Major Landforms Of The Earth - Class 6 Geography - Extra Questions

Mountains are of three types-
(i) Fold mountains
(ii) Block mountains 
(iii) Volcanic mountains

The climate of mountains is Harsh.

Range

Plain

Plain - Plains are large stretches of flat land. 

Young fold

A mountain is any natural elevation of the earth's surface. The mountains may have a small summit and a broad base. It is considerably higher than the surrounding area. Some mountains are even higher than the clouds. In some mountains, there are permanently frozen rivers of ice. They are called glaciers. There are some mountains you cannot see as they are under the sea. Mauna Kea (Hawaii) in the Pacific Ocean is an undersea mountain. It is higher than Mount Everest being 10,205 meters high. Because of the harsh climate, fewer people live in the mountain areas. Since the slopes are steep, less land is available for farming.

Landforms on the earth are a result of two processes. The first, or the internal process leads to the upliftment and sinking of the earths surface at several places. For example, Mountains and Trenches formation. The second, or the external process is the continuous wearing down and rebuilding of the land surface. For example Gorges and Delta formation.

Mountains have a rich variety of flora and fauna with endemic and rare species richness. This ecosystem richness attracts tourists in mountain regions. Also, Mountains provide an idyllic site for tourists as they visit the mountains for their scenic beauty. Several sports like paragliding, hang gliding, river rafting and skiing are popular in the mountains.

The wearing away of the earths surface is called erosion. The surface is being lowered by the process of erosion. And the surface is rebuilt by the process of deposition which means the accumulation of materials that are carried by slopes and streams.  These two processes are carried out by running water, ice, and wind which are also called as weathering agents.

A plateau is an elevated flat land. It is a flat-topped tableland standing above the surrounding area. A plateau may have one or more sides with steep slopes. The height of plateaus often varies from a few hundred meters to several thousand meters. Plateaus, like mountains, may be young or old. The Deccan plateau in India is one of the oldest plateaus. The East African Plateau in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and the Western plateau of Australia are other examples. The Tibet plateau is the highest plateau in the world with a height of 4,000 to 6,000 meters above the mean sea level.

Mountains may be arranged in a line known as range. Many mountain systems consist of a series of parallel ranges extending over hundreds of kilometers. The Himalayas, the Alps, and the Andes are mountain ranges of Asia, Europe, and South America, respectively.

Mountains are very useful for human well-being. Because the mountains are a storehouse of water. Many rivers have their source in the glaciers in the mountains. Reservoirs are made and the water is harnessed for the use of people. Water from the mountains is also used for irrigation and the generation of hydroelectricity. The river valleys and terraces are ideal for the cultivation of crops.

Block Mountains are created when large areas are broken and displaced vertically. The uplifted blocks are termed as horsts and the lowered blocks are called graben. The Rhine valley and the Vosges mountain in Europe are examples of such mountain systems.

There are three types of mountains- Fold Mountains, Block Mountains and the Volcanic Mountains.

• The Himalayan Mountains and the Alps are young fold mountains with rugged relief and high conical peaks. The Aravali range in India is one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world. The range has considerably worn down due to the processes of erosion. The Appalachians in North America and the Ural mountains in Russia are very old fold mountains.
• Block Mountains are created when large areas are broken and displaced vertically. The Rhine valley and the Vosges mountain in Europe are examples of such mountain systems.
• Volcanic mountains are formed due to volcanic activity. Mt.Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mt.Fujiyama in Japan are examples of such mountains.

A hill is a land surface that rises higher than the surrounding area. Generally, a steep hill with an elevation of more than 600 metres is termed as a mountain. A mountains any natural elevation of the earth surface. The mountains may have a small summit and a broad base. It is considerably higher than the surrounding area. Some mountains are even higher than the clouds. As you go higher, the climate becomes colder. This means that the elevation of hill is low as compared to mountain.

Mountains are very useful. The mountains are a storehouse of water. Many rivers have their source in the glaciers in the mountains. Reservoirs are made and the water is harnessed for the use of people. Water from the mountains is also used for irrigation and generation of hydro-electricity. The river valleys and terraces are ideal for cultivation of crops. Mountains have a rich variety of flora and fauna. The forests provide fuel, fodder, shelter and other products like gum, raisins, etc. Mountains provide an idyllic site for tourists.

A Plateau is an elevated flat land. It is a flat-topped tableland standing above the surrounding area. A plateau may have one or more sides with steep slopes. Plateaus, like mountains may be young or old. The Deccan plateau in India is one of the oldest plateaus.Plateaus are very useful because they are rich in mineral deposits. As a result, many of the mining areas in the world are located in the plateau areas. African plateau is famous for gold and diamond mining. In India huge reserves of iron, coal and manganese are found in the Chota Nagpur plateau. The lava plateaus are rich in black soil that are fertile and good for cultivation.

Plains are large stretches of flat land. They are, generally, not more than 200 meters above mean sea level. Some plains are extremely level. Others may be slightly rolling and undulating. Most of the plains are 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 with their courses and in their valleys. It is from these deposits that plains are formed.

Plateaus are very useful because they are rich in mineral deposits. As a result, many of the mining areas in the world are located in the plateau areas. The African plateau is famous for gold and diamond mining. In India, huge reserves of iron, coal, and manganese are found in the Chota Nagpur plateau.

Plains are large stretches of flat land. They are, generally, not more than 200 metres above mean sea level. Most of the plains are 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.Generally, plains are very fertile.Plains are the most useful areas for human habitation.

Generally, plains are very fertile. Construction of the transport network is easy. Plains are the most useful areas for human habitation. There is a great concentration of people as more flat land is available for building houses, as well as for cultivation. Because of fertile soils, the land is highly productive for cultivation. Thus, these plains are very thickly-populated regions of the world.

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 fertile. Hence people live here and cultivate land for their living.

Plains are generally formed by river and their tributaries. The river 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 salt silt along their courses and in their valleys. It is from these deposits that plains are formed.

A mountain may have a small summit and a board 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.

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. 

Mountains vary in their Height and shape.

Mountains are useful to man in a variety of ways:
(i) Mountains are storehouse of water 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.
(ii) Mountains have a rich variety of flora and fauna.
(iii) Mountains provide an idyllic site for tourists. They visit the mountains for their scenic beauty.