1. Chapter at a Glance
Travel by road from the Chhota Nagpur region of Jharkhand to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh and then up to Almora in Uttarakhand, and the land around you keeps changing — rocky uplands, then flat green fields, then high mountains. These shapes of the land are called landforms. They form over millions of years and decide the climate, plants, animals and the way people live. This chapter studies the three main landforms — mountains, plateaus and plains — plus deserts, and the opportunities and challenges each offers.
- What a landform is; the three main types.
- Mountains: ranges, famous peaks, young and old mountains, mountain life and hazards.
- Plateaus: “storehouses of minerals”, waterfalls, the Tibetan and Deccan plateaus.
- Plains: river-made fertile land, the Ganga plain, rivers and culture.
- Deserts and the five tiṇais of Tamil Sangam poetry.
2. Mountains
A mountain rises much higher than the land around it. It has a broad base, steep slopes and a narrow top (summit). Lower, gentler highlands with rounded tops are called hills. Very high mountains stay snow-capped all year; on lower slopes, snow melts each summer and feeds rivers. Most mountains are grouped in long ranges — the Himalayas (Asia), the Alps (Europe), the Andes (South America).
| Peak | Range / location | Approx. height |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Everest | Himalayas; Nepal–Tibet (China) border | 8,849 m (highest in the world) |
| Kanchenjunga | Himalayas; Nepal–Sikkim (India) border | 8,586 m |
| Aconcagua | Andes; South America | 6,961 m |
| Kilimanjaro | Isolated mountain in East Africa | 5,895 m |
| Mont Blanc | Alps; Western Europe | about 4,806 m |
| Anamudi (Anai Peak) | Kerala; highest in South India | 2,695 m |
Young and old mountains: tall, sharp-peaked mountains like the Himalayas are “young” (formed relatively recently — still millions of years ago) and are still rising. Low, rounded mountains like the Aravallis are very old and worn down by erosion.
Mountain environment and life
- Slopes carry montane forests of conifers — pine, fir, spruce and deodar — tall, cone-shaped trees with needle-like leaves. Higher up, only grasses, mosses and lichens grow.
- Animals include the snow leopard, yak, ibex, Himalayan tahr, black bear, golden eagle and mountain hare.
- Farming is difficult on steep, rugged land, so people cut steps into slopes — terrace farming. Herding animals is common.
- Tourism (scenery, skiing, trekking, paragliding) and pilgrimage give income, but too many visitors harm the fragile environment.
- Hazards: landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, flash floods, heavy snowfall and extreme cold.
Everest is called Chomolungma (“Mother Goddess of the World”) by Tibetans and Sagarmatha by Nepalis. Mount Kailash is sacred to followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon. The poet Kālidāsa began his poem Kumārasambhava by praising the Himalaya as the “Lord of mountains”. Bachendri Pal became the first Indian woman to climb Everest (1984); Arunima Sinha, who lost a leg in an accident, climbed Everest in 2013.
3. Plateaus
A plateau is raised land with a more or less flat top, and at least one steep side. Its height can be a few hundred to several thousand metres.
- The Tibetan Plateau, with an average height of about 4,500 m, is the largest and highest plateau — the “Roof of the World”.
- The Deccan Plateau of central and south India is one of the oldest plateaus, formed by volcanic activity; lava plateaus often have fertile black soil.
- Plateaus are “storehouses of minerals”. The Chhota Nagpur Plateau has iron, coal and manganese; the East African Plateau is famous for gold and diamonds.
- Many plateaus have rocky, less fertile soil, but spectacular waterfalls — Hundru Falls (Subarnarekha River, Chhota Nagpur), Jog Falls (Sharavati River, Western Ghats), Nohkalikai Falls (about 340 m, near Cherrapunji, Meghalaya), Victoria Falls (Zambezi, Africa).
4. Plains
Plains are wide stretches of flat or gently sloping land, generally not more than 300 m above sea level. Most are made by rivers: rivers carry sediments (rock bits, sand and silt) from mountains and deposit them on lower land, forming fertile floodplains.
- The first civilisations grew in river plains, and even today a large share of the world's people live in plains.
- About 40 crore people — more than one-fourth of India's population — live in the Ganga plain.
- Crops: rice, wheat, maize, barley, millets; fibre crops such as cotton and jute. Farming has moved from rain-fed to irrigation by canals and groundwater pumps, which has raised output but also reduced groundwater.
- Gentle slopes make river transport easy; boats are still used on the Ganga.
- Problems: very high population, pollution, falling groundwater, floods.
- River sources and confluences (meeting points of rivers) are often sacred; many festivals are held there.
The Ganga (about 2,500 km long) rises in the Himalayas; tributaries like the Yamuna and Ghaghara also come from the Himalayas, while the Son comes from the south.
5. Deserts and the Tiṇais
Deserts are large dry areas with very little rain and special plants and animals. Some are hot (Sahara in Africa, Thar in north-western India), others cold (Gobi in Asia, Ladakh). People of the Thar have rich folk songs and legends.
Ancient Tamil Sangam poetry divided land into five tiṇais (landscapes), each with its own way of life:
| Tiṇai | Landscape | Main occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Kuriñji | Mountains | Hunting and gathering |
| Mullai | Grasslands and forests | Cattle rearing |
| Marudam | Fertile plains | Farming |
| Neydal | Coast | Fishing and seafaring |
| Pālai | Dry, desert-like land | Travelling and fighting |
Human life in all these landforms shows our resilience — the ability to adapt to and overcome difficulties.
