What are Landforms?

What are landforms? Landforms are the natural shapes or features of Earth.

landforms There are many different types of landforms found on the earth. These landforms help make up the Earth’s physical geography.

mountain A mountain is a place on Earth’s surface that is much higher than the land around it.                                       Mount Everest, Himalayas

valley                                            A valley is a lowland area between higher lands such as mountains.                 Kualoa Valley, Oahu

canyon A canyon is a deep valley with very steep sides.                                                          Grand Canyon, Arizona

plain A plain is a flat area on Earth’s surface. Plains in Kansas

plateau A plateau is a flat area higher than the land around it. Canyonlands National Park, Utah

island An island is land that is completely surrounded by water. Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

lake A lake is water that is completely surrounded by land. Heaven Crater Lake, North Korea

ocean Oceans are the largest bodies of water on earth.

coast A coast is the area where the ocean touches the land. Outer Banks, North Carolina

desert A desert is a hot dry place with little or no rainfall. Gobi Desert, Asia

river A river is a long flowing body of water. River Thames, England

waterfall A cascade of water falling from a height, formed when a river or stream flows over a steep incline. Yosemite Falls, California

volcano A mountain or hill, typically conical, that has a vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor and gas erupt from the Earth’s crust. Krakatoa, Indonesia

peninsula a piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water. Cape Peninsula, South Africa

bay a broad inlet of the sea where land curves inward. San Francisco Bay, California

cliff a steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea. White Cliffs of Dover, England