Major Landforms of the Earth Class 6 Notes CBSE Geography Chapter 6 [Free PDF Download]

• The earth’s surface is different everywhere. In some places, it is either even or uneven or elevated or plain at other places. These topographical differences we see exist n the form of mountains, plateaus, plains and are together referred as landforms. 

• These different land features are formed by natural forces which play a major role in shaping the earth’s surface. For example, when the two plates move towards each other at convergent plate boundaries then because of the compression, the rocks and the land surfaces of the two plates gets folded and form fold-mountains.

• When the upper layer of the surface is eroded by natural agents like wind, running water, it is said to be erosion. Whereas when the eroded materials are deposited elsewhere, creating a landform, it is referred as deposition.

• Major Landforms:

There are mainly three types of landforms on the Earth’s surface:- mountains, plateaus and plains.

1. Mountains: 

The naturally elevated having conical-shape ( with a peak and a broad base) landforms are said to be mountains. The mountains are generally above 1000 metres from sea- level. Because of the high average altitude of the mountains, the temperature is low.

Mountains are further classified into three major types based on their formation:

Fold mountains: Mountains that are formed by the folding of rock strata because of the compression are said to fold mountains. For example, The Urals in Russia, the Appalachians in North America and the Aravalli range in India. Their ranges have been decreased down due to erosion occuring over a long period.

Block Mountain: When the rock strata of a place is broken, it causes the formation of a fault. According to this, the mass of land now rises between two parallel faults, known as the horst and the block which is thrown down between two fault blocks is said to be graben or rift valley. For example, The Black Forest and the Vosges of the Rhineland.  Between the Black Forest and the Vosges Rifts, The rift valley of River Rhine lies.

Volcanic Mountain: Mountains that are formed due to the repeated accumulation of volcanic materials, like lava, magma, volcanic ash, and dust around the vent, are known as the volcanic mountains. Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Fujiyama in Japan are all volcanic mountains. 

Most of the rivers originate from the mountains. Since the mountains are the most elevated landforms on the Earth’s surface, in several areas the rivers are permanently frozen, they are known as glaciers. Some mountains are even located under the sea. Sometimes the mountains, especially the fold mountain have parallel ranges and when these are situated in a line, they are known as ranges.

• Importance of mountains:

Glaciers in the mountains from which many rivers originate. They have perennial flow. This river's water can be used in the cultivation of crops, generation of hydroelectricity in dams etc.

Dense forests are found in mountain regions that supply softwood, hardwood for furniture, some medicinal herbs and provide shelter to the animals and birds.

The mountains provide a beautiful scenic beauty, snow-covered elevated landforms that leads to the growth of the tourism industry.

2. Plateaus: 

It is an expanded upland area. It has a flat top which looks just like tables standing above the surroundings. hence, it is also referred as Tablelands having steep sides. They lie above 300 metres from the sea level. Plateaus can be of different heights. The Tibetan Plateau which is the highest plateau in the world at the same time is an example. It is also known as ‘roof of the world’. Some of the other examples are The Deccan plateau, the Chota Nagpur plateau.

• The importance of the plateaus:

a. Plateaus have abundant mineral resources. Due to this mining is one of the main occupations of the people of this region. The Chota Nagpur plateau in India has an abundance of iron, coal and manganese. The African plateau has gold and diamond.

b. As the rivers cominf from mountains fall here from a great height, it forms waterfalls which attract the tourists.

c. The plateaus formed by lava are rich in black soil and most suitable for cotton cultivation.

3. Plains: 

Plains are the region of lowland areas that are less than 200 m above the sea level. They are formed by the denudation and depositional by the rivers, winds, etc. The great plains of the river Ganga, the Indus, the Brahmaputra are some of its examples.

• The importance of the plains: 

        Plains are suitable for human settlements.

a. Since the river flowing down the mountains, carry the eroded materials and deposit them on the plains. Due to this reason the plains are rich in fertile silt that is suitable for agriculture.

b. The flatlands are appropriate for the construction of roads and railways.

c. Construction of buildings for settlement purposes becomes easy on plain lands.