Geography: Landforms and Features

Mountains

• Definition: Natural elevations of the Earth's surface, usually higher than 300 meters
• Types:
  • Fold mountains (e.g., Himalayas, Rocky Mountains)
  • Volcanic mountains (e.g., Mount Fuji, Mount St. Helens)
  • Block mountains (e.g., Sierra Nevada, Rhine Valley)
• Features:
  • Peaks, ridges, and valleys
  • Weathering and erosion shape mountains over time
  • Supports diverse ecosystems and climates

Volcanoes

• Definition: Landforms that occur when magma from the Earth's interior rises to the surface
• Types:
  • Shield volcanoes (e.g., Hawaiian Islands)
  • Composite volcanoes (e.g., Mount St. Helens, Mount Fuji)
  • Cinder cones (e.g., Paricutin, Mexico)
• Features:
  • Crater, vent, and lava flows
  • Eruptions can be explosive or effusive
  • Creates new land and changes surrounding landscape

Deltas

• Definition: Landforms that form at the mouth of a river, where sediment deposits accumulate
• Types:
  • Arcuate deltas (e.g., Nile River Delta)
  • Bird's foot deltas (e.g., Mississippi River Delta)
  • Cuspate deltas (e.g., Ebro River Delta)
• Features:
  • Network of distributaries and wetlands
  • Rich soil and biodiversity
  • Often densely populated and economically important

Islands

• Definition: Landforms surrounded by water on all sides
• Types:
  • Continental islands (e.g., Great Britain, Long Island)
  • Oceanic islands (e.g., Hawaii, Iceland)
  • Coral islands (e.g., Maldives, Bahamas)
• Features:
  • Unique ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Often isolated and vulnerable to climate change
  • Can be formed by volcanic activity, tectonic uplift, or erosion

Plateaus

• Definition: Elevated regions of relatively flat land, often with steep edges
• Types:
  • Volcanic plateaus (e.g., Columbia River Basalt Plateau)
  • Structural plateaus (e.g., Deccan Plateau, India)
  • Denudational plateaus (e.g., Appalachian Plateau)
• Features:
  • Flat or gently sloping terrain
  • Often formed by volcanic activity, tectonic uplift, or erosion
  • Can have diverse ecosystems and land uses

세계적인 산지지형 (Global Mountain Landforms)

• Overview: Mountains cover about 24% of the Earth's land surface
• Importance:
  • Supports biodiversity and ecosystem services
  • Influences global climate and weather patterns
  • Provides natural resources and recreational opportunities