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Landforms

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Shaelyn Noronha
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85 views10 pages

Landforms

Uploaded by

Shaelyn Noronha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LANDFORMS

Table of Contents
01 Introduction 02 Mountain
• What are Landforms? • What are Mountains?
• Types of Landforms • How are Mountains
• Importance of formed?
Landforms • Types of Mountains
03 Valley 04 Plateau
• What are Valleys? • What are Plateaus?
• How are Valleys formed? • How are Plateaus formed?
• Types of Valleys • Types of Plateaus

05 Stages of Creating a Mountain & Valley


Model
01. Introduction
What are Landforms?
• Landforms are natural physical features of the Earth's surface. They vary in size
and shape, ranging from small hills to massive mountains, deep valleys, and flat
plains.
• They are formed by rivers, the sea, ice and volcano. These are constantly
changing as they are worn away in some places and built up in others.

Types of Landforms
• Landforms are typically classified into different categories based on their shape,
size, and how they were formed.
• Some of the major landforms include: mountains, valleys, plateaus, plains, hills,
deserts, lakes, rivers, and other water bodies.

Importance of Landforms:
• Landforms influence climate, weather patterns, and biodiversity.
• They determine where humans can settle, farm, and build cities.
• They provide natural resources such as minerals, water, and fertile soil.
02. Mountain
• Mountains are large landforms that rise significantly above the
surrounding land.
Formation of Mountains:
• Tectonic Plates: Mountains form when Earth's plates move and collide. This
compression forces the land upward, creating large mountain ranges. For example,
the Himalayas formed from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
• Volcanic Activity: Some mountains form from volcanic eruptions. As magma rises and
erupts from Earth's crust, it cools and solidifies into a mountain over time. Mount Fuji
in Japan is a famous example of a volcanic mountain.

Importance of Mountains:
• Water Sources: Mountains are crucial freshwater sources, as glaciers and rivers
provide water for millions of people, agriculture, and ecosystems.
• Biodiversity: Mountains host unique plants and animals due to their varied climates.
Many species found here are endemic, making them conservation hotspots.
• Tourism and Recreation: Mountains attract tourists for activities like hiking, skiing, and
climbing, boosting local economies through adventure tourism.
Types of Mountains

Fold Mountains: Formed by the


collision of tectonic plates, causing
the land to fold upward (e.g.,
Himalayas).

Fault-Block Mountains: Created


when large blocks of Earth's crust are
tilted or lifted along faults (e.g.,
Sierra Nevada).

Volcanic Mountains: Built up by


repeated volcanic eruptions, forming
peaks (e.g., Mount Fuji).
03. Valley
• Valleys are low areas between hills or mountains, typically with a
river or stream flowing through them.

Formation of Valleys:
• Erosion by Rivers: Rivers slowly erode the land as they flow, cutting through rock and soil to
form V-shaped valleys. Over time, the river deepens and widens the valley. An example is
the Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River.
• Glacial Valleys: Glaciers, massive sheets of ice, move slowly across the land, carving out U-
shaped valleys. As glaciers advance and retreat, they scrape the landscape, creating broad,
flat valley floors, like Yosemite Valley in California.

Importance of Valleys:
• Agriculture: Valleys often have fertile soil due to river deposits, making them ideal for
farming. Access to water from rivers supports crop irrigation and livestock.
• Human Settlements: Valleys provide flat land and access to water, which is why many cities
and towns are located in valleys (e.g., cities along the Nile River Valley).
• Biodiversity: Valleys support diverse ecosystems due to their varying climates and water
availability, offering habitats for a wide range of plant and animal species.
Types of Valleys
V-Shaped Valleys: These are
narrow and steep-sided, formed by
the fast-flowing action of rivers
cutting into the landscape. Over
time, the river deepens the valley,
giving it a distinct "V" shape (e.g.,
Grand Canyon).

U-Shaped Valleys: These are wide


and flat-bottomed, formed by
glaciers that carve through the land
as they move. As glaciers advance
and retreat, they create broad,
rounded valleys with steep sides
(e.g., Yosemite Valley).
04. Plateaus
• Plateaus are elevated flat areas of land that rise sharply above the
surrounding terrain.

Formation of Plateaus:
• Tectonic Activity: Plateaus can form when tectonic forces cause sections of Earth's crust to
uplift, creating flat, elevated areas (e.g., Deccan Plateau in India).
• Volcanic Activity: Some plateaus are built by repeated lava flows, where molten lava cools
and solidifies into flat, high landforms (e.g., Columbia Plateau in the USA).
• Erosion: Over time, wind, water, and other natural forces erode softer rock surrounding the
plateau, leaving behind a harder, more resistant flat surface elevated above the landscape.

Importance of Plateaus:
• Mineral Resources: Plateaus are often rich in valuable minerals such as coal, iron, and
copper, making them key areas for mining and economic development.
• Agriculture: Some plateaus have fertile soil, which supports the cultivation of crops,
especially in regions where irrigation from rivers is available.
• Hydroelectric Power: Rivers flowing down from plateaus can create waterfalls and strong
currents, which are harnessed for generating electricity through hydroelectric power plants
(e.g., dams built on plateaus).
Types of Plateaus

Volcanic Plateaus: Formed by


repeated lava flows that solidify into
large, flat areas (e.g., North Island
Volcanic Plateau in New Zealand).

Intermontane Plateaus: Located


between mountain ranges, often at
high altitudes (e.g., Tibetan Plateau).

Dissected Plateaus: Created when


rivers and streams erode parts of the
plateau, carving valleys through it
(e.g., Colorado Plateau).
THANK
YOU!

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