Earth’s Land Earth’s Land Features.Features.

What are some of Earth’s What are some of Earth’s land features?land features?

Earth’s landforms include Earth’s landforms include mountains, volcanoes, islands, mountains, volcanoes, islands, valleys, canyons, and caverns. valleys, canyons, and caverns.

Earth’s Land FeaturesEarth’s Land Features Landforms are solid features on Landforms are solid features on

Earth’s crust. Another name for Earth’s crust. Another name for landform is land feature. Examples landform is land feature. Examples of land features include mountains, of land features include mountains, volcanoes, islands, valleys, canyons, volcanoes, islands, valleys, canyons, and caverns. and caverns.

Each type of land feature forms in a Each type of land feature forms in a particular way. Wind, water, or particular way. Wind, water, or processes that happen inside Earth processes that happen inside Earth form many different land features. form many different land features. The shape of a landform can tell you The shape of a landform can tell you a lot about how it was made.a lot about how it was made.

MountainsMountains

A mountain is a land feature that is A mountain is a land feature that is high above the land around it. high above the land around it. Mountains form when processes Mountains form when processes within Earth push land upward. within Earth push land upward.

New mountains are steep New mountains are steep and jagged. and jagged.

Over time water and wind Over time water and wind can wear down mountains. can wear down mountains.

Older mountains have a Older mountains have a more rounded shape.more rounded shape.

VolcanoesVolcanoes

Deep beneath Earth’s surface, rock Deep beneath Earth’s surface, rock is hot and partly melted. It is called is hot and partly melted. It is called magma.magma.

Sometimes pressure within Earth Sometimes pressure within Earth forces magma to the surface. The forces magma to the surface. The magma erupts as lava.magma erupts as lava.

As layers of lava harden, they can As layers of lava harden, they can form a kind of mountain-a volcano.form a kind of mountain-a volcano.

IslandsIslands An island is a small land feature An island is a small land feature

surrounded on all sides by water. surrounded on all sides by water. Some islands form from volcanoes Some islands form from volcanoes that rise from the ocean floor.that rise from the ocean floor.

Another kind of island is a barrier Another kind of island is a barrier island. These islands form when island. These islands form when ocean water carries broken down ocean water carries broken down rock materials away from the shore. rock materials away from the shore.

Over time the materials form islands Over time the materials form islands that run along the coastline. that run along the coastline.

ValleysValleys

A valley is a low area on Earth’s surface A valley is a low area on Earth’s surface surrounded by hills or mountains. surrounded by hills or mountains. Valleys form when rivers or glaciers Valleys form when rivers or glaciers erode materials from Earth’s crust. erode materials from Earth’s crust.

Valleys formed by rivers are V-shaped.Valleys formed by rivers are V-shaped. Valleys formed by glaciers are U-shaped.Valleys formed by glaciers are U-shaped. The bottoms of most valleys slope The bottoms of most valleys slope

downward toward a stream or lake.downward toward a stream or lake.

CanyonsCanyons

In places where rivers erode the In places where rivers erode the land over a long period, a deep land over a long period, a deep opening can form in Earth’s surface. opening can form in Earth’s surface. A canyon is such an opening-it is a A canyon is such an opening-it is a deep valley with steep sides.deep valley with steep sides.

The Grand Canyon in the The Grand Canyon in the Southwestern United states is a Southwestern United states is a series of canyons along the Colorado series of canyons along the Colorado River.River.

CavernsCaverns

A cavern, or cave, is a large hole in A cavern, or cave, is a large hole in the side of a hill or mountain. the side of a hill or mountain.

Caverns often form when water Caverns often form when water mixes with natural chemicals and mixes with natural chemicals and minerals in the soils. The chemicals minerals in the soils. The chemicals break down certain types of rock.break down certain types of rock.

Caverns also form when ocean Caverns also form when ocean waves erode rock along the waves erode rock along the shoreline.shoreline.

Sometimes water seeps into a cavern Sometimes water seeps into a cavern and drops from the ceiling, leaving and drops from the ceiling, leaving minerals behind. As more water minerals behind. As more water drops, the minerals form long, thin drops, the minerals form long, thin shapes that hang from the ceiling.shapes that hang from the ceiling.

If the water drops onto the cavern If the water drops onto the cavern floor, minerals can be left behind floor, minerals can be left behind there too. there too.

This process creates unusual shapes This process creates unusual shapes that look like cones, saucers, or that look like cones, saucers, or sculptures inside some caverns.sculptures inside some caverns.