Introduction
Have you ever seen a tall mountain or a wide flat field? These are called landforms – the natural shapes found on the surface of the Earth.
Landforms are formed over thousands or millions of years by wind, water, and movements under the ground. Let’s learn about the three major types of landforms: mountains, plateaus, and plains!
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What Are Landforms?
Landforms are natural features of the land that give shape to our planet. They are not made by people, but by nature through processes like earthquakes, volcanoes, wind, and rain.
Types of Landforms
Mountains – Tall and Steep!
Mountains are high, rocky landforms that rise sharply above the ground around them. They often have pointed peaks and cold weather at the top.
Example:
- Mount Everest – The tallest mountain in the world, found in the Himalayas between Nepal and China.
Fun Fact: The Himalayas are still growing because the Earth’s plates are pushing against each other!
Plateaus – High and Flat!
A plateau is a landform that is high like a mountain, but its top is flat like a table. That’s why plateaus are sometimes called “tablelands.”
Example:
- Deccan Plateau – A large plateau in India that covers a big part of the country.
- Did You Know? Some plateaus are formed when lava from a volcano spreads out and cools!
Plains – Wide and Flat!
Plains are large, flat areas of land with very few hills or mountains. They are perfect for farming and building cities because the land is easy to use.
Example:
- Indo-Gangetic Plain – One of the most fertile plains in India and Pakistan, where a lot of food is grown.
- Fun Fact: Most people in the world live on plains because they are easier to build homes and roads on!
How Are Landforms Formed?
- Mountains form when two pieces of Earth’s crust push against each other, or when volcanoes erupt.
- Plateaus form from volcanic lava or erosion of nearby land.
- Plains are made by rivers depositing soil over time.
Why Are Landforms Important?
- Mountains give us fresh water from melting snow, protect us from winds, and are home to many animals.
- Plateaus are good for mining, farming, and herding animals.
- Plains are the best places for growing food, building homes, and creating cities.
Activity Idea
- Cut out pictures of mountains, plateaus, and plains from magazines or print them.
- Paste them on a large paper and label each one.
- Add fun facts next to each picture!
Final Thoughts
Landforms are the natural designs of our Earth. From the towering Himalayas to the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains, each landform plays an important role in shaping our environment and our lives.
Next time you go outside, look around and ask yourself:
“Am I standing on a plain, a plateau, or near a mountain?”
Let’s keep exploring our amazing planet together!
