LandformsMr. Perez
What is a landform?
A landform is a natural feature of the landscape or natural physical features of the Earth’s surface
Examples include: Valleys Plateaus Mountains Plains Hills Beaches Canyons
Deserts Rivers Straits Archipelago Peninsulas Swamps
Lanforms
Mountains
Mountains are formed when two plates converge or collide and begin to rise
Some times, mountains are formed by the process of weathering and erosion. Mountains are broken down by wind, water and
ice This causes the shape of the rock to change
Other times, mountains can be formed by volcanism Volcanism is any volcanic activity
Examples of Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Himalayan Mountains
AdirondackMountains
Plains
Plains are broad, nearly level stretches of land that have no great changes of elevation
Plains may be found along the coast or inland Coastal plains: generally rise from sea level until they
meet higher landforms such as mountains or plateaus Inland plains: may found at high altitudes
Flood plains are the floor of a river valley beyond the riverbed These are formed by mud, sand and silt that are
carried off by the river as it erodes the land upstream
Examples of Plains
Plateaus
Plateaus are large highland areas of fairly level land separated from surrounding land by steep slopes Some lie between mountain ranges Some are basaltic, forming from many lava
flows Other are formed by upwarped folding
Plateaus may also be formed due to eroding land Weathering and erosion take affect on the
upland, creating slopes
Examples of Plateaus
Island in the Sky- Utah
Kukenan Tepui- Venezuela
Tibetan Plateau
Florida Landforms
Florida consists of these major landforms:1. Beaches
2. Aquifers
3. Sinkholes
4. Caverns
5. Coastal plains
6. Upland (hilly areas)
7. Swampy Everglades
8. Florida Keys (archipelago)
(Peninsula)
Beaches
Beaches are formed by the constant battering of the ocean, wind and other natural conditions wear down the rock and other materials on shore
Aquifers & Sinkholes
Aquifers are bodies of permeable rock that can transmit or contain groundwater The major source of
ground water supply in Florida is the Floridan Aquifer System, which underlies the entire state
Sinkholes are natural draining systems formed by chemical weathering Limestone is dissolved,
forming sinkholes
Caverns
Caverns are natural underground spaces large enough for humans to enter
They form naturally by weathering of rock and often extend deep underground
Upland (hilly areas)
Upland, or hilly areas, are raised areas of land
In Florida, hilly areas are found in the northern panhandle and central part of the state.
Swampy Everglades
Swamps are types of freshwater wetlands that have spongy, muddy land and a lot of water. Many trees and shrubs grow in
swamps
Before humans began developing land in South Florida, almost 11,000 square miles was covered in the swampy Everglades
The Everglades is the only place where alligators and crocodiles can exist side by side (because of the salt and freshwater mix)
Florida Keys (archipelago)
An archipelago is a group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean.
Some archipelago are formed due to volcanic activity, while others can form due to weathering and erosion of land
The Florida Keys are an example of an archipelago
Optional Project (for those who would like to boost their project grade)
Create a 10-15 slide PowerPoint about 3 or more landforms following these guidelines:1. The first slide should include:
Name, Date due, period Name of Landforms included in your PowerPoint
2. Include the following information about your landforms: Description, how they are formed, picture(s), examples of
your landform on Earth
3. The last slide should include a list of websites or references of where you found information
4. Email your PowerPoint presentation to [email protected] by A: 1/11 B: 1/14 with “Landform Project” written in the subject line of your email
Sources
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/landforms.htm
Google Images
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/beaches.html
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp/aquifer.asp
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/geologictopics/sinkhole.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/landforms/glossary.shtml
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/evergladesforever/about/default.htm