Major Landforms of the Earth
Earth has different landforms - mountains, plateaus, plains, and valleys - each shaped differently and used differently by humans.
Core concept
Mountains are tall, steep landforms, like the Himalayas, often formed by the movement of tectonic plates over millions of years.
How it works
Plateaus are flat, raised areas of land, like the Deccan Plateau in India, often used for farming or mining due to their fertile soil or mineral deposits.
Why it matters
Plains are flat, low-lying areas, like the Indo-Gangetic Plains, which are usually very fertile and densely populated due to easy farming and settlement.
Key detail
Valleys are low areas between hills or mountains, often formed by rivers, and can be fertile and suitable for agriculture and settlement.
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• Mountains are tall, steep landforms, like the Himalayas.
• Mountains form from tectonic plate movement.
• Plateaus are flat, raised areas, like the Deccan Plateau.
• Plateaus are used for farming or mining.
• Plains are flat, low-lying areas, like the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
• Plains are fertile and densely populated.
• Valleys are low areas between hills or mountains.
• Valleys are often formed by rivers.