LANDFORMS OF THE EARTH

STD VIII
1) What do you understand by the term geomorphology?
A) Geomorphology is the systematic study of the Earths relief features. Geo
means earth; morph meaning form and ology is science.
2) What are referred to as orogenic movements?
A) The word Orogeny has been derived from the Greek word 'Oros' meaning
Mountain. The orogenic movements are due to the horizontal forces in the
earths crust that lead to the formation of mountains.
3) Name some of the mountain building periods of the recent times.
A) The three most recent orogenics are the:
Caledonian Period:
It occurred about 320 million years ago.
It raised the mountains of Scotland and Scandinavia.
Hercynian Period:
It occurred about 240 million years ago.
It was characterized by ranges such as the Ural Mountains, The Penines and the
Welsh Highlands of Britain, the Harz Mountains in Germany and the
Appalachians of America.
Alpine Period:
It took place about 30 million years ago.
Being the most recent, these young fold mountains buckled up and were
overthrust on a gigantic scale, making the loftiest and most imposing ranges.
Their peaks are several thousand metres high.
The most recently formed Fold Mountains consist of the Alps, Himalayas,
Rockies and Andes and they are termed as Alpine system.
4) What do you understand by the term Fold Mountains?
A) The term fold refers to the way in which these mountains were formed.
They are formed due to horizontal movements, which cause the Earths crust to
wrinkle or shrink.
The upfolds are called the anticlines and the downfolds formed the
synclines.
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5) Name and explain the formation of some of the Fold Mountains.

A) Some of the examples of the Fold Mountains are:
The Alps were formed as a result of the northward drift of the African
continent towards the more stable blocks of Central Europe. The uplift of the
Alps was accompanied by the trough in which the Mediterranean Sea is
located.
The Himalayas were formed when the Deccan Plateau was pushed towards
the north and the depression of the Indo-Gangetic trough became narrower.
Formation of Fold Mountains

Formation of Block Mountains or Horsts

6) Name the worlds highest and the second largest mountain ranges.
A) The Himalayas are the worlds highest and the largest mountains, stretching
across mid-Asia with 281 peaks.
The worlds second largest range is the Andes.

7) How are the Old Fold Mountains different from the young fold mountains?
A)
Old Fold Mountains
Young Fold Mountains
These have been formed about 250
These have formed in the most recent
million years ago.
mountain building phase, that is about
25 million years ago.
These mountain ranges have a low
They are some of the worlds highest
altitude and have gentle slopes
mountain ranges with rugged relief
because they have been subjected to
features because they have been
denudation for millions of years.
subjected to denudation for a
comparatively short period only.
8) Mention some of the features of the Young Fold Mountains.
A) The following are the characteristics of the young fold mountains:
They have series of parallel ranges with deep valleys between and high peaks
covered with snow.
They have intermontane plateaus in some places.
As they are areas of crustal instability, they are liable to earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions.
They have several glaciers and attract tourists.
9) Account for the distribution of Fold Mountains in the world.
A) The Fold Mountains are concentrated in two belts of the world:
1) Circum-Pacific Mountain Belt:
It is found along the margins of the Pacific Ocean.
These include the Andes ranges of South America, the Rockies of North
America and the series of the island arcs off the coast of North America.
2) Mid-World Mountain Belt:
These include the Alps and the associated ranges in Europe, the Caucasus and
other ranges in Asian Russia, the mountain ranges in Turkey and Iran which
converge on the Pamir knot. They are continued by the Himalayas and the
associated ranges and merge with the mountain ranges in the Indonesian
islands.
10) State the role of mountains.
A) The Mountain ranges have the following significance:
Mountains are effective climatic barriers that protect countries from bitterly
cold winds, e.g. Himalayas.
They have great economic significance, as swift flowing rivers can be
harnessed for generating HEP, lumbering can be carried out as done in British
Columbia and cattle rearing can be done as done in Switzerland and
Scandinavia.
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 High mountain ranges are barriers to communication and thus crossing it was
a great difficulty and could be done only by constructing tunnels. E.g. Alps.
11) How are Block Mountains and Rift Valleys formed?
A) Block Mountains or Horsts are formed when tectonic plates move away causing
the surface of the Earth to crack apart.
These cracks cause faulting and may result in a mas of land being pushed up
between parallel cracks to form a block or by sinking of land on either side of
the block of higher land.
12) a) State the characteristics of Block Mountains or Horsts?
A) These Mountain blocks are generally steep-sided and flat-topped.
b) Provide a few examples of the same.
A) The Black Forest and the Vosages of the Rhineland in Germany.
The Vindhya and the Satpura ranges in India
13) a) How are Rift Valleys formed?
A) When tensional forces cause the central portion to be let down between two
adjacent fault
blocks. Then a graben or a rift valley is formed.
They have steep sides.
b) Provide a few examples of Rift Valleys.
A) The Rift Valley of Rhine lies between the Black forest and the Vosges Rifts.
The Rift Valley of Narmada lies between Vindhya and the Satpura.
14)
A)

What are volcanic mountains? What are they also referred to as?
These mountains are the result of the accumulation of volcanic material
ejected from the fissures of the Earths crust.
They are also referred to as mountains of accumulation.

15)
A)

Provide a few examples of volcanic mountains.

Most of the mountains in the Circum-Pacific belt, such as Fujiyama in Japan,
Mt. Mayon in Philippines, Mt. Merapi in Sumatra, and Mt. Cotopaxi in
Ecuador etc.

16)
A)

Name the various types of plateaus and provide a few examples for the same.
The following are the various types of plateaus:
Tectonic Plateau:
These types of plateaus are formed due to Earth movements. For e.g. Meseta
of Iberia.

Intermont Plateau:
They are enclosed by Fold Mountains. They are usually very high, for e.g. the
Tibetan Plateau lying between the Kunluns and the Himalayas.
The Anatolian Plateau between the Pontic and Taurus mountains, the Plateau
of Bolivia and Peru surrounded by the Great Andes Mountains.
Volcanic Plateau:
These are formed when successive sheets of lava solidify on it. For e.g.
Columbia-Snake Plateau and the Deccan Plateau.
Dissected Plateau:
These plateaus, due to steam action, volcanic ejection of lava, corrosion by
rivers and abrasion by winds, are dissected into steep sided tabular masses.
For e.g. Brazilian Plateau and Colorado Plateau.
17)
A)

What do you understand by the term plain?

A plain is comparatively level surface of land at low elevation from the sea,
less than 150 m above the sea level.

18)

Name and explain the various types of plains found on the surface of the
Earth.
Various types of plains are:
Coastal plains:

A)

Western Coastal
Plain

Eastern Coastal
Plains

These are found along the coastal areas. For e.g. The Great Plains of USA, the
Eastern and the Western Coastal Plains of India.
Loess Plains:
These are formed by material brought by winds and deposited. For e.g. The
Loess plains in China.
Alluvial Plains:
These are formed by deposits brought down and deposited by rivers. For e.g.
the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

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