Types of Landforms
Mountains- Mountains are high above the surronding landscaope. When many mountains form together in one they are called mountains ranges. Mountains influence the weather, climate, vegetation and the pattern of human settlement.
Plains- are wide areas of level land. Plains are not always flat and they are not always on low elevations. Plains are very valuable land for farmers. Rivers bring water and other sediments down from mountains, and deposits that are called alluvium that settle in the plains.
Plateaus- wide areas of relatively flat land. They are like plains but they rise abruptly above surrounding lands. Generally have poor soil and few resources.
Bodies of Water
Oceans-Ninety–seven percent of the water is in the oceans. The four principal ocean basins in the world are: The Pacific, The Atlantic, The Indian and the Arctic oceans. The oceans flow into each other and are sometimes called the world ocean because if this.
Rivers- small streams flow into rives which then flow into larger rivers. Rivers that flow into larger rivers are called tributaries. The main river and all of its tributaries are called a river system. The greatest rivers are determined by the length, discharge, drainage area, and navigability.
Lakes are bodies of water that are fully enclosed by land. They are remnants of the Flood and ice age.
Seas- the arms of the ocean that are partially enclosed in by land. They vary in size and some seas have other seas inside of them. Sailors prefer to carry people and goods around on smaller seas. When the ship has arrived at its destination they need a safe place to anchor. A sheltered body of deep water next to the shore is called a harbor.
Vegetation
Forest-wherever trees are the predominant plant. There are four types of forest: tropical rain forest, shrub forest, coniferous forest, and deciduous forest. Tropical rain forests are in the tropics and there are many kinds of trees and animals. These forest are good for logging but not for farms. Shrub forests are in the mild Mediterranean climate. The summers are dry and do not provide enough rain for trees to grow tall. Coniferous forests grow in the cold, harsh, sub polar climates. Conifer trees are trees that produce their seeds in a cone. These trees grow in a coniferous forest. Deciduous trees lose their leaves during one specific season during the year. Most have broad leaves, require a lot of water, and grow for four months.
Grasslands- grasses grow and produce seeds quickly. There are two types of grasslands: tropical grasslands, and temperate grasslands. Tropical grasslands are also called savannas. They are open areas with only a few scattered trees. Some grass grows up to ten feet but the hot sun makes them very flammable. Temperate grasslands are also called steppes. They are found in places where rainfall is between ten and thirty inches per year. The soil is very fertile but the ground is very hard.
Wastelands are barren most of the year because of low amounts of precipitation. When it does snow or rain the wastelands are blooming with life. There are two types of wastelands: desserts and tundra. In the dessert two types of plants grow. Cacti conserve water and are the most common plant. Other plants live for a short period of time. They produce seeds and die quickly. Tundra is the cold regions near the poles. Only limited vegetation grows here. Some vegetation grows in the soggy soil; the rest of the soil is permafrost which remains frozen year round.