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Major Landforms of the Earth

The Earth’s surface is not uniform; it consists of varied natural features known as landforms. These landforms are primarily shaped by internal forces (endogenic) such as tectonic movements, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, and external forces (exogenic) such as rivers, glaciers, wind, and waves. Together, these processes create three major landforms: Mountains, Plateaus, and Plains.

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1. Mountains

Mountains are natural elevations of the earth’s surface, rising steeply from the surrounding land. They are higher than the immediate environment and usually have conical or rugged peaks.
• Types of Mountains:
• Fold Mountains: Formed by compression and folding of earth’s crust (e.g., Himalayas, Alps).
• Block Mountains: Formed by faulting where land is uplifted or dropped between parallel faults (e.g., Black Forest in Germany, Vindhyas in India).
• Volcanic Mountains: Formed by accumulation of lava and volcanic material (e.g., Mount Kilimanjaro, Mt. Fujiyama).
• Importance:
• Storehouses of fresh water (glaciers, rivers).
• Rich in biodiversity, forests, and mineral wealth.
• Provide natural barriers and climatic influence.

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2. Plateaus

A plateau is an elevated flat-topped landform that rises sharply above the surrounding area. It is often called a tableland.
• Formation: Plateaus may form due to volcanic activity, tectonic uplift, or erosion.
• Examples: The Deccan Plateau in India (volcanic), the Tibetan Plateau (tectonic uplift, also the highest in the world).
• Importance:
• Rich in minerals and fossil fuels (coal, iron, manganese).
• Fertile for agriculture in river valleys cutting through plateaus.
• Sites for hydroelectric projects due to waterfalls (e.g., Jog Falls, Karnataka).

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3. Plains

Plains are large stretches of flat or gently sloping land. They are usually formed by river deposition or by wind and glacial action.
• Formation: Rivers carry sediments from mountains and deposit them in lower regions, creating fertile plains.
• Examples: The Indo-Gangetic Plains in India, the Mississippi Plains in the USA.
• Importance:
• Most suitable for human settlement and agriculture due to fertile soil.
• Favorable for construction of transport networks (roads, railways, airports).
• Centers of industrialization and urbanization.

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Role of Agents of Erosion and Deposition
• Rivers create valleys, floodplains, deltas.
• Glaciers carve out U-shaped valleys and moraines.
• Wind shapes deserts into sand dunes and loess deposits.
• Waves form coastal landforms like beaches, spits, and tombolos.