Landforms and Water Bodies

The surface of the Earth is nearly three parts water and one part land. The largest areas of land are called continents. The very large and deep areas of water are called oceans.

There are seven continents: Asia Africa Europe North America South America Australia Antarctica There are five oceans: Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Arctic Ocean Southern Ocean

Seas The smaller areas of water are called seas. They are: Mediterrranean Sea Black Sea Arabian Sea South China Sea

Waves Tsunami Waves are formed when the wind pushes the water Sometimes an earthquake under the sea causes really huge waves called tsunami.

river stream The flowing water from mountains and hill slopes towards lowlands is called a river. Small rivers that have less water are called streams.

coast Beach The areas where land meets the sea are called coasts. Coasts can be low and flat or high and rocky The flat part of the coast, next to the ocean or sea, is called a beach. Many beaches have sand.

The highest portions of land are called mountains. Plateau A large stretch of high land that is flat on top is called a plateau. Example: Deccan Plateau Mountain The highest portions of land are called mountains. Example: Himalayas Hill High areas of land which are not so tall as mountains are called hills. Example: Aravalli Hills

Plains Coastal Plains desert A stretch of low, flat or almost flat land is called a plain. Example: The Northern Plains Low flat land along the coast is called a coastal plain. Example: Western Coastal Plains A desert is dry land which receives little or no rainfall. Example: Thar Desert

Hot Desert Cold Desert Hot deserts are sandy, windy, hot and very dry. Example: The Arabian Desert Cold deserts are areas of land that always remain frozen. Example: Antarctica

Some other landforms Island Lake A piece of land that has water all around it is called an island. Example: Australia A large body of water surrounded on all sides by water is called a lake. Example: Dal Lake

Isthmus strait A narrow strip of land which joins two larger parts of land is called isthmus. Example: Isthmus of Panama A stretch of water joining two large expanses of sea is called a strait. Example: Palk Strait

bay gulf When a large part of the sea fills up a wide curve in the land, it is called a bay. A bay has a wider opening than the gulf. Example: Bay of Bengal A large body of water surrounded by land and having a narrow entrance is called a gulf. Example: Gulf of Mexico

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