The Types of relief Can be classified in terrestrial or continental relief, coastal relief and underwater relief. They can also be classified by location.
It is called relief to the different forms that the earth's crust has on the surface, either in the areas that are above sea level, as well as in those that are in the bottom of it.
It is basically the set of inequalities that constitute the Ecosystems Of the planet. These inequalities are not uniform and therefore a name is assigned to each.
Most of the concavities or depressions of planet Earth are covered by water. Thanks to this phenomenon, the oceans and seas were formed.
You may also be interested in 8 natural regions of the world and their characteristics . So you can see what landscapes give rise to these geological formations.
The most outstanding relief types
Terrain or continental relief
The terrestrial or continental relief is that which is related to the accidents and the forms that exist on the surface surface of the Earth, that is, on the continents. This type of relief is found in 30% of the planet, since this is the space occupied by the continents on Earth.
The emerged relief, as it is also known, is located in all areas of the Lithosphere Which are not covered by the ocean. The following are the main types of relief:
1- Mountains
These are natural terrain elevations that are characterized by their altitude and slope. This type of relief occupies almost a quarter of the surface of the planet.
Most of the mountains that exist have been formed as a result of the arching and folding of the earth's crust. This process is commonly known as deformation.
The mountains are formed by several parts. One of them is the foot, which is the lowest part. The top is the highest part and the slope or skirt is the sloping part of the mountain, which is located between the foot and the top. There are also the valleys, which are the part of land between two mountains. The mountains are grouped in different ways:
- Mountain range : This is a succession of large mountains that are linked together. The mountain chains have arisen after the folding of some areas in which has accumulated great amount of sediments. Once these are compressed, the ridges are folded and created
- Mountain range : The mountains appear in the same way as the mountain ranges. However, in this case it is a succession of smaller mountains
- System : Is known like mountainous system to a set of mountain ranges and mountain ranges
2- Hills or hills
The hills or hills are also natural terrain elevations. This type of geological formation has particular characteristics in terms of form, height, etc., which allow to differentiate it from others.
Unlike the mountains, the hills usually do not exceed 100 meters in height. They are also characterized by having an extensive base, but a little steep and rounded summit.
Many specialists in the area have called the hills as ancient mountains deeply worn, either by erosion of water or wind.
3- Plains
This type of relief is the one that is at low altitude with respect to the level of the sea. The plains can rise to 200 meters and even a little more than 300 meters.
These are extensions of flat earth or with slight undulations, which at some point are brought into contact with mountainous areas.
A plain is a field that has neither highs nor lows, which means that it is an equal surface in all its extension.
Within the plains are those created by Diastrophism , Among which are the coastal plains and the interior plains. There are also those of geomorphological origin, which are the sedimentary plains and the plains on metamorphic rocks. Then there are the so-called extensive plains.
4- Plateaus
Plateaus, also called high plateaus, are large, slightly undulating flat terrain. They are higher than the plains and are usually between 200 and 5000 meters above sea level.
In addition to the height, the plateaus differ from the plains because the former are higher than the rest of the territory around them. This type of relief is born as a result of the erosion of old mountain systems or by the action of tectonic forces.
Depending on their location, plateaus can be classified in three ways. The first is the intramontane, which is formed together with mountains and is surrounded by them, either totally or partially.
The second is Piedmont, comprising those between the mountains and the ocean. Finally, there are the continental plateaus, which are the plateaus that rise abruptly, either from the coastal plains or from the sea.
5- Valleys
The valleys are those areas between mountainous alignments that usually runs a river in the lower part. In fact, it is precisely because of the erosive action of this fluvial course that the valleys are formed.
They can also be formed by tectonic movements or the melting of a glacier. This type of relief is basically a terrain that is sunk in the surrounding terrain, which can be occupied by mountains or mountain ranges. There are at least eight types of valleys.
- U-shaped valley : Is the one that has been formed by the erosion of a glacier. Its bottom is concave and has abrupt walls.
- V-shaped valley : These are the youngest valleys. They are formed by the erosive action of a river.
- Blind valley : This type of valley is typical of karstic lands. In them their waters penetrate the ground and the valley is closed.
- Dead valley : This is the type of valley that does not follow any water course by its surface.
- Endorheic valley : This is a type of valley that has no visible drainage.
- Longitudinal valley : Is one that is aligned parallel to the folds of the ground.
- Transverse valley : Is one that is crossed perpendicular to the folds of the ground.
- Suspended valley : It is an affluent valley of a glacier. Its essential characteristic is that when it leaves, it leaves the mouth of the affluent hanging.
5- Depressions
The depressions are the different zones in which the terrestrial relief is located to a lower height than the regions that surround it.
That is to say, these are regions of sinking that are under the level of the sea. The size and origin of depressions can be very varied.
Coastal relief
It is called coastal relief to those geographical features that are in the zone of contact between the land and the sea. The coastal landscape tends to have different forms. They can be abrupt or flat. They may also have terrestrial protruding sea starters. The following are some of the highlights:
1- Beach
It is the flat area on the seashore. This is formed because the waves drag and deposit materials such as sand, stone or gravel on the lower coasts.
2- Cliff
It is a formation of rocks of the vertical and abrupt coast that has been modeled by erosion of both the waves and the currents derived from it. This is how steps are formed against which the waves break.
3- Gulf
It is a part of the sea that enters the earth. It is usually shaped like an arch or shell.
4- Bay
It is a land area through which the sea, an ocean or lake enters. It is surrounded by earth everywhere except for an opening. This is usually wider than the rest.
5- Peninsula
These are extensions of land that are surrounded by water everywhere but one called the isthmus.
6- Cable
This is a portion of land or small peninsula that goes from the coast to the interior of the sea.
7- Albúfera
These are salt water lagoons that are separated from the sea by a sand cord, but which in turn has communication with the sea, either by one or several points.
8- Island
This is an area of land that can have more or less extension. It is completely surrounded by water.
9- Straight
It is a water channel that connects two bodies of water that can be lakes, seas or oceans, which means that they are between two masses of land.
10-Delta
This is a triangular territory that consists of several