Relief Features of the Continents Chapter Notes | Footprints Class 6: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Introduction

The land on Earth is not all the same; it has bumps, folds, and flat areas. Why is this so? Well, the Earth's outer layer, called the lithosphere, is divided into big puzzle pieces called plates. These plates move around, and their movements are responsible for shaping the continents, oceans, and the land we live on.

Major Relief Features

There are three main types of relief features that define the land—mountains, plateaus, and plains. These are formed by two different processes: endogenic (inside the Earth) and exogenic (outside the Earth) processes.

Mountains

Mountains are like giant bumps on the Earth. They can be formed in three ways:

• Fold Mountains: Created when rocks are pushed together, forming folds. Young fold mountains, like the Alps and Himalayas, are high and rugged, while old fold mountains, like the Appalachians, are less rugged.

• Block Mountains: Formed when parts of the Earth's plates move and push or pull, creating block mountains or horsts. Examples include the Harz Mountains in Germany.

• Volcanic Mountains: These mountains are built by hot molten rock (magma) erupting from the Earth's crust, like Mt Fujiyama in Japan or Mt Vesuvius in Italy.

Mountains often appear in long lines called ranges, and groups of ranges form a mountain system. Mountains are not heavily populated, but they offer essential resources like water from melting glaciers, act as barriers, and are important for activities like tourism and farming.

Plateaus

Plateaus are like flat-topped tables rising higher than the surrounding areas. They are formed by different forces like tectonic movements, volcanic activity, and erosion by wind and rain. The Tibetan Plateau, known as the Roof of the World, is the highest plateau globally, while others, like the Colorado Plateau in the USA, are also important for minerals and fertile soil.

Plains

Plains are flat and low-lying lands, not too high above the sea. They are created by rivers bringing materials from mountains and plateaus. The Indo-Gangetic Plain in India, the Northern Plain in China, and the Siberian Plain in Russia are some of the largest plains globally. Plains are densely populated because they offer fertile soil for farming and good living conditions.