Exploring the Earth’s Surface

Landforms

Based on Study GuidePages 34-38

Basic Vocab

Topography - the shape of the landElevation – height above sea levelRelief – difference in elevation

between highest and lowest pointLandforms – feature of topography

formed by the processes that shape Earth’s surface

Landforms There are three landforms

mentioned in the book: Plains Mountains PlateausWe will also talk about:

Valleys

Plains- Landforms made of nearly flat or gently rolling land with low relief

http://www.great-adventures.com/images/tanzania/Unending%20Plain.jpg

Mountains- landform with high elevation and high relief

Mountain range- a group of mountains that are closely related in shape, structure and age.

Examples of mountain ranges include:

The Bitterroot Mountains in Idaho and Montana.

Mountain ranges that form larger units are called mountain systems.

An example of a mountain system is the Rocky Mountains

A chain of mountain systems is called a mountain belt.

The American Cordillera is a series of steep mountain ranges that

rim the western edge of North and South America

The progression goes like this:

Mountains

Mountain Range

Mountain System

Mountain Belt

Plateaus- a landform that has high elevation and a more or less level surface.

A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through it.

A landform region is a large area where the topography is made up of one type of landform.

Example:

Coastal plain-