Types of Landforms
Elementary School
Definition
The various natural features of the Earth's surface, such as mountains, valleys, plateaus, plains, and coastlines. Landforms are created and changed by processes like tectonic activity, erosion, and deposition.
Worked examples
The Grand Canyon is a valley carved by the Colorado River over millions of years through erosion.
Erosion created this deep landform by wearing away rock layers over time.
The Himalayas are mountains formed when the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collided.
Tectonic activity pushed the crust upward to create Earth's tallest mountain range.
The Great Plains is a vast, flat region formed by sediment deposition from ancient rivers and glaciers.
Deposition laid down layers of sediment over time to build this flat landform.
Common mistakes
- All mountains are formed by volcanoes. → Mountains form through tectonic uplift, folding, volcanic activity, or erosion of surrounding areas. Most mountains result from plate collisions, not volcanoes.
- Landforms never change once they are created. → Landforms continuously change through erosion, weathering, deposition, and tectonic activity. Earth's surface is constantly being reshaped by ongoing geological processes.
- Plateaus and plains are the same because both are flat. → Plateaus are elevated flat areas; plains are low-lying flat regions. Elevation distinguishes these landforms—plateaus sit high above surrounding land.
Where you'll use it next
You'll use landform knowledge when studying plate tectonics, weathering and erosion, Earth's history, climate patterns, and human geography. It also connects to ecology, as landforms shape ecosystems and habitats.
See also
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026