Question

What are intermontane plains? Name any three.

Answer 1

Hint: A plain is a level tract of land with little variation in elevation and is mostly devoid of trees in geography. Plains can be found as lowlands in valleys or at the foot of mountains, coastal plains, plateaus, or uplands. Plains are one of the most common landforms on Earth, occupying more than one-third of the planet's total area. They may be found on all continents.

Complete answer:
Intermontane plateaus are plateaus that border mountain ranges (usually fold mountains) or are partially or completely enclosed inside them. The term "intermontane" refers to the area between two mountains. The highest plateaus on the planet are found in the Intermontane region. They feature almost horizontal rock layers that are uplifted to great heights by the earth's vertical movements.

The Western United States' Intermontane Plateaus is one of eight physiographic zones (divisions) that make up the physical geography of the contiguous United States. Intermontane plateaus and mountain ranges make up the landscape. It's broken down into physiographic provinces, which are further broken down into physiographic parts.

The three examples of Intermontane plateau is given below-
i) The Tibet Plateau - The Plateau of Tibet is bordered on the north by the Kunlun Mountains and on the south by the Himalayas.
ii) The Mongolia Plateau - Mongolia's Plateau is surrounded by mountains such as the Sayan Mountains, the Hentiyn Mountains, and the Nan Mountains.
iii) The Altiplano Plateau - The Altiplano Plateau, also known as the Bolivian Plateau, is an intermontane plateau located between two Andes Mountain ranges. It is a significant tin-reserve area.
The European Plain, also known as the Great European Plain, is a large plain in Europe that is part of one of Europe's four major topographical units, the Central and Interior Lowlands. Although there are a few highlands within it, it is Europe's largest mountain-free landform.

Note: Mountains cover over a quarter of the world's land surface. Up to 80% of the world's fresh surface water originates in the mountains. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 12% of the world's population lives in mountains, while more than half is dependent on mountain resources directly or indirectly.