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LANDFORMS
LANDFORM
Mountain: very tall high,
natural place on Earth –
higher than a hill
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LANDFORM
Valley: a low place between
mountains
River Valley: a low place between
mountains with a river running
through it.
Plateau: a large, flat area of
land that is higher than the
surrounding land
Ocean: a large body of salt water
that surrounds a continent. Oceans
cover more the two-thirds of the
Earth's surface
Sea: Large body of salt water that
may be surrounded by land on
most or all sides
Desert: a region that gets
less than ten inches of
precipitation per year.
Peninsula: a body of land
that is surrounded by water
on three sides.
Island: a piece of land that is
surrounded by water on all sides
Archipelago: A chain of islands
formed tectonically (Volcanoes
erupting in the ocean forming new
land. Ex. Hawaii
Bay: a body of water that is partly
enclosed by land and is usually
smaller than a gulf.
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Lake: a large body of water
surrounded by land on all
sides. Really large lakes are
often called seas.
Sea: A sea is a large body of salty
water that is often connected to an
ocean. A sea may be partly or
completely surrounded by land.
Glacier: a huge sheet of ice
that moves and shapes the
land
Delta: A landform that is formed at the
mouth of a river where that river flows
into a larger body of water like an ocean,
sea or gulf in the shape of the upper-case
Greek letter Delta: Δ. Deltas are formed
from the deposition of the sediment
carried by the river as the flow leaves the
mouth of the river.
Isthmus: a narrow strip of
land connecting two larger
areas of land.
Canyon: A deep narrow valley with
steep sides
*A
land bridge
Strait: a small area of water
that separates two land
masses
River: a large, flowing body of
water that usually
empties into a sea or ocean
HOW LANDFORMS ARE MADE
Land forms are vast and diverse and so are the process that form them. For example, plateaus are raised areas of land with a flatter top. It differs
from a mountain in that a mountain has a jagged peak at the top. Plateaus form when mountain tops are eroded by water or glaciers or when the
Earth’s crust is push upward by magma making the ground swell upward.
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Dome Mountains: Dome mountains are formed when the hot magma rises from the mantle and uplifts the overlying sedimentary layer of
the Earth's crust. In the process, the magma is not erupted, but it cools down and forms the core of the mountain. Example of dome
mountain is the Navajo Mountain in Utah. They are called dome mountains due to their appearance that resembles dome shape.
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Volcanic Mountains: Volcanic mountains are formed due to volcanic eruptions, for e.g. Mount Fuji (Japan). They are formed when
volcanic magma erupts and piles up on the surface of the Earth.
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Fault-Block Mountains: As the name suggests, fault mountains or fault-block mountains are formed when blocks of rock materials slide
along faults in the Earth's crust.
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Fold Mountains: Fold mountains are the most common type of mountains. Examples of fold mountains are the Himalayas (Asia), the
Alps (Europe). They are formed due to collision of two plates, causing folding of the Earth's crust. The fold that descends on both sides is
called anticline; whereas, the fold that ascends from a common low point (on both sides) is called syncline.
FUN FACTS
Dessert regions are very different than any other region on the earth. Most people think that all deserts are HOT but as geographers we know that
is not the case. The definition of a desert is that it receives less than 10 inches of precipitation per year. Precipitation is just a fancy term for
water falling from the sky it could be in the form of rain, sleet, snow or hail. So remember, deserts are not always hot but they are always arid.
Islands isolate groups of people. The culture of people on islands is therefore often very unique because they develop free of outside influence.
Some of the most unique cultures in the world are found on islands of Hawaii, Indonesia, Australia, Madagascar, Malaysia and New Zealand.
HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT - Landforms have greatly influenced humans in a variety of ways.
RIVER VALLEYS
The land near rivers and river valleys have been the birth place of civilizations for thousands of years. Rivers served as a gathering place for
humans for many reasons. Rivers provide a steady supply of drinking water. They also make the land fertile for growing crops. Moreover, goods
and people could be transported easily, and the people in these civilizations could hunt the animals that came to drink water. Fish from the rivers
also served as a food sources for the people in surrounding areas.
MOUNTAIN RANGES
Mountain ranges effected humans in a much different way. Mountain ranges served as barriers to human movement. If mountains were too high
people were unable to cross from one side to the other. Groups of people on opposite sides of a mountain range never met or shared their culture.
Mountains could also serve as protection from invaders or attack.
ISTHMUS OR STRAIT
An isthmus, or narrow piece of land connecting two larger pieces of land was very helpful for humans who wanted to migrate or move from one
location to another by land. A strait allowed humans traveling by boat to move easily from one body of water to another.
The rise and fall of global sea levels exposed and submerged the bridging land mass joining North America and Asia turning an isthmus into a
strait and vice versa. The Bering land bridge (Isthmus) has a particular significance as a possible route of human migration to the Americas from
Asia. Scientists believe this migration took place between 12,000 and 20,000 years ago. Scientists have found unique genetic material or DNA in
human remains in North and South America. This genetic material has similar and unique characteristics to DNA found in Asia. Scientists
believe this proves that the first humans in the Americas actually migrated from Asia. Scientists believe they have found conclusive evidence to
support the theory that humans migrated from Asia to North America using a land bridge in the form of DNA.
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Identify 2 ways plateaus are formed? ______________________________________________________________________________
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What is the most common type of mountain? What is an example of a mountain range formed due to plate collision? ___________
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Are all deserts hot? Explain your answer keeping in mind the definition of a desert. What does arid mean? ___________________
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Why are island cultures unique and different? _______________________________________________________________________
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Identify 4 reasons early civilizations developed near river valleys. ______________________________________________________
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How can a straight aide human movement? ________________________________________________________________________
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What evidence have scientists found that humans used a land bridge or isthmus to cross from Asia to The Americas? __________
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