Major Landforms of the Earth
Mountains (fold, block, volcanic), plateaus, plains, valleys  formation and importance.
Major Landforms of the Earth
Major Landforms of the Earth
What you'll learn
- The four major landforms: mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys.
- How each landform forms — internal and external processes.
- Importance of each landform for human life.
- Key examples from India and the world.
Key concepts
What are landforms?
Landforms are natural features of the Earth's surface shaped by:
- Internal forces: volcanoes, earthquakes, tectonic plate movement (build landforms up).
- External forces: weathering, erosion by rivers, glaciers, wind, waves (wear landforms down).
Mountains
A mountain is a large elevated area of land rising steeply from surrounding land, usually above 600 metres.
Types of mountains
| Type | How it forms | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fold mountains | Tectonic plates collide; rock layers fold upward | Himalayas, Alps, Andes, Rockies |
| Block mountains | Blocks of land pushed up between faults (cracks) | Vosges (France), Black Forest (Germany), Vindhyas |
| Volcanic mountains | Molten rock (lava) erupts and piles up | Mt Fuji (Japan), Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt Vesuvius |
Importance of mountains
- Water towers: glaciers and snowfields supply rivers (Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra from Himalayas).
- Forests: biodiversity; timber; medicines.
- Tourism: hill stations (Shimla, Ooty), trekking, skiing.
- Defence: natural barriers (Himalayas protect India's north).
- Climate: block cold winds; force rain on windward side.
Plateaus
A plateau is a flat-topped elevated area of land with steep sides; also called a tableland.
| Plateau | Location | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Deccan Plateau | Peninsular India | Volcanic basalt rock; very fertile black soil (cotton) |
| Tibetan Plateau | China/India border | World's highest plateau — "Roof of the World"; ~4,500 m |
| African Plateau | Sub-Saharan Africa | Large mineral deposits — diamond, gold |
| Chota Nagpur Plateau | Jharkhand, India | Rich in coal and iron ore |
Importance of plateaus
- Mineral wealth: coal, iron, diamonds, gold often found in plateaus.
- Fertile soil: volcanic plateaus have rich soil (Deccan plateau → cotton).
- Waterfalls: rivers fall off plateau edges → hydroelectric power (Jog Falls, Karnataka).
Plains
A plain is a large flat area of land, usually not more than 200 metres above sea level.
| Plain | Location | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Plains of India | UP, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana | Formed by Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra rivers; most fertile land |
| Amazon Plains | South America | Dense rainforest; drained by Amazon River |
| Great Plains | USA/Canada | Wheat farming; "breadbasket of North America" |
| Indo-Gangetic Plain | India/Pakistan | World's most densely populated agricultural plain |
Importance of plains
- Agriculture: flat land + fertile alluvial soil → highest agricultural productivity.
- Population: most densely populated areas on Earth.
- Transport: easy to build roads, railways, cities.
- Industry: factories, urban centres develop easily.
Valleys
A valley is a low-lying area between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.
| Type | How it forms | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| River valley (V-shaped) | River erodes a channel through rock | V-shaped; narrow |
| Glacial valley (U-shaped) | Glacier carves through rock | U-shaped; wide flat bottom |
| Rift valley | Land sinks between two faults | Wide; flat bottom; often has a lake |
Examples:
- Indus Valley (NW India/Pakistan) — ancient Harappan civilisation.
- Nile Valley (Egypt) — ancient Egyptian civilisation.
- Great Rift Valley (East Africa) — world's largest rift valley; Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika.
- Kashmir Valley — glacial valley; famous for beauty.
Quick check
- What is the difference between an internal force and an external force in landform formation?
- Name three types of mountains with one example each.
- What is a plateau? Name two plateaus important for minerals.
- Why are plains the most densely populated landforms?
- What is the difference between a V-shaped and a U-shaped valley?
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Major Landforms.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Quick check
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