Unit 1 Landforms and landscapes Landforms and landscapes The Earth’s surface is made up of a vast number of elements that have been brought together to create amazing shapes and formations. To study and understand all these formations, geographers organise them into groups based on characteristics that are similar. These different groups are referred to as landscapes. There are many different types of natural landscapes on Earth – including mountain landscapes, coastal landscapes and riverine landscapes. Landscapes created by people are called human landscapes. Natural landscapes are made up of a variety of geographical features known as landforms such as hills, caves and valleys. chapter Source 1 This satellite image of Las Vegas shows many different landscapes and landforms. 2 2A DRAFT What are landforms and landscapes? 1 Use Source 1 to identify two different landforms and two types of landscapes. 2 Think about the place in which you live. Can you identify two different landforms and two types of landscapes that you see every day? 40 oxford big ideas humanities and social sciences 8 western australian curriculum chapter 2 landforms and landscapes 41 2A What are landforms and landscapes? 2.1 The Earth’s landscapes What is a landscape? mainly unaffected by human activity and are typical to particular areas of the world. Human A landscape is part of the Earth’s surface. It consists landscapes (for example, cities and farms) have been of a variety of geographical features that are created and modifi ed by people. Human landscapes characteristic of an area. Landscapes are divided into are sometimes also referred to as cultural landscapes. two main categories – natural and human. Natural Some different types of landscapes are described landscapes (for example, mountains and deserts) are below. Source 2 The Himalayas in Asia are an example of a mountain landscape. WORLD: EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT LANDSCAPES 1 Mountain landscapes 2 Coastal landscapes Mountain landscapes are formed by tectonic plates The coast is where a land mass meets the sea. Coastal on the Earth’s surface pushing against each other. landscapes are shaped by the natural forces of the This movement and pressure causes the shape of the wind and waves. These geographical forces erode land to change. The land is pushed up in a vertical (wear away) or construct (build up) the natural direction and over time forms mountains. Mountains environment, constantly changing its shape. Features rise high above their surroundings. Mountains can of coastal landscapes include beaches, dunes, bays, 5 1 Mountain 7 Human 2 Coastal stand alone, be grouped in ranges, or form ridges. We cliffs, platforms, spits and lagoons. We will explore Karst Arctic Circle will explore mountain landscapes in more detail in coastal landscapes in more detail in Chapter 4. Chapter 3. Tropic of Cancer Equator DRAFTTropic of Capricorn 0 1500 3000 km 4 Desert Antarctic Circle 6 Tropical rainforest 3 Riverine Source 3 Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia, Canada, is an example of a coastal landscape. Source 1 Source: Oxford University Press 42 oxford big ideas humanities and social sciences 8 western australian curriculum chapter 2 landforms and landscapes 43 2A What are landforms and landscapes? are located closer to the Arctic and Antarctic Circles 7 Human landscapes (the circles of latitude in the far north and far south). Check your learning 2.1 Because of the lack of rain they have little vegetation Unlike the types of naturally occurring landscapes Remember and understand (plant life). Instead deserts are characterised by sand described above, human landscapes are created dunes, rock and gravel. by people. Human landscapes provide evidence 1 What is the meaning of the geographical term of human settlement and occupation of an ‘landscape’? 5 Karst landscapes environment. Features of human landscapes include 2 Which types of landscapes are found around the elements of infrastructure such as buildings, roads, Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn? A karst landscape is formed when easily dissolvable transport, energy, sewerage and telecommunication 3 Why do you think human landscapes are included bedrock (the rock below the surface of the land, systems. The construction of human landscapes in the defi nition of the word 'landscape'? such as limestone) is worn away by slightly acidic often results in the damage or destruction of natural Apply and analyse water, from an underground source or a source landscapes but commonly incorporates some natural on the Earth’s surface. These fl ows of water form geographical features in its design, for example 4 Look carefully at Source 1 Source 4 The Wanganui River system in New Zealand is an unique features such as caves, stalactites, springs and harbours and mountains. a How many different types of landscapes are example of a riverine landscape. sinkholes. Karst landscapes are extremely unstable shown on this map? areas of land. Sinkholes are formed when rock b What types of landscapes can you identify beneath the Earth's surface has eroded away and in Australia? 3 Riverine landscapes sections of land on the surface collapse. Sinkholes c Write a description of the location of desert can range in size from a few metres to over 1 landscapes. Give possible reasons to explain A riverine is a landscape formed by the natural kilometre deep and have been known to occasionally Source 7 The capital city of China, Beijing, is an example of a why they are found there. movement of a water system such as a river. A human landscape. collapse, swallowing up everything on the surface riverine landscape includes the ecosystems (all living Evaluate and create including cars and buildings. things including plants and animals) in and around 5 Research one landscape that interests you. Your the area of a river. A riverine may also be defi ned as a chosen landscape might be on the World Heritage network of rivers and the surrounding land. Riverine List (such as karst in The Skocjan Caves Regional landscapes are excellent for agricultural uses such as Park) or in your local area. Investigate what makes farming because the land is rich and fertile. They are this landscape unique, and provide information a valuable resource for growing food. about how it is used. Present your research in the form of a brochure, poster or webpage. 4 Arid landscapes A desert is defi ned as an area of land which receives no more than 25 millimetres of rain per year. Deserts cover about one-third of the Earth’s surface and contain some of the most uninhabitable regions on Earth. There are two types of deserts – hot deserts and cold deserts. Hot deserts are located along the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (the latitude lines Source 6 The Skocjan Caves in Slovenia are an example of a Karst landscape. to the north and south of the Equator). Cold deserts DRAFT Source 5 The Sahara desert in North Africa is an example of an arid landscape. 44 oxford big ideas humanities and social sciences 8 western australian curriculum chapter 2 landforms and landscapes 45 2A What are landforms and landscapes? COASTAL LANDSCAPES MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPES RIVERINE LANDSCAPES ARID LANDSCAPES Atoll Cirque Delta Butte 2.2 The Earth’s landforms Ring-shaped coral reef or a string of Bowl-shaped hollow at the head of Fan-shaped, low-lying area of deposits at Flat-topped hill closely spaced small coral islands a valley or on a mountainside the mouth of a river Desert dune encircling a shallow lagoon formed by glacial erosion Drainage basin Wind-blown particle formation Archipelago Glacier Area providing water to a river system Hamada are shaped and created by a natural process, such Group or chain of islands Large frozen river of ice that slowly What is a landscape? Estuary Area covered in boulders and large as tectonic plate movement and erosion. Natural Bay moves down a valley in response to River mouth broadening into the sea stones Broad, curved indentation in the coastline gravity A landform is a natural geographic feature or shape landscapes are made up of a variety of landforms. Floodplain Inselberg Beach Mountain Flat area over which water spreads in times Isolated, steep-sided hill of resistant that appears on the Earth’s surface. Large landforms Often landforms are not unique to a single Deposited rock particles – such as sand, Steep-sided, lone peak rising over of ood rock on a plain gravel or pebbles – along the coastline 600 metres above the surrounding include mountains, plains, and rivers while small landscape. For example, a hill can be found in many land Gorge Mesa Cliff Deep, narrow, steep-sided valley Flat-topped, steep-sided plateau landforms include hills and billabongs. Landforms different landscapes. Steep rock face formed by the action of Mountain range Lake Oasis the waves Chain of connected mountains mountain range Large body of water surrounded by land Desert area with a water supply Coral reef Ridge Meander provided by groundwater Underwater ridge formed by the growth Long, narrow elevation of land mountain Bend in a river Wadi and deposit of coral Volcano Oxbow lake Dry watercourse in a narrow valley Headland Opening in the Earth’s crust where Crescent-shaped lake on a river oodplain that divides a plateau Narrow, high land jutting out from a molten rock, ash and gas can coastal cliff into the sea escape River Natural waterway that takes water downhill Island ridge by gravity to the sea V-shaped valley Area of land surrounded by water Tributary volcano Isthmus Small river that joins a larger river Narrow strip of land or sand that cirque connects an island to the mainland V-shaped valley Narrow, steep-sided valley carved out by the glacier Spit upper reaches of a river watershed Narrow strip of sand protruding into the sea Waterfall River-water spill over resistant rock Stack Tall pillar of rock formed by wave action Watershed drainage basin eroding a cliff High point from which water ows into a drainage basin gorge Source 1 Some common landforms island found in different natural landscapes river headland cliff waterfall stack Check your learning 2.2 oodplain tributary meander Remember and understand lake oxbow lake 1 Describe the meaning of the geographical term bay archipelago ‘landform’.