There are three main types of landscapes on Earth: mountains, plains, and plateaus. Mountains form through processes like folding, faulting, and volcanism, and include landforms like mountain ranges and belts. Plains are flat lands with low elevations, and include coastal and interior plains. Plateaus are broad, flat areas that rise significantly above sea level but have flat surfaces. Common examples are provided for each landscape type.

1. Earth’s Landmasses

2. Islands – small landmasses completely surrounded by water Four – number of major landmasses on Earth; Eurasia and Africa, North and South America, Antarctica (2x the size of the US; first known exploration occurred in 1901) , Australia (only continent that is single country; sometimes referred to as the island continent)

3. Continent – landmass that measures millions of square km and rises a considerable distance above sea level; each has at least one large area of very old rock exposed at its surface (this area is called a shield) Seven continents on the Earth – Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, N and S America, and Antarctica

4. Topography Scientists refer to the shape of the Earth’s surface as its topography The Earth’s topography is made up of different kinds of landscapes A landscape is the physical features of the Earth’s Surface found in an area

5. Each type of landscape has different characteristics Elevation – height above sea level (high or low) Relief – difference in region’s elevation

6. Three Main Types of Landscape Regions Mountains – natural landforms that reach high elevations Have narrow summits or tops, and steep slopes, or sides These landscapes have very high relief All mountains did not form at the same time

7. Mountain Formation Fault-block Mountain – result from the folding and breaking of the Earth’s surface Volcanic Mountain – created when hot magma from the Earth’s interior breaks through the Earth’s surface Mountain Range – roughly parallel series of mountains that have the same general shape and structure

8. Mountain System – a group of mountain ranges in one area Mountain Belt – a larger group of mountains composed of mountain ranges and systems

9. Folded Mountains Formed when rock layers are squeezed from opposite sides and rock layers buckle and fold Example: The Appalachian Mountains

10. Unwarped Mountains Formed when rocks are pushed up by forces inside earth

11. Fault-Block Mountains Made of huge tilted blocks of rocks that are separated from surrounding rock by faults. Example: Sierra Nevada Mountains in California

12. Volcanic Mountains Begin when molten material reaches the surface through a weak area of the crust. The materials pile up, one layer on top of another, until one cone-shaped structure forms. Example: The Hawaiian Islands

13. Some of the World’s Famous Mountains

14. Aconcagua, Andes Argentina 6569 m, Highest Mountain in Western Hemisphere

15. Cotopaxi, Andes in Ecuador 5897 m, Highest active volcano in the world

16. Elbert, Colorado 4399 m, Highest mountain in Rockies

17. Everest, Himalayas (Nepal-Tibet border) 8848 m, Highest mountain in the world

18. K2, Kashmir 8611 m, 2nd highest mountain in the world

19. Kanchenjunga, Himalayas (Nepal-India border) 8598 m, 3 rd highest mountain in the world

20. Logan, Yukon 5950 m, Highest mountain in Canada

21. Mauna Kea, Volcanic Island in Hawaii 4205 m, Highest Island Mountain in the world

22. Mauna Loa, Volcanic Island in Hawaii 4169 m

23. McKinley, Alaska 6194 m, Highest mountain in North America

24. Mitchell, North Carolina 2037 m, Highest mountain in the Appalachians

25. Mont Blanc, France 4807 m, Highest mountain in the Alps

26. Mt. St. Helens, Cascades in Washington 2549 m, Recent active volcano in the US

27. Pikes Peak, Colorado 4301 m, most famous in the Rocky Mountains

28. Rainier, Cascades in Washington 4392 m, Highest mountain in Washington

29. Vesuvius, Italy 1277 m, only active volcano on the mainland of Europe

30. Whitney, Sierra Nevada in California 4418 m, Highest mountain in California

31. Plains Flat land areas that do not rise far above sea level They are areas of low relief Characterized by broad rivers and streams

32. Coastal Plains – Low flat areas along the coasts Coast – a place where the land meets the ocean Interior Plains – low, flat areas found inland on a continent

33. Plateaus Broad, flat areas of land that rise more than 600 m above sea level They are not considered mountains because their surfaces are fairly flat Many plateaus of the world are dry, nearly desert areas Often used for grazing