What are

Landforms?
TSW- Identify and compare
different landforms
TSW- Recognize how landforms such
as deltas, canyons, and sand dunes
are the result of changes to Earth’s
surface by wind, water, and ice
 What are landforms?
• Landforms are the natural
structures or features on
Earth’s surface.
• There are many different
types of landforms found
on the Earth.
• Landforms are the
natural structures or
features on Earth’s
surface.
 Changes to landforms
• Many of the changes on
Earth’s surface are the result
of weathering, erosion and
deposition.
• Earth’s surface is constantly
exposed to wind, water and
ice which cause changes to
landforms.
 mountain
• A mountain is
a place on
Earth’s
surface that
is much higher
than the land
around it.
hill
• A hill is land
that rises
above the
land around
it.
• A hill has a
rounded top.
 Changes over time
• Over a long period
of time,
weathering will
cause mountains
Wind, water, and
to gradually
ice slowly wear
become hills.
away the rock and
• This weathering is
make the
caused by wind, mountain peaks
water and ice more rounded.
erosion
• Erosion occurs
when wind, water,
or ice carry small
pieces of dirt or
rock away from
one area to
another.
 valley
A valley is a

                 lowland area

between
                                 
higher lands
         such as
mountains.
Valleys are cut by
water and ice
Over very long
periods of time,

                 rivers and

glaciers cut a
                                 
path across the
Earth leaving
         behind valleys
between
mountain peaks.
 canyon
A canyon

  is a deep
valley
                                                       

with very
steep
sides.
 canyon
Running water
slowly wears
  away rock
leaving the
                                                       

deep grooves
of a canyon
behind.
plain
A plain is
a flat
area on
Earth’s
surface.
 plain
A plain is formed when the
rock making up the land
gradually is worn away by
weathering. Wind and
water cause this
weathering.
plateau
A plateau
is a flat
area
higher
than the
land
around it.
Formation of a
plateau
A plateau is a formed
when moving water and
wind erode a part of a
mountain leaving behind
some of the rock.
sand dune
A sand
dune is
shaped by
blowing
winds.
 Ice wedging
Water can freeze in cracks
of rock and cause the rock
to break. This is a form of
weathering.
deposition
• Deposition
occurs when
particles or
sediment are
left behind in a
new place.
deltas
• A delta is a
usually
triangular
shaped
deposit of
sediments at
the mouth of a
river.
deltas
• As a river
loses energy, it
drops dirt and
sediment to
create a delta.
• This area
creates rich
farm land.
caves
• A cave is
formed when
water dissolves
rock (usually
limestone) and
leaves behind
an open area
underground.
 weathering
• Weathering is the breaking down of rock on the
surface of the earth, usually by the force of
water, wind, or ice.
 Changing Earth
• The face of the Earth is always
changing!
• Wind, water and ice create landforms
on Earth’s surface and cause these
changes through weathering, erosion
and deposition.