Land, Water, and ClimateLand, Water, and Climate

World GeographyWorld Geography

September 12, 2006September 12, 2006

LandformsLandforms

There are four main kinds of landforms, or There are four main kinds of landforms, or natural features of the earth’s surfacenatural features of the earth’s surface

MOUNTAINSMOUNTAINSHILLSHILLSPLATEAUSPLATEAUSPLAINSPLAINS

MountainsMountains

They are the highest They are the highest of the world’s of the world’s landforms. landforms.

They are at least They are at least 2,000 feet above sea 2,000 feet above sea levellevel

HillsHills

They rise from They rise from 500 to 2,000 feet 500 to 2,000 feet above sea levelabove sea level

Plateaus and PlainsPlateaus and Plains

Plateaus are raised areas of flat or almost Plateaus are raised areas of flat or almost flat land.flat land.

They can vary from 500 to 2,000 feet They can vary from 500 to 2,000 feet above sea levelabove sea level

Plains are large areas of flat or gently Plains are large areas of flat or gently rolling land.rolling land.

They are less than 1,000 feet above sea They are less than 1,000 feet above sea levellevel

Surface Changes From Inside of Surface Changes From Inside of the Earththe Earth

The land surface is constantly changingThe land surface is constantly changingHeat and pressure from inside of the earth Heat and pressure from inside of the earth

causes these changes.causes these changes.The earth is made up of the “core” of solid The earth is made up of the “core” of solid

and melted rockand melted rockThe next layer is the mantle, which is hot The next layer is the mantle, which is hot

solid rocksolid rockFloating on the mantle is the crust, which Floating on the mantle is the crust, which

is a thin layer of rock, sand and soilis a thin layer of rock, sand and soil

Surface Changes from Inside of the Surface Changes from Inside of the Earth continued…Earth continued…

As heat and pressure from the core As heat and pressure from the core causes the mantle to rise, this puts causes the mantle to rise, this puts pressure on the crust to movepressure on the crust to move

Scientists believe the earth moves in Scientists believe the earth moves in sections called tectonic platessections called tectonic plates

This explains continental driftThis explains continental drift

Tectonic PlatesTectonic Plates

It is plate movement that causes It is plate movement that causes volcanoes and earthquakesvolcanoes and earthquakes

They push against each other, pull apart, They push against each other, pull apart, and slide past one another livable and slide past one another livable

Tectonic plates are still movingTectonic plates are still moving

Tectonic platesTectonic plates