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DEFTNITION

A landform orphysical feature in the earthsciences and geology sub-fields, comprises

a geomorphological unit, and is largely defined by its

surface form and location in the landscape, as part of

the terrain, and as such, is typically an element

oftopography. Landform elements also

include seascape and oceanic waterbody interface

features such as bays,peninsulas, seas and so forth,including sub-aqueous terrain features such as

submersed mountain ranges, volcanoes, and the great

ocean basins.

TYPES OF LANDFORMRE

Mountains: Mountains are areas, which are higher

than the surrounding areas and are characterized by a

peak, e.g. The Himalayas. Surprisingly, they are more

frequently present in the oceans than in land. Amountain is steeper than a hill. Mountains are formed

due the tectonic movement such as an earthquake or

a volcanic eruption. A few are resulted due to erosion

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of the surrounding areas by the action of wind, water

or ice.

Plateaus: Plateaus are large highland flat areas

separated from the surrounding areas by a steep

slope, e.g. The Tibetan plateau. Plateaus are formed

due to various actions such as collision of the earths

tectonic plates, uplift of the earths crust by the action

of magma; some are resulted due to the lava flow from

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the volcanic eruption.

Islands: Islands are areas that are completelysurrounded by water, e.g. The Hawaiian Islands.

Islands are formed either as a result of the volcanic

eruption or due the presence of hot spots on the

lithosphere.

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Plains: Plains are flat areas or low relief areas on the

earths surface, e.g. prairies, steppes. Plains are

formed due to the sedimentation of the eroded soilfrom the hills and mountains or due to the flowing lava

deposited by the agents of wind, water and ice.

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Valleys: Valleys are flat areas of land between the hills

or mountains, e.g. The California Central Valley.

Mostly they are formed by the actions of rivers and

glaciers. Depending upon the shape, valley forms are

classified as U-shaped or V-shaped valley. V-shaped

valleys are formed by flowing water or rivers, whereas

U-shaped valleys are formed by glaciers.

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Deserts: Deserts are very dry lands with little or no

rainfall, for example, The Sahara desert. Mostly

deserts are formed in rainshadow areas, which are

leeward of a mountain range with respect to the wind

direction. Thus, the mountains block the passage ofwind resulting in little or sometimes no rain.

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Loess: Loess are deposits of silt and with a little

amount of sand and clay. Many a times wind action isresponsible for formation of loess; however sometimes

glacial activity can also form loess.

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Rivers: Rivers are natural flowing stream of

freshwater, e.g. The Nile. They mostly flow towards

lakes or oceans but sometimes they dried up without

reaching another water body. River water is collectedfrom the surface water runoffs, groundwater water

recharge and sometimes from the water reservoirs

such as glaciers. Landforms definitely play an

important role in theformation of rivers.

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Oceans: Oceans are the biggest form of water and are

saline, such as The Pacific Ocean. Oceans of the

world cover around 71% of the earths surface and

control the weather and climate of the earths surface.Oceans are originated due the Continental Drift, i.e.

the movement of the earths tectonic plates.

Glaciers: Glaciers are huge slow moving body of ice.

Glaciers are formed due to the compaction of snowlayers and moves with respect to gravity and pressure.

Mainly there are two types of glaciers - Alpine glaciers,

which are formed in high mountains and Continental

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glaciers, which are formed in cold Polar Regions.