NOTES – Major Landforms on the Earth:

1. Explain the types of plateaus on the basis of their geographical location

and structure of rocks.

Intermontane Piedmont Continental

The plateaus which The plateaus that are These are formed either by
are enclosed situated at the foot of the uplifting a huge
between mountains and have a landmass or by the spread of
mountains are the plain or an ocean on the lava.
inter-montane other side are called
plateaus. piedmont plateaus.
Eg: The Plateau of Eg: The plateau of Malwa The Siberian shield and
Colorado Canadian Shield and
Brazilian Shield

2. Plateaus are extremely useful to the mankind. How?

 Most minerals in the world are found in the plateaus and can be
extracted easily.
 Waterfalls are formed when rivers fall down the edges of plateaus.
These waterfalls are used to generate hydel-power.
 The higher parts of the plateaus have cool climate which attracts
human settlement.
 Plateaus have large grassland areas suitable for animal-rearing
specially sheep, goat and cattle.
3. The plains have influenced the human life. Justify the statement.
 Fertile soil and flat surface of plains help in agriculture and hence are
often called as ‘food baskets of the world’.
 The even surface favours the building of roads, airports and laying
down of railway lines at ease.
 The major civilizations of the world have flourished in the plains.
Hence, they are known as the cradles of civilization.
 Many cities and towns are built here because of proper transport,
scope for agriculture and industries.

4. All the landforms utilized wisely, otherwise they cause harm. Justify
with examples.
 People who live on steep slopes or at the bases of mountains can be
subjected to landslides after heavy rains.
 People living on plains near the river banks are subjected to floods.
 Volcanic eruption, earthquakes, storms are a few other examples that
causes destruction.