DEFTNITION

A landform or physical feature in the earth

sciences and geology sub-fields, comprises
a geomorphological unit, and is largely defined by its
surface form and location in the landscape, as part of
the terrain, and as such, is typically an element
of topography. Landform elements also
include seascape and oceanic waterbody interface
features such as bays,peninsulas, seas and so forth,
including sub-aqueous terrain features such as
submersed mountain ranges, volcanoes, and the great
ocean basins.

TYPES OF LANDFORMRE

Mountains: Mountains are areas, which are higher

than the surrounding areas and are characterized by a
peak, e.g. The Himalayas. Surprisingly, they are more
frequently present in the oceans than in land. A
mountain is steeper than a hill. Mountains are formed
due the tectonic movement such as an earthquake or
a volcanic eruption. A few are resulted due to erosion
of the surrounding areas by the action of wind, water
or ice. 

Plateaus: Plateaus are large highland flat areas

separated from the surrounding areas by a steep
slope, e.g. The Tibetan plateau. Plateaus are formed
due to various actions such as collision of the earth’s
tectonic plates, uplift of the earth’s crust by the action
of magma; some are resulted due to the lava flow from
the volcanic eruption.

Islands: Islands are areas that are completely

surrounded by water, e.g. The Hawaiian Islands.
Islands are formed either as a result of the volcanic
eruption or due the presence of hot spots on the
lithosphere.
Plains: Plains are flat areas or low relief areas on the
earth’s surface, e.g. prairies, steppes. Plains are
formed due to the sedimentation of the eroded soil
from the hills and mountains or due to the flowing lava
deposited by the agents of wind, water and ice.
 

Valleys: Valleys are flat areas of land between the hills

or mountains, e.g. The California Central Valley.
Mostly they are formed by the actions of rivers and
glaciers. Depending upon the shape, valley forms are
classified as U-shaped or V-shaped valley. V-shaped
valleys are formed by flowing water or rivers, whereas
U-shaped valleys are formed by glaciers.
Deserts: Deserts are very dry lands with little or no
rainfall, for example, The Sahara desert. Mostly
deserts are formed in rainshadow areas, which are
leeward of a mountain range with respect to the wind
direction. Thus, the mountains block the passage of
wind resulting in little or sometimes no rain.
Loess: Loess are deposits of silt and with a little
amount of sand and clay. Many a times wind action is
responsible for formation of loess; however sometimes
glacial activity can also form loess.
Rivers: Rivers are natural flowing stream of
freshwater, e.g. The Nile. They mostly flow towards
lakes or oceans but sometimes they dried up without
reaching another water body. River water is collected
from the surface water runoffs, groundwater water
recharge and sometimes from the water reservoirs
such as glaciers. Landforms definitely play an
important role in theformation of rivers.
Oceans: Oceans are the biggest form of water and are
saline, such as The Pacific Ocean. Oceans of the
world cover around 71% of the earth’s surface and
control the weather and climate of the earth’s surface.
Oceans are originated due the Continental Drift, i.e.
the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates. 

Glaciers: Glaciers are huge slow moving body of ice.

Glaciers are formed due to the compaction of snow
layers and moves with respect to gravity and pressure.
Mainly there are two types of glaciers - Alpine glaciers,
which are formed in high mountains and Continental
glaciers, which are formed in cold Polar Regions.