Land formation
One fourth of the surface of the earth is covered by land which is not similar in all the areas globally. Land in certain area would be too high while it is too low in other areas. Vegetation cover is different in all areas with some areas having green cover while others are even dry. Some areas too lack the cover and remain barren as a result of natural and anthropogenic activities (Rana, 2009). The earth is covered with green vegetation and full of physical features which makes it beautiful. The physical features form different land forms on the earth’s surface and they control the environment in terms of climate and weather. The different landforms came into existence as a result of various natural processes such as rainfall, wind, chemical reactions and different types of erosion. The shapes of the lands were created by some natural disasters such as earthquakes and eruptions especially of different volcanoes (Rana, 2009). Examples of the landforms include mountains, valleys, hills, deserts and plains which all together form different physical features which ensure the earth remains beautiful.
Mountains are examples of the land reforms and are the highest on the earth’s surface. Mountains are conically shaped and are pointed at the top or rather the peak and have steep sides. Mountains compared to other surrounding have high points and most are covered by snow. Mount Everest for instance is the known largest mountain with the highest pick while mount Himalayas is the known mountain with the highest mountain range (Rana, 2009). However they are some mountains found beneath the sea and could even be higher than the known mountains at the surface of the earth. Mountains are divided into three namely volcanic, block and Fold Mountains which have different features and sizes. Mountains have different features since there are mountains that remain cold throughout the year regardless of the season thus do not support much vegetation. However different plants and animals have adaptations that ensure they survive in these mountains regardless of the harsh weather conditions. Examples of such animals include the mountain puma and the leopard snow which have thick far that enable them survive in those harsh weather conditions.
Hills are unlike mountains since they are lower than the mountains but higher compared to their surroundings. Many hills together form range of hills and the vegetation cover present is usually grass. The type of climate found in hills is friendly compared to the one found in those snow mountains where animals and plants are unlikely to survive except those with special adaptations (Rana, 2009). Most hills have pleasant climates and are usually visited by tourists thus are tourist attraction sites. Vegetation in the hills is beautiful and thick thus cultivation of crop is possible since the weather conditions are favorable.
Valleys are low areas which occur between the mountains and valleys. They are formed as a result of erosion taking place especially where rivers flow thus forming out v shaped features which are known as valleys (Rana, 2009). They can either be u or v shaped depending on the deepening of the erosion and the width. The weather is favorable in the valleys thus people live and cultivate in the valleys since the weather is conducive. Water flowing enables people cultivate their land since the land is fertile thus support vegetation (Rana, 2009). Vegetations cover is thick and green in and along the valleys thus ensuring that valleys look beatutful and attractive and people live in the valleys. Valleys are centers of tourist attraction since they are favorable and have beautiful vegetation. However they are steep valleys which are found in smaller mountains.
Plateaus are basically tableland and are flat areas with steep sides. They are surrounded by cliffs while others lie between mountain ranges (Rana, 2009). Some plateaus support cultivation since they are fertile though not all the crops can grow in the plateaus. Plateaus form when magma is pushed at the earth’s surface and that magma fails to break therefore coming up on the earth’s crust to form the plateau. Plains just like the plateaus are flat areas. Plains are different since there are coastal plains found at the coastal areas while those found along the rivers are known as river plains (Rana, 2009). The river plains are fertile places which support crops growth thus most farmers love the river plains since they have favorable weather conditions that support cultivation. Big cities are usually located along the plains since they are easier to construct houses, roads and other structures. The plains are densely populated since they are favorable. Islands are part of the landforms and are beautiful and surrounded with water on all the sides. Deserts too are large areas which are hot and dry and receive little rainfall throughout the year. The weather conditions in the deserts are harsh since they do not support cultivation of crops since the soils are infertile (Rana, 2009). The soils in the desert are sand soils which do not support farming thus the main vegetation is usually baobab and cacti which are adapted to survive in the deserts.
References
Rana, S. V. S. (2009). Essentials of ecology and environmental science. New Delhi: PHI Learning.
