World Geography 3202

Unit #1

Land & Water Forms

Planet Earth is Dynamic!

• It behaves like a living organism.

• Internal forces: heat, pressure and continental

movements

• External forces: Wind, water, volcanoes

• Some changes are rapid

• Volcanic Eruptions

• Other changes occur at a nearly unnoticeable pace

• Mountain building and continental movement

Topography

• Topography is a general term referring to

the surface features of the earth like hills,

mountains, valleys and other relief

features.

• Your book defines it as " the natural and

human features of the earth's surface".

Terms

• Elevation: Height above sea level

• Relief: Change in elevation over a given

distance

Hills vs. Mountains

• Hills elevation < 300 -600 M • Isolated Features

• Mountains elevation > 300-600 m• Most occur in ranges

Plains vs. Plateaus

• Both are similar in that they are gently sloping or

relatively broad flat regions of land.

• Like hills and mountains, plains & plateaus differ

based on elevation.

• Plains occur at low elevations along coasts &

central continent

• Plateaus occur at high altitudes and are

associated with mountains.

Land Form Patterns ….

• Most mountains & high elevations are

located on coasts of continents.

• Large Mountain Ranges along the West

coast of North & South America.

• How does the rocky mountain range affect

the climate of British Columbia?

The Andes- S.America

The Rocky Mountains

Tectonic Plate Boundaries

• Major mountain ranges coincide with tectonic

plate boundaries….the EDGE…where 2 plates

meet!!

• Rockies- N.A.

• Andes- S.A.

• Hymalayas - Asia

• Mid Atlantic Ridge

More About Topography

• Your Book Page 6-9