Landforms and their evolution Flashcards
Running Water: Erosional Landforms
Valleys: V-shaped in youth stage, U-shaped in glacial regions (e.g., Kashmir Valley). Gorges: Deep, narrow valleys (e.g., Indus Gorge). Canyons: Wider valleys with steep sides (e.g., Grand Canyon for global context). Potholes & Plunge Pools: Common in Himalayan rivers like the Ganga. Waterfalls: Jog Falls on the Sharavathi River. River Terraces: Represent past river levels, useful for understanding landscape evolution.
Running Water: Depositional Landforms
Alluvial Fans: Found at foothills, like those of the Kosi River. Brahmaputra Deltas: Largest river delta, critical for biodiversity and human settlements. Floodplains: Crucial for agriculture (e.g., Indo-Gangetic Plains). Ox-bow Lakes: Common in mature rivers like the Ganga. Natural Levees: Natural embankments reducing flood risk but prone to breaches.
Groundwater: Erosional Landforms
Karst Topography: Limestone landscapes, e.g., Meghalaya’s caves. Sinkholes & Dolines: Form in limestone regions. Caves & Caverns: Example: Borra Caves in Andhra Pradesh. Lapies: Grooved limestone surfaces due to dissolution.
Groundwater: Depositional Landforms
Stalactites & Stalagmites: Form through calcium carbonate deposition in caves. Travertine Terraces: Formed from mineral-rich water, showcasing slow chemical processes.
Glaciers: Erosional Landforms
Cirques, Horns, Aretes: Seen in high-altitude regions like Himachal Pradesh. U-shaped Valleys: Formed by glaciers (e.g., Spiti Valley). Hanging Valleys: Lead to spectacular waterfalls, e.g., Valley of Flowers region.
Glaciers: Depositional Landforms
Moraines: Common in Himalayan glaciers (e.g., Gangotri Glacier). Eskers & Drumlins: Less common in India but important globally. Outwash Plains: Formed by meltwater, showing how glaciers shape landscapes.
Waves and Currents: Erosional Landforms
Cliffs: Found along the Konkan coast. Wave-cut Platforms: Carved by waves, showing marine erosion. Sea Arches & Stacks: Natural rock features from long-term wave action (e.g., Neil Island, Andaman).
Waves and Currents: Depositional Landforms
Beaches: Marina Beach, Kovalam, and Radhanagar Beach in the Andamans. Spits & Bars: Chilika Lake, separated by a sand bar. Lagoons: Kerala backwaters, formed by coastal deposition. Tombolos: Rare, but good to know for conceptual understanding.
Wind: Erosional Landforms
Deflation Hollows: Formed by wind removing loose material (e.g., Thar Desert). Yardangs & Ventifacts: Sculpted by wind abrasion, showing aeolian processes.
Wind: Depositional Landforms
Sand Dunes: Barchans and longitudinal dunes in Rajasthan. Loess Deposits: Less prominent in India, but important globally (e.g., China’s Loess Plateau).
Mass Wasting Processes
Soil Creep: Slow downhill movement of soil, affecting slope stability. Landslides: Common in the Himalayas and Western Ghats, linked to monsoons and deforestation. Slumps & Rockfalls: Common in hilly areas, affecting settlements and infrastructure.
Volcanic Landforms (Intrusive & Extrusive)
Shield Volcanoes: Not in India, but useful for global context (e.g., Mauna Loa). Composite Volcanoes: E.g., Barren Island in the Andamans. Calderas: Deccan Traps originated from massive volcanic activity. Batholiths & Laccoliths: Found in the Himalayas, influencing mountain-building.
Tectonic Landforms
Fold Mountains: Himalayas (young fold mountains). Block Mountains: Vindhyas and Satpuras. Rift Valleys: Narmada and Tapi valleys, formed due to faulting. Horsts & Grabens: Found in the Peninsular region, shaping terrain features.
Coastal Landforms in India
Estuaries: Narmada and Tapi rivers, where freshwater meets the sea. Mudflats & Mangroves: Sundarbans, a critical ecosystem for biodiversity. Chilika Lake: Largest coastal lagoon, vital for ecology and livelihoods.
Fluvial Landforms (River-based)
Deltaic Plains: Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. Meanders: Seen in the middle and lower courses of rivers. Inselbergs: Isolated hills, e.g., those in Karnataka.
Desert Landforms
Ergs & Regs: Sandy and rocky desert areas. Playas: Seasonal lakes in arid regions (e.g., Rann of Kutch). Pediments & Bajadas: Sloping plains at the base of mountains, shaped by wind and water.
Lacustrine (Lake) Landforms
Oxbow Lakes: Common in floodplains. Tectonic Lakes: Wular Lake in Kashmir. Volcanic Lakes: Lonar Lake in Maharashtra. Glacial Lakes: Roopkund Lake in Uttarakhand.