6. Master Table: Key Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Landform | A natural physical feature of the Earth's surface |
| Altitude | Height above sea level |
| Precipitation | Rain, snow or hail falling from the atmosphere |
| Terrace farming | Farming on steps cut into hill slopes |
| Montane forest | Forest of mountain regions (conifers) |
| Sediments | Rock bits, sand and silt carried by rivers |
| Confluence | Meeting point of two or more rivers |
| Avalanche / landslide | Sudden fall of snow/ice / of earth and rock |
| Cloudburst | Sudden, violent rainstorm over a small area |
7. Master Summary Table
| Feature | Mountains | Plateaus | Plains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | High, steep, narrow top | Raised, flat top, steep sides | Flat, low (<300 m) |
| Example | Himalayas, Aravallis | Deccan, Chhota Nagpur, Tibetan | Ganga plain |
| Resources | Forests, water, tourism | Minerals, waterfalls | Fertile soil, water |
| Occupations | Herding, terrace farming, tourism | Mining, some farming | Farming, fishing, trade |
| Population | Sparse | Moderate | Dense |
| Challenges | Landslides, avalanches, cold | Rocky soil | Floods, crowding, falling groundwater |
Chart — heights of six famous mountains (metres, rounded):
8. Mind Map
- Young vs old
- Terraces, tourism, hazards
- Minerals
- Waterfalls
- River sediments
- Farming, dense population
- Hot: Thar, Sahara
- Cold: Gobi
- Sacred peaks, confluences
- Five tiṇais
9. Tips and Tricks
- M-P-P: Mountains (peak), Plateaus (plate — flat top), Plains (plain and low).
- “Storehouse of minerals” → plateau; “food bowl” → plain; “water towers” → mountains (snow feeds rivers).
- Young = sharp and tall (Himalayas); Old = low and rounded (Aravallis).
- Calling the Deccan a young plateau — it is one of the oldest.
- Writing that plains are high — they are generally below 300 m.
- Saying Kanchenjunga is in Tibet — it lies on the Nepal–Sikkim border.
10. Important One-liners
- Mountains, plateaus and plains are the three main landforms.
- Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
- Anamudi is the highest peak of South India.
- The Himalayas are young mountains; the Aravallis are old.
- Terrace farming is done on mountain slopes.
- The Tibetan Plateau is called the Roof of the World.
- Plateaus are called storehouses of minerals.
- Jog Falls is on the Sharavati River.
- About 40 crore people live in the Ganga plain.
- Bachendri Pal was the first Indian woman to climb Everest (1984).
11. Exam-pattern Questions with Detailed Answers
Which landform is called a “storehouse of minerals”?
- Plain
- Plateau
- Desert
- Valley
Show answer
Plateaus are rich in minerals such as iron, coal and manganese.
Answer: (B) Plateau
What is terrace farming? Where is it practised?
Show answer
Cultivation on flat steps cut into hill or mountain slopes; practised in mountain regions such as the Himalayas.
Answer: Step farming on slopes, in mountains
Name the highest peak of South India and the state it is in.
Show answer
Anamudi (Anai Peak), in Kerala.
Answer: Anamudi, Kerala
True or false with reason: “The Himalayas are young mountains with rounded tops.”
Show answer
False. The Himalayas are young, but they have tall, sharp peaks. Rounded tops belong to old, eroded mountains like the Aravallis.
Answer: False
Why are plains densely populated?
Show answer
Fertile river-deposited soil and water make farming easy; flat land helps build roads, railways and cities; rivers support transport and trade.
Answer: Fertile soil, water, easy transport and building
List three natural hazards faced by people living in mountains.
Show answer
Landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts and flash floods, heavy snowfall and extreme cold (any three).
Answer: Landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts
Name two waterfalls found on Indian plateaus with their rivers.
Show answer
Hundru Falls on the Subarnarekha (Chhota Nagpur Plateau); Jog Falls on the Sharavati (Western Ghats). Nohkalikai Falls near Cherrapunji is another.
Answer: Hundru (Subarnarekha), Jog (Sharavati)
Irrigation has increased crop production in the Ganga plain. What new challenge has it created? Suggest one solution.
Show answer
Heavy pumping of groundwater has lowered the water table (depletion). Solutions: drip and sprinkler irrigation, rainwater harvesting, growing less water-hungry crops.
Answer: Groundwater depletion; save water with efficient irrigation and harvesting
Tourism brings income to mountain people but also creates problems. Explain both sides.
Show answer
Benefits: jobs in hotels, transport, guiding; sale of local products. Problems: crowding, garbage, pollution, cutting of forests for buildings and roads, pressure on water — harming the fragile mountain environment. A balance is needed through limits and responsible tourism.
Answer: Income vs environmental damage; balance needed
Match each tiṇai with its main occupation: Kuriñji, Mullai, Marudam, Neydal.
Show answer
Kuriñji (mountains) — hunting and gathering; Mullai (forests/grasslands) — cattle rearing; Marudam (plains) — farming; Neydal (coast) — fishing and seafaring.
Answer: Hunting, cattle rearing, farming, fishing
On a journey from Chhota Nagpur to Prayagraj to Almora, which three landforms will you cross? Give one feature of each.
Show answer
Chhota Nagpur — plateau, rich in minerals like coal and iron. Prayagraj — Ganga plain, flat and fertile with dense population. Almora — mountains (Himalayas), with slopes, forests and terrace farming.
Answer: Plateau → plain → mountains
12. Quick Revision Summary
- Three main landforms: mountains, plateaus, plains (plus deserts).
- Mountains: steep, ranges; young Himalayas, old Aravallis; terrace farming, tourism; hazards.
- Plateaus: flat-topped; Tibetan (Roof of the World), Deccan (old, volcanic); minerals, waterfalls.
- Plains: river-made, fertile, densely populated; Ganga plain has about 40 crore people.
- Landforms shape culture — sacred peaks and rivers, Tamil tiṇais.