Chapter 7.2
How Earth's Landforms Are Built, Carved, and Transformed
Discover the powerful geological forcesfrom tectonic collisions to river erosionthat continuously shape mountains, canyons, valleys, and islands across Earth's surface.
What You'll Learn
Tectonic plate collisions create mountains through the process called orogeny.
Erosion and downcutting by rivers carve valleys and deep canyons.
Volcanic activity builds islands and plateaus through repeated magma eruptions.
Deposition forms deltas and alluvial fans where sediment accumulates gradually.
What You'll Practice
1
Students identify geological processes forming mountains, canyons, and islands.
2
Questions test vocabulary including orogeny, erosion, and tectonic uplift.
3
Learners analyze how erosion and deposition shape diverse Earth landforms.
Why This Matters
Understanding landform development equips students to explain how Earth's surface is continuously shaped by geological forces that influence natural hazards, ecosystems, and human settlement patterns worldwide.
This Unit Includes
Practice exercises
Learning resources
Skills
Erosion
Plate Tectonics
Orogeny
Volcanic Activity
Denudation
OH Curriculum Aligned
