Landform Review Chapter 1 Section 4

Huge towers of rock formed Mountains Huge towers of rock formed by the collisions of the Earth’s tectonic plates or by volcanoes. They are usually steep slopes with high peaks.

Low lying stretches of flat or gently rolling land. Plains Low lying stretches of flat or gently rolling land.

Plateaus Flat but have higher elevation. Sometimes steep cliffs form on one side.

Lower, rounded towers of rock often covered with grass Hills Lower, rounded towers of rock often covered with grass

Steep sided lowlands that rivers have cut through a plateau. Canyons Steep sided lowlands that rivers have cut through a plateau.

Valleys Area between mountains and hills. A long stretch of land lower than the land on either side. Rivers are often at the bottom of valleys.

A narrow piece of land that connects two larger pieces of land. Isthmus A narrow piece of land that connects two larger pieces of land.

A piece of land with water on three sides. Peninsula A piece of land with water on three sides.

Island Body of land smaller than a continent and completely surrounded by water.

Delta a deposit of soil at the end of a river.

Continental Shelf Off the coast of each continent is a plateau that goes for several miles underwater at the edge of the shelf a steep cliff drops to the ocean floor.

Ocean valleys. Lowest spot on the Earth’s crust. Trenches Ocean valleys. Lowest spot on the Earth’s crust.