A landform is a naturally occurring feature of the earth’s surface. Mountains, plateaus, and valleys are common landforms. Similar structures have been discovered on Mars, Venus, the Moon, and some of Jupiter’s and Saturn’s satellites. The term landform refers to features found on earth’s ocean floors, such as seamounts, mid-oceanic ridges, and underwater canyons.

Most landforms have developed over long periods, either due to denudation, which includes weathering, erosion, or sediment deposit. Tectonic landforms are topographic features created primarily by the uplift of the earth’s crust or upward movements of magma. Rift valleys, plateaus, mountains, and volcanic cones are among them. Endogenic factors, or forces that originate within the earth, shape these features. Sand dunes, subterranean caves, fjords, and beaches are topographic features generated by erosion and deposition caused by glaciers, rivers, groundwater, wind, sea waves, and other external factors. These latter characteristics are referred to as structural landforms.

After knowing what is a landform, let’s discuss the types of landforms on earth.

Mountains

• Mountains cover over 27% of the world’s land surface.
• Mountains are the source of up to 80% of the world’s fresh surface water.
• According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), about 12% of the world’s population lives in the mountains, while more than half is dependent on mountain resources directly or indirectly.

Classification Of Mountains

Mountains are one of the major landforms on earth that can be categorised into the following categories based on their development mode:

• Fold Mountains
• Block Mountains
• Volcanic Mountains/ Accumulated Mountains
• Residual Mountains/ Relict Mountains

Economic Significance of Mountains

1. A treasure trove of information: Mountains are a natural resource repository. Mountains include abundant mineral resources such as petroleum, coal, and limestone. The mountains are the main source of natural resources like herbs, timber, lac, and more.
2. Hydroelectric power generation: The waters of alpine perennial rivers generate the majority of hydroelectricity.
3. A plentiful supply of water: One of the most major freshwater resources is perennial rivers that start in winter weather or strongly rain-fed mountains. They aid in irrigation and offer water for a variety of other uses.
4. Fertile plains formation: Rivers that flow down from the high mountains carry silt as well as water to the lower regions. This contributes to the development of fertile plains and the expansion of agriculture and related enterprises.
5. Political borders that aren’t man-made: Mountain ranges can also serve as natural borders between the two countries. They play an important role in defending the country from external threats.

Plateaus

• A plateau is a raised area with terrain that is more or less level on top. It features a big top surface area and a steep side slope.
• High plains or tablelands are other names for them.
• Plateaus cover about 18% of the earth’s land surface.

Classification Of Plateaus

Plateaus are one of the major landforms on earth that are based on their geographical position and geological structure:

• Intermontane Plateaus
• Volcanic plateaus
• Piedmont plateaus
• Continental plateaus
• Dissected plateaus

The Economic Significance of Plateaus

1. Minerals in abundance: Plateaus contain the majority of the world’s minerals. Mineral extraction is relatively easier on plateaus than it is on mountains. Plateaus provide the vast majority of industrial raw resources. We receive gold from Western Australia’s plateau; copper, diamond, and gold from Africa’s plateaus; and coal, iron, manganese, and mica from India’s Chottanagpur Plateau.
2. Hydel-power generation: Plateaus’ edges generate waterfalls, which are great locations for generating hydel electricity.
3. Cool climate: Even in tropical and subtropical countries, the upper parts of the plateaus have a cool climate.
4. Agriculture and animal husbandry: Large grassland habitats, particularly for sheep, goats, and cattle, can be found on plateaus. Lava plateaus are richer in minerals than other plateaus, and so are used for agriculture since the soil is extremely fertile.

Plains

• Plains are the most common landforms on the surface of the earth.
• A plain is a cheap, flat land surface with a gentle slope and low local topography.
• Plains cover about 55 percent of the earth’s land surface.
• The deposition of sediments formed most of the plain carried down by rivers.
• In addition to rivers, wind, shifting glaciers, and tectonic activity have all contributed to the formation of plains (Refer to exogenic processes).

Classification Of Plains

Plains are classed as follows based on their creation mode:

• Structural plain
• Erosional plains
• Depositional plains

The Economic significance of Plains

Fertile soil: The soil in the plains is often deep and productive. Because they have a flat surface, irrigation systems can be simply created. That is why plains are known as the “World’s Food Baskets.”

The expansion of industries: Agro-based companies have benefited from the abundance of agricultural resources, particularly on alluvial plains. Because the plains are densely populated, there is sufficient labour for intensive farming and supplying the personnel for the industries.

Expansion of transportation options: Plains’ flat surface facilitates the construction of roadways, airports, and railway lines.

Civilizational hotspots: Many civilizations have their centres in the plains.

Establishment of cities and towns: Cities and towns have been established and expanded as a result of easy land transportation and the spread of agriculture and industry in plains. Only the plains have the world’s most sophisticated commerce centres and ports, and they are home to up to 80% of the world’s population.

Conclusion

Mountains, Plains, and Plateaus are only a few of the world’s major landforms of the earth. Each of them is divided into subtypes, each of which is economically significant. The majority of landforms are the result of tectonic and denudational processes, although a few are the result of other processes. Collisions with asteroids, comets, and meteorites create impact craters. The action of organisms creates biogenic landforms.