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UNIT 2
RELIEF
What is the Earth´s relief?
The Earth´s surface is not flat.
There are different kinds of relief:
Continental relief
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Mountains are high landforms with steep sides. The world´s highest mountain range is
the Himalayas in Asia.
Valleys are areas of low land between mountains. Rivers flow through many valleys.
Plains are low, flat areas of land. Large plains are often found on the coasts, and are
formed by large rivers.
Plateaus are large, raised plains. The highest plateaus are in Tibet in Asia, and in Bolivia
in South America.
Basins are natural depressions, or low areas of land. Some are below sea level.
Coastal relief
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A peninsula is an area of land surrounded by water on all sides except one.
An isthmus connects a peninsula to a continent.
A cape is a part of the coast which extends into the sea.
A gulf is a large area of sea or ocean partially enclosed by land. A bay is a small gulf.
An island is an area of land surrounded by water on all sides.
A group of island is called an archipelago.
Coasts can be flat and low-lying or high:
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In flat coastal areas, there are many beaches.
In high coastal areas, there are many cliffs, which are steep rock formations.
Why do landscapes change?
1. Erosion: is the fragmentation and dissolution of rocks, soil and mud, which is transported
by wind or water.
2. Sedimentation: is the accumulation of sediment, such as mud, sand or eroded rocks.
Causes of erosion
The most important agents of erosion are temperature, water, wind and human beings.
Vocabulary
It´s worked in the unit with all the definitions about the relief.
Activities
1. Which human activities have a positive effect on landscapes? Why?
2. Which human activities have a negative effect? Why?
3. Look a map and find:
a) The highest mountain range in the world.
b) The highest mountain range in the southern hemisphere.
c) A peninsula in North America.
d) A large plateau in Asia.
e) An archipelago.
f)
A gulf
Objectives:
1. To be able to define different kind of relief.
2. To understand the composition of the Earth.
3. To know how the erosion transform the relief.