CLASS – VI

Lesson – 6

MAJOR LANDFORMS OF THE EARTH

CLASSWORK:

NEW TERMS:

A) EROSION; The process of wearing down of the earth’s surface.

B) DEPOSITION: The process of deposition of eroded materials that raises the surface of the earth.
C) FAULTS: The cracks that are formed due to the movements of the earth’s crust.
D) GRABEN: A valley formed out of crust lying between faults.
E) TERRACE FARMING: Farming where mountain sides are cut into steps to grow crops.
F) ALLUVIUM: The load carried by river from mountains to plains.
G) ALLUVIAL PLAINS: Plains formed due to the deposition of alluvium

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

Book ques:

1) What are the major landforms?

Ans - The major landforms are—mountains, plateaus and plains.

2) What is the difference between mountains and plateaus?

Ans- A mountain may have a small summit and a broad base. But a plateau is flat-topped table
standing above the surrounding area.
Example of mountain: The Himalayan mountains.
Example of plateau: The Deccan plateau.

3) What are the different types of mountains?

Ans - Mountains are of three types—

Fold mountains: The Himalayan Mountains and the Alps are young fold ‘mountains. They
have rugged relief and high conical peaks. The Aravalli range in India is one of the
oldest fold mountain systems in the world. The Appalachians in the North America and
the Ural mountains in Russia are very old fold mountains.
Block mountains: These are created when large areas are broken and displaced
vertically. The Uplifted blocks are known as horsts and the lowered blocks are called
graben. The Rhine valley and the Vosges mountains in Europe are examples of such
mountain systems.
Volcanic mountains: They are formed when the hot molten lava which was thrown out of
the earth’s crust ,when a volcano erupts cools down and solidify around the vent.This
results in formation of Volcanic mountains. Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mt. Fujiyama in
Japan are examples of such mountains.

4) How are mountains useful to us?

Mountains are useful to man in a variety of ways:

 Mountains are storehouse of water which is the basic need of the human beings.
Reservoirs are made and the water is harnessed for the use of people. Water is used
for irrigation and generation of hydroelectricity.
 Mountains have a rich variety of flora and fauna.
 Mountains provide an idyllic site for tourists. They visit the mountains for their scenic
beauty.

5) How are plains formed?

Ans - Plains are generally formed by rivers and their tributaries. The rivers flow down the slopes
of mountains and erode them. They carry forward the eroded material. Then they deposit their
load consisting of stones, sand and silt along their courses and in their valleys. It is from these
deposits that plains are formed.

6) Why river plains are thickly populated?

Ans - The river plains are very suitable for human habitation. People get flat land for building houses and
for cultivation. The soil of river plains is very fertile. Hence people live here and cultivate land for their
living.

7) Why mountains are thinly populated?

Ans - Life is very difficult in mountain areas because of harsh climate. It is quite difficult to grow
crops, build houses or roads in a mountain. Hence, people do not prefer to live here.

HOMEWORK:

Extra ques:

1) Distinguish between fold mountains and volcanic mountains?

2) What makes land fertile and habitable?
Ans : The land becomes fertile with the sand,silt and material brought by river to the plains.
 The land becomes habitable when people start living on it and it provides all basic need of
humans.
3) Which landform is rich in minerals deposits?
Ans – Plateau is rich in mineral deposits.for example-plateau in Africa is famous for gold and
diamond.Chhotanagpur plateau is famous for iron, manganese etc.
4) Name the rivers which have formed the northern plains of India?
Ans – R.Ganga and R.Yamuna forms northern India
5) Why is Indo-gangetic plains are thickly populated?

6) What is internal process? [V. Imp.]

Ans: Internal process means a type of continuous movement within the earth
that lead to the upliftment and sinking of the earth’s surface at several places.
(like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions)
7) 2. What is external process?
Ans:  External process means the continuous wearing down and rebuilding of
the land surface.( like running water, moving ice,wind)

WORKSHEET

Ques 1 Fill in the blanks :

a) Earthquakes and volcanoes are the result of _______________ processes.

b) The northern plains are made up of __________ brought by rivers.\
c) ______________ is called the roof of the world.

Ques 2 State TRUE or FALSE , also correct the statement and write?

a) Internal processes refer to the inside movement of the earth.

b) A number of mountains together form a system.
c) Mountainous areas are most suitable for human habitation.
d) Fruit orchards are found commonly in plateau region.
e) Plateaus are favourable for natural waterfalls and hydreoelectricity projects.

Ques 3 Fill the blanks with the help of hints:

a) These mountains were formed when Indian subcontinent bumped into Eurasia:
b) Another name of the rift valley:
c) Mountains formed out of molten magma:
d) The kind of farming followed in mountainous region:
e) The plateau continent: