A landform is a natural or anthropogenic feature on the solid surface of the Earth or other planetary body, making up the terrain
. Landforms can be categorized by their physical attributes, such as elevation, slope, orientation, structure, stratification, rock exposure, and soil type
. Some common types of landforms include:
- Mountains : Elevated areas of land with steep slopes and ridges
- Hills : Moderately elevated areas of land with gentle slopes
- Plateaus : Flat, elevated areas of land with a gentle slope on one side and a steep slope or cliff on the other
- Plains : Large, flat areas of land with gentle slopes
- Canyons and valleys : Deep, narrow spaces between landforms, often formed by erosion and weathering
- Coastal features : Includes peninsulas, bays, and other shoreline features
- Underwater features : Examples include ocean basins, mid-ocean ridges, and volcanoes
Landforms can be created by various geological processes, such as tectonic plate movement, erosion, weathering, and volcanic activity
. They can also be organized by the processes that create them, such as aeolian (wind-formed), coastal (water-related), and tectonic (plate movement- related) landforms
