Landforms Types Game Quiz Online

This a Landforms Types Game Quiz Online for students in 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Learn to identify different types of landforms on the earth based on their characteristics. Students will learn about some defining features of each landform. For example the difference between a hilll and a mountain is mainly based on altitude and range. Landforms also differ in the way in which they were formed e.g. some mountains were shaped by wind erosion over the years, some river valleys too experience water erosion and take different shapes. This geography game is a suitable fun interactive activity for students in the classroom or at home.

 

The Different Types of Landforms

Landforms are different types of mountains, valleys, and high plains. Each of these types of landforms has a different origin and can all be found on various continents. Tectonic plate movement, erosion, and volcanoes are some of the factors that create these landforms. In addition, we will discuss their relationship to the earth's climate and geology.

Biogenic landforms

Biogenic landforms are topographic features produced by organisms. They are diverse in type and extent and are responsible for most topographic features produced by the weathering of rocks. Many types of organisms play supporting roles in the formation of these landforms. Lichens, bacterial activity, and root wedging are examples. Humic acid, produced by rapid organic decay, is an important factor in tropical karst. 

For example, the construction of modern highways is one of the most important biogenic landforms to have occurred in recent history. This development has led to widespread changes in the landscape. In some areas, mountains have been destroyed and valleys lowered. Large dams have drastically altered the flow patterns of rivers. Significant subsidence and groundwater withdrawal occurred in some areas. Biogenic landforms are partly a result of human activities, and a growing number of these phenomena are now observed worldwide.

Tectonic plate movement

When tectonic plates slide past each other, enormous stresses can develop. These stresses cause rocks to fracture, and the resulting fissures are called faults. The San Andreas Fault in California is a good example of this. People who live near this fault regularly experience shallow earthquakes. This process is also responsible for the formation of volcanoes. The movement of tectonic plates affects landforms in all regions of the world.

Tectonic plates move slowly. They shift by a few centimeters per year. Individual plates range in size from Saudi Arabia to Africa and can contain varying amounts of land and water. They also extend seventy kilometers below the Earth's surface. As they move, the continents shift or break apart, causing earthquakes and mountain ranges. In addition to shifting the continents, the movement of tectonic plates also affects the global climate.

Erosion

Erosion is the process by which natural elements erode soil and landforms. This process occurs most frequently on the surface of planets. It is a natural process that produces different types of landforms. In particular, fluvial erosion is a form of erosion that is widespread on Earth. Water moves sediment and other types of natural debris across the land. This accumulation eventually forms landforms such as canyons, levees, and floodplains.

Winds are also responsible for the process of erosion. They carry away rock and soil, reduce the size of hills, and create valleys, ravines, and ditches. The Environmental Protection Agency monitors land erosion activity using a rating system. It is important to understand erosion because it is a natural process that can dramatically alter a landscape. This process also contributes to the creation of new landforms, but it requires proper attention to prevent the loss of important features. Human activities such as agriculture, logging, and mining increase the rate of erosion in the landscape.

Volcanic activity

Volcanic activity is one of the most powerful natural phenomena and, if not properly managed, can result in major disasters to human lives and national economies. While not all volcanic eruptions result in disaster, those that do cause fatalities are considered catastrophic. For example, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy destroyed the ancient cities of Pompeii, Herculanum, and Stabia. This type of activity erodes rock formations and alters landscapes.

Volcanic activity can range from the emission of gasses and lava to extremely violent explosions that last several hours. The type of eruption determines the shape and relative volume of volcanic material and lava flows. In some cases, the eruption may last several decades; in others, only a few days. In either case, volcanoes change shape and size rapidly. However, the effects of volcanic activity on landforms cannot be predicted in advance. The results, however, have been spectacular. Some volcanoes are extinct and their cones form majestic mountain peaks.

Folding and faulting

Folds and faults are the result of the movement of the earth's plates. They form mountains and other impressive landscapes. Each of these phenomena is a manifestation of the energy within the Earth, and the occurrence of folds and faults represents the Earth's ability to maintain its stability. For example, the Rocky Mountain fault in northern Montana is a fold that has broken open. Folding occurs when sediments are deposited in horizontal layers and folded up and down by compressional or extensional forces.

The Earth's crust can be deformed by folding and faulting, leading to earthquakes. Folded mountains, which form at convergent plate boundaries, are associated with the continental crust. Faulting can occur when the pressure of fold mountains reaches a breaking point. They also result from extensional forces that cause cracks in the Earth's crust. The result of these processes are steep valleys and cliffs.

Wind power

Wind is a great renewable energy source. However, strong winds have also created plateaus and landforms that are unique. Most desert landscapes are the result of continuous wind erosion. To understand the effects of erosion, you need to imagine its impact on landscapes over a geologic time period. Some landscapes do not visibly change in our lifetime because of wind erosion. Some have changed over thousands of years. Read about desert landscapes to understand the importance of wind in their formation.