf the_ coastal area is a flat area the newl
emerged coastal plain would be broad and wide.

Fig.5.9: A Volcanic Plateau -Western Grand Canyon,

Arizona

ificance of Plateaus
• Di t plateau regions of the world have
different t of climate and different type of
topography. There the level of development
is
also different. Most the plateaus of the Fig.s.1o : The Great Plains of North America

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(
 Flat
. Fla delta plains are formed by some
p Iain
• Such plains increase in width towards sea big rivers like Hwang Ho Gange Nile
( due to deposition of sediments brought by sea Mississippi etc. These are very fertile and
waves. support dense o ulat10n.
For example, Russian the great plains Gla Deposits : These la.ins are very
of USA. the central lowlands of Austraha. fertile owin to de osits left b continental
(b) Depositiona Plains glac When the glaciers melt, the debrisare
These types of plains are fonned by the de osition deposited. Such plams are extensive in size
of sedime on a large seal<;)Vanous agents of • They have irregular surface. The composition
erosion cut the rocks, transport the eroded f surface material differs from the rocks
material (load) from the source and deposit 0 • f
that lie beneath them. Plam o Central North
the load at some other place. According to the
agents of erosion and place of deposition, the
America_and Western European plain a;;
depositional plains are of the following types : examples.

...,.-_:AlluvialPlains : These are formed by

ation of silt brought down
by rivers. As a river leaves the mountains,
the water spreads out and fast speed is
arrested. The sluggish water depositsthe
material.
(fire fan shaped deposits at the foot of the
hills are called Piedmont Alluvial Fa'i) The
size depends upon the quantity of deposited
material.
If the eroded material or load of a river is
deposited in the form of a belt along the foot
of the hills, it forms the piedmont a)]uyial Fig.s.12 : Loess Region in North China
plain. It is called Bhabhar in India.
The load changes into fine clay and sand. Aeolio Loess Plains or De osition by
When the river widens its valley or overflows Winds : These plains are formed by the
its banks during floods the clay and sand are material which has been transported and
deposited over large area. Such plains are d po osited by winds e.g. Loess deposits of
•
called floodplains. North Chma cover more tha 2.5 lakh quare
These plains are most fertile areas of the km of area.
world. These lai e enerally very flat Lacustr Plains or River De osits • These
and level.
plains result from the filling of lake bed
The lains of Northern China, Indo-Gangetic When rivers enter a lake, they are muddy. he
plain,Mississippi plain are examples of
plain of Hungary in Europe and the plains
fertile alluvial plains,
Floodplain Floodplain
surrounding Great Lakes of North America are
L L
best examples.

ance of Plains
River deposits levees The plain e often thickly populated areas as
they offer many adva ntage
ges for agriculture, transport
Fig.5.11 : Formation of Floodplain
and settlements. The plains ic are too bot, too
• At the mouth of a river, triangular shaped
cold or too humid for human ac • ies remain
plain of deposited material is called a delta underdeveloped.

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 On the whole it can be seen that depositional plains, Fertile soils of alluvial plains are granaries
espeC1 alluvial plains are usually
. very fertile. Such
of the world. In arid areas, irr ation can be
1 ins arecen of ...great
econonuc
eco developmentand dense provided easil and economically.
p opulation.Alluvialplains, ou in valleys of rivers, have
ost of the big cities are situated in plains
bee cradleof civilisationsince earlies • es.
as most of the plains provide fine climate and
Themain advantages of plains are as follow : fertile land. Movement is easy which encourages
Construction of settlements, rails, roads, agricultural and industrial development.
is .easy on flat and soft surface. All the alluvial plains are densely populated
areas.

CONTENTANALYSISIN BRIEF
)
1. Mountains - A portion of land surface rising 4. Types of plateaus • lntermontane plateaus
considerably above the surrounding area, either as
Volcanic plateaus
a single eminence, (generally above 600 mts), or as
an extensive mountain chain. 5. Plain is an extensive tract of flat land, a gently
and undulating terrain without prominent hills or
2. Types of mountains • Fold mountains • Block depressions.
mountains • Residual mountains
6. Types of plains Structural plains • Erosional plains
3. Plateau - Plateau is an elevated tract of relatively
• Glacial plains Coastal plains • Depositional
flat land usually limited on at least one side by a
plains
steep slope falling abruptly to lower land.

Mind Map

1 1
M
Mountains
• I
LPlains ! fVaneys or basin&i
J ...
t
·-·•""-~'"""""~"'¼"'-
fold mountains l Block
,!••·"''" .i ..
'•il;, r.=:==±
., .. ·,
; ,rvolcanic ~ [ .~Intermontane Piedmont .
~*"--
?lcanic • f
.~.;;::::i~:.:::;:

I'eg. Himalayas l1,Mountains 1 '• •· • •

· mountam
1
,; J •
•I'f eg. Col~rnbia eg.•.P.ata?oruan .·g.• Deccanl ·••·
,lor Hor~t ;. e.g. Mt.
eg. African! l Pe~~
1· '(····•plateau 1?
~ . ~- Amenca
I
plateau m
!:s0;11:eric<l
~ateau
~.~.::;:;::==
.. va..lle·y···! i:FuJ1yama ~
f rift
. . .._.. 1 Mauna LooJ

Karst (Lime ·---1

stone region)
eg, Serbia in
Eur
t\

Peneplain
eg.Niagara
in USA

,...,..-,,, . . .....,
'!""""'"- '---.---...,

7/ River depos1t1on
f' (Gangetic plain of
n India)

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 TECHNICAL
TERMSTO REMEMBER .
. . The folding, breaking or flow of rocks, which
Floodplain : A low lying area near a stream channel, Deformation: b .
• of continents, ocean asms and mountain
leads to formation
subject to recurrent flooding and alluvial deposits
generally mask underlying rock. ranges.
·on of the earth's crust, bounded on at least
Oasis : Desert area where groundwater is tapped for crop Horst : A por t1 · · ·
irrigation and human needs. two s1idees by
Y f;aults' that has nsen in re ation to adjacent
portions.
Orogenesis : The process of mountain building that occurs
on large scale. Literally, the birth of mountain. Passes : Mou nt ain pass is a route through a mountain
range.
Plateau : An extensive almost flat topped region.
Lava plain : It is a large expanse of nearly flat-lying lava
Anticline : An upward, curved fold in the layers of rock in
the earth's surface. flows.
Syncline : A downward, U-shaped fold in the layers of rock t • ,. The processes that cause. the wearing
Deno d ation . away of
in the earth's surface. earth ' s surfaace leading to reduction m elevation.

EXERCISE
A. Answer the following questions : 2. With the help of a neat diagram show the formation
1. What are plains? of a floodplain.
2. What is orogenesis? D. Give a reason for the following statements :
3. Name the different types of mountains. Describe 1. Plateaus are called tablelands.
each of them with examples.
2. Residual mountains are called the mountains of
4. What are plateaus? denudation.
5. Name the various types of plateaus with examples. 3. The alluvial plains are called the granaries of the
6. State a few advantages of plains. world.
7. Explain the types of depositional plains. 4. The plateau of Tibet is called the intermontane
8. State the main uses of mountains. plateau.
9. Differentiate between intermontane plateau and 5. The old fold mountains are much lower and less ,
volcanic plateaus. rugged than young fold mountains.
1O. Define a plain. How does it differ from a plateau? 6. North western Deccan is an example of Lava pla-
teau.
11. What are mountains?
E. Choose the correct option :
12. State any two characteristics of young fold mountains.
1. The systematic study of the earth's relief features is
13. How are the young fold mountains useful? State one called
---
example. (a) Geology (b) Pedology
14. How are alluvial plains formed?
(c) Hydrology (d) Geomorphology
15. Give an example each of the following :
2. The Vosges & Black Forest Mountains are the
(i) Fold mountains examples of
(ii) Block mountain (a) Fold Mountain
(iii) Volcanic plateau (b) Volcanic Mountain
(iv) Structural plain (c) Residual Mountain
B. Define the following terms : (d) Block Mountain
1. lntermontane plateaus 3. Which of the following mountains is called the
2. Block Mountains mountain of denudation?
(a) Fold Mountain
C. Diagrams :
(b) Volcanic Mountain
1. Draw a neat diagram to show the formation of Block
(c) Residual Mountain
Mountains.
(d) Block Mountain

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4. Identify the type of mountain in this Image marked 9. Refer to the image & identify the relief feature.
as a, b, c. Mountain Range Mountain Range
(a)

(a) Fold Mountain

(b) Volcanic Mountain
(c) Residual Mountain
(a) Lava plateau
(d) Block Mountain
lntermontane plateau
5. Which of the following is an example of Young Fold
Mountain? (c) Piedmont alluvial plain
(a) Appalachians (b) Ural Mountains (d) None of the above
(c) Aravali mountains (d) Alps 10. Which of the following relief features is formed by
the squeezing & wrapping of the sediments of the
6. Which of the following is an example of intermon-
crust?
tane plateau?
(a) Block mountain lbJFold Mountain
(a) Ethiopian plateau
(c) Plateaus (d) Plains
(b) Bolivian Plateau
11. The plain which is formed as a result of emergence
(c) South African Plateau of sea bottom near coast is called
(d) The Deccan Plateau (a) Piedmont alluvial plain
7. Which of the following is an example of structural (b) Flood plain
plain?
(c) Karst plain
(a) Plains of Northern China
(d) Structural pla
plain
(b) Hungary plain
12. Orogenesis is the process of
Great Plains of USA
(a) Hill formation (b) Mountain building
(d) The Western European Plain
(c) Rift valley formation (d) Trench building
8. The plain which is formed at the foothills of mountain
in the shape of fan is called.____ ANSWERS
(a) Flood plain (b) Bhabhar 1. (d) 2. (d) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (d)
(c) Glacial Plains ).07Piedmont alluvial plain 6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (b)
11. (d) 12. (b)

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