Major Landforms – Mountains, Plateaus and Plains

The physical characteristics that are found on the surface of the Earth are referred to as landforms. Some of the most prominent landforms on Earth are mountain ranges, plateaus, and plains. The surface of the Earth is continually being reshaped by a variety of natural processes, including weathering, water, elevation change, sinking, and erosion of the soil. It doesn’t truly take place in a single day. In point of fact, it takes between tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of years for us to recognize these shifts. These mechanisms are responsible for the development of a wide variety of landforms. In a nutshell, the landforms that we see today are the result of geological processes.

Mountains

As much as 27 percent of the earth’s land surface is taken up by mountains all around the planet. There is a possibility that as much as 80 percent of the fresh surface water in the world originates in the mountains. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that just approximately 12 percent of the world’s population resides in mountainous regions, but that more than 50 percent of the population is either directly or indirectly dependent on mountain resources.

Classification of mountains 

Block mountains 

Fold mountains 

Volcanic mountains 

Residual mountains

Block mountains 

Internal earth movements, also known as endogenic earth movements, are another factor in the formation of block mountains. These earth movements create the force of stress and faulting.

The creation of block mountains can be attributed to either the uplifting or the down lifting of land that occurs between two parallel faults.

Graben is the name given to the rift valley that is produced as a result of faulting, while the term Horst is another name for a mountain block.

Examples of typical Block Mountains are the Sierra Nevada in North America and the Black Forest Mountains in Germany, amongst other such ranges.

Fold mountains 

The term “Fold Mountains” refers to mountain ranges that are mostly composed of folded sedimentary rocks that have been elevated.

They are produced as a result of the endogenous or internal forces exerting a compressive force, which results in their formation.

Fold Mountains consist of both troughs known as synclines and crests known as anticlines.

The Himalayas, which are located in Asia, the Alps, which are located in Europe, the Rockies, which are located in North America, and the Andes, which are located in South America are the most notable fold mountains in the world.

These mountain ranges are also known as the Young Fold Mountains due to the fact that they were built during the mountain construction phase that occurred the most recently.

Volcanic mountains 

The mountains that are known as “volcanic mountains” or “mountains of accumulation” are those that were formed by the buildup of volcanic elements.

Mount Mauna Loa, which is located on Hawaii Island, Mount Popa, which is located in Myanmar, and Fuji Yama, which is located in Japan are some examples.

Residual mountains 

We have witnessed the results of the aging process (as part of exogenic processes). Constantly acting upon the crust of the earth is the process of weathering.

The form and composition of the rocks that are subjected to the process of weathering are major factors that determine the outcome of the process.

Therefore, in some instances, particular sections of an elevated region are able to avoid the process of weathering as a direct result of the tenacity of the elements that compose it.

In spite of the ongoing erosion in the area around them, these pieces have not been affected by weathering. This leads to the construction of mountains known as Relict or Residual Mountains.

Some examples of Relict Mountains in India include the Aravalli, Vindhya, and Satpura mountains, as well as the Nilgiri, Palkonda, Parasnath, and Rajmahal hills. Other examples include the Rajmahal and Palkonda hills.

Plateaus 

A region that is elevated overall yet has a top surface that is more or less level is called a plateau. A big area sits atop it, and the sides fall away sharply in either direction.

You could also hear them referred to as high plains or tablelands.

The plateaus account for around 18% of the total land area on the planet.

Classification of plateaus 

Intermontane plateau

Piedmont plateau 

Continental plateau 

Volcanic plateau 

Dissected plateaus 

Intermontane plateau 

Intermontane plateaus are those that are either on the periphery of mountain ranges (often fold mountains) or are wholly or partially contained inside the mountain ranges themselves.

The phrase “between mountains” is what the word “intermontane” refers to.

The highest points on the planet are found on intermontane plateaus.

They have rock layers that are nearly horizontal, but due to vertical motions in the earth, they have been elevated to very high heights.

Examples: The Tibetan Plateau is an example of an intermontane plateau, which is a type of plateau that is surrounded by fold mountains such as the Himalayas, the Karakoram Mountains, the Kunlun Mountains, and the Tien Shan Mountains.

Piedmont plateau 

A piedmont plateau is a type of plateau that is located at the foot of a mountain and is blocked on the other side by either a plain or the sea or ocean.

The meaning of the word “piedmont” is “foot of a mountain.”

Plateaus of denudation are another name for these locations since they were formerly elevated to the level of mountains but have since been worn down to the foot of the mountains by a variety of forces of erosion, earning them the name “plateaus.”

Examples: Piedmont Plateau is a type of plateau, and one example is the Malwa Plateau.

Continental plateau 

Either a wide continental upliftment or the spread of horizontal basic lava sheets that are less viscous than the original topography can lead to the formation of these features. They fully cover the original topography.

In comparison to the surrounding lowlands or bodies of water, plateaus like these have an abrupt height change (i.e. more steepness on sides).

Plateaus of Accumulation is another name for continental plateaus.

Volcanic plateau 

A plateau that has been formed as a result of volcanic activity is known as a volcanic plateau. There are primarily two kinds, and these are lava plateaus and pyroclastic plateaus.

Lava plateaus are generated when basaltic lava that is very fluid erupts repeatedly from various vents over a long period of time without experiencing severe explosions.

Massive pyroclastic flows are responsible for the formation of pyroclastic volcanic plateaus, which are in turn supported by pyroclastic rocks.

Dissected plateau 

A plateau that has been badly eroded to the point where the relief is quite abrupt is referred to as a dissected plateau. A region like this could give the impression of being hilly.

When compared to orogenic mountain belts, dissected plateaus can be identified by the absence of folding, metamorphism, widespread faulting, and magmatic activity. These geological processes are all associated with orogeny (mountain building).

Plains 

Plains are the most significant landforms that may be found on the surface of the earth.

A plain is just a low-lying terrain surface that is very flat, has a very mild slope, and has the least amount of local relief possible.

Plains account for around 55 percent of the total geographical area on the planet.

The majority of the plain was created by the deposition of sediments that were carried down from higher elevations by rivers.

In addition to the movement of rivers, other factors such as wind, shifting glaciers, and tectonic activity have contributed to the formation of some plains.

Conclusion 

As much as 27 percent of the earth’s land surface is taken up by mountains all around the planet. A region that is elevated overall yet has a top surface that is more or less level is called a plateau. Plateaus account for around 18% of the total land area on the planet. The Tibetan Plateau is an example of an intermontane plateau, which is a type of plateau surrounded by fold mountains such as the Himalayas. Plateaus are landforms that have been formed as a result of volcanic activity.

There are two kinds of plateaus – lava plateaus and pyroclastic plateaus. Dissected plateaus can be identified by the absence of folding, metamorphism, faulting, and magmatic activity.