Chapter 3: Landforms and Life
The Earth's surface has high mountains, flat-topped plateaus and wide plains. In this chapter we explore each landform, find out how it shapes the way people live, and see how people adapt to it.
In this chapter you will
- tell mountains, plateaus and plains apart
- explain how plains are formed
- describe how people adapt to each landform
Topics
- Mountains NCERT 3.1
Mountains are high, steep landforms; ranges are chains of mountains.
- Plateaus NCERT 3.2
A plateau is high land with a flat top, like the Deccan Plateau.
- Plains NCERT 3.3
Plains are flat, low lands, mostly built by rivers spreading silt.
Key words
- Landform
- a natural shape of the Earth's surface
- Mountain
- high land with steep slopes and a peak
- Plateau
- high land with a flat top
- Plain
- flat, low land, often made by rivers
- Silt
- fine soil carried and dropped by rivers
Summary
- Mountains are high and steep; the Himalayas are the highest range.
- Plateaus are high and flat-topped, often rich in minerals.
- Plains are flat and fertile, built by river silt, and crowded with people.
- People adapt their farming, homes and work to the landform they live on.