Landforms

We will focus on specific types of landforms by identifying their characteristics.

Std. 1 Science Concepts

Landforms
            Rivers- large bodies of water that cut through the land and flow to a larger body (like an ocean)
                       Where it connects to the larger body we call 
                                    A mouth.
            Lakes-  These are large bodies of water that are surrounded by land on all sides.  Most are fresh water, but not all.
            Plateau-  These are large areas of land where the highest elevation is relatively flat.
            Mesa- a large slightly elevated piece of land with a flat area on top.
            Island- a land mass that is completely surrounded by water.
            Gulf- a large water area that lies within a curved coastline.
Peninsula- a land mass that is surrounded by water on three sides.
Isthmus- a narrow piece of land that joins two larger areas of land
Plain-  A large flat area of land- found primarily on interior areas of land, not usually on the coast.
Hill-  small areas of land that are higher than the land around them
Range-  A group of mountains that are joined together.
Valley-  an area of lower elevation found between two mountains
Peak-  an area of high elevation found on top of a mountain- typically the highest point.
Pass- an area that can be traveled upon between two or more mountains.
Foothills-  a group of hills found on the edge of a mountain range.
Mountains-  Large land masses that have been forced together as the Earth’s under layers move.  These masses push upward and mountains actually grow.

There are 3 major types of mountains…
            Folded mountains-  These mountains form when two
                        Of the earths plates (solid areas under the land
                        We walk on push together)  Folded mountains
                        Can be identified by rounded tops.

            Un-warped or Up-warped Mountains-  These are formed when two plates actually crash into each other.  The results are large mountains with very sharp peaks.

            Fault-block mountains-  These are formed when 1 plate moves toward the other, but the other is not as strong and moves under the pushing plate.  The result is one mountain pushing upward and the other being blocked or seeming to lean into it.

 

Volcano-  Although we classify a volcano as a mountain, it forms a little different.   Here, the plates shift, allowing a path from the under layer of the earth to the surface.  The result is lava leaking outward onto the Earth’s surface.  As the lava dries, it turns to rock and the Volcano grows as more rock develops