Mountains, Plateaus and Plains – Geography Basics

Mountains, Plateaus and Plains – Geography Basics

Mountains

The height of the mountains is over 600 m, and they have conical peaks. Based on origin, there are four types of mountains: Block Mountains, Residual Mountains, Accumulated Mountains, and Fold Mountains.

Block Mountains

• The middle part of such mountains is lower, and the parts on both sides are higher.

• The middle, lower portion is called the Rift Valley.

• The longest rift valley is the valley of the Jordan River.

Examples: Black Forest (Germany), Vindhyachal and Satpura (India), Salt Range (Pakistan).

Residual Mountains

• Such mountains are formed as a result of weathering.

Examples—Aravalli, Nilgiri, Parasnath, Hills of Rajmahal (India), Siera (Spain).

Accumulated Mountains

• These are formed due to the accumulation of sand, soil, rocks, lava, etc. on the Earth's Crust, e.g., Sand Dunes.

Fold Mountains

• These are formed because of the folds in the rocks due to internal motions of the Earth. These are wavelike mountains with numerous peaks and lows, e.g. Himalayas, the Ural, the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, etc.

Plateaus

Plateaus are extensive upland areas characterised by a flat and rough top surface and steep walls that rise above the neighbouring ground surface by at least 300 m.

Some Plateaus Have More Than Average Height

• Tibetan Plateau – 16,000 ft

• Bolivian Plateau – 11,800 ft

• Columbia Plateau – 7,800 ft

Generally, the height of a plateau ranges from 300 to 500 feet.

Types of Plateaus

• Intermountainous Plateaus: Formed between mountains. Example—Tibetan Plateau.

• Mountainstep Plateaus: The flat region between a plain and the base of a mountain.

• Continental Plateaus: Formed when the Lacolith inside the Earth comes to the surface due to weathering, e.g. Southern Plateau.

• Bank Plateaus: Plateaus on the banks of the oceans.

• Domelike Plateaus: Formed due to the movement of man and animals on the surface, e.g., Ramgarh Plateau.

Major Plateaus of the World

Plains

Plains can be defined as flat areas with low height (below 500 ft.)

Types of Plains:

• Weathered Plains: Formed due to weathering by rivers, glaciers, winds, etc.

• Loess Plains: Formed by the soil and sands brought by winds.

• Karst Plains: Formed due to the weathering of limestone.

• Eroded Plains: Plains near river banks are formed by river erosion.

• Glacial Plains: Marshy plains formed due to the deposition of ice.

• Desert Plains: Formed as a result of the flow of rivers.

• Deposition Plains: Large plains formed due to the silt brought by the rivers, e.g. plains of the Ganga, Sutlej, Mississippi, and the Hwang-Ho.

Forests

They are of the following types:

a. Tropical Evergreen Rain Forests:

• Found in equatorial and tropical regions with more than 200 cms annual rainfall. Trees have very wide leaves.

Examples—Redwood, Palm.

b. Tropical Semi-Deciduous Forests:

• Receive rainfall less than 150 cms.

Examples—Saagwan, Saal, Bamboo.

c. Temperate Mixed Forests:

• A mixture of trees and shrubs.

Examples—Corks, Oak.

d. Coniferous Forests or Taiga:

• Evergreen forests with straight trunks, conical shape, short branches, and needle-like leaves.

Examples—Pine, Fir.

e. Tundra Forests:

• Covered with snow.

• Only Mosses, Lichens, and a few shrubs grow in the summer

• Found in the northern hemisphere (Eurasia, North America, Greenland).

f. Mountainous Forests:

• Vegetation varies according to altitude.

[Note: India State of Forest Report 2019—See Page 141]

Pastures (or Grasslands)

They are divided into two types:

(i) Tropical Pastures and

(ii) Temperate Pastures.

(i) Tropical Pastures:

• Known by different names:

  • Savanna (Africa)

  • Campos (Brazil)

  • Lanos (Venezuela & Colombia)

(ii) Temperate Pastures:

• Known as the Prairies (USA & Canada)

• Pampas (Argentina)

• Veld (South Africa)

• Rangelands/Downs (Australia & New Zealand)

• Steppes (Eurasia – Ukraine, Russia)

Final Thoughts

Landforms such as mountains, plateaus, and plains shape the Earth’s surface and define its geographical diversity. Mountains, with their towering peaks, not only influence climate and water resources but also support unique ecosystems and human settlements.

Plateaus, often referred to as “tablelands,” are rich in minerals and serve as crucial agricultural and cultural hubs. Plains, on the other hand, provide fertile soil, making them the cradle of major civilizations and economic activities.

Understanding the types of landforms—like block, fold, and residual mountains, or weathered and depositional plains—helps us appreciate the processes shaping our planet over millions of years. These features highlight the dynamic nature of the Earth’s crust, driven by tectonic movements, erosion, and deposition.

For students, explorers, and exam aspirants, mastering the knowledge of landforms is key to understanding physical geography and human interactions with the environment.