Topography describes an area's elevation, relief, and landforms. Elevation is the height above sea level, relief is the difference in elevation between high and low points, and landforms are features like plains, mountains, and plateaus. Plains are flat or rolling areas with low relief, mountains have high elevation and relief, and plateaus have high elevation but a more level surface often cut through by rivers. Together, these describe the overall topography or landform regions of an area.

1. The Earth’s Surface

2. TopographyTopography includes an area’s…ElevationReliefLandforms

3. ElevationThe height above sea level of a point

4. ReliefThe difference in elevation between the highest and lowest parts of an areaHuge mountains separated by valleys have a high relief

5. LandformsA feature of topography, such as a hill or valley.Different landforms produce a combination of elevation and relief

6. Types of LandformsPlainsMountainsPlateaus

7. PlainsA landform made up of nearly flat or rolling land with low reliefCoastal plains = ocean sideInterior plains = plains away from the coastThe Great Plains extend north from Texas into Canada

8. MountainsA landform with high elevation and high reliefA mountain range is a group of mountains that are related in structureDifferent ranges in a region make up a mountain system

9. PlateausA landform that has high elevation and a more level surfacePlateaus are rarely perfectly smoothRivers may cut into the surface

10. Landform RegionsA large area of land where the topography is made up mainly of one type of landform