World Geography 3202World Geography 3202

Unit #1Unit #1

Land & Water FormsLand & Water Forms

TopographyTopography

• Topography is a general term referring to the surface features of the earth like hills, mountains, valleys and other relief features.

• Your book defines it as " the natural and human features of the earth's surface".

Hills vs. MountainsHills vs. Mountains

• Hills elevation < 300 -600 M • Mountains elevation > 300-600 m• Books differ on the actual relief

required to be a mountain.

Plains vs. PlateausPlains vs. Plateaus• Both are similar in that they are gently sloping or

relatively broad flat regions of land.• Like hills and mountains, plains & plateaus differ

based on elevation.• Plains occur at low elevations along coasts &

central continent• Plateaus occur at high altitudes and are

associated with mountains.

Land Form PatternsLand Form Patterns ….….

• Most mountains & high elevations are located on coasts of continents.

Patterns Of MountainsPatterns Of Mountains

• Large Mountain Ranges along the West coast of North & South America.

The Andes- S.AmericaThe Andes- S.America

The Rocky Mountains

Tectonic Plate BoundariesTectonic Plate Boundaries

• Major mountain ranges coincide with tectonic plate boundaries….the EDGE…where 2 plates meet!!

• Rockies- N.A.• Andes- S.A.• Hymalayas - Asia• Mid Atlantic Ridge

More About TopographyMore About Topography

• Your Book Page 6-9• www.ngdc.noaa.gov/

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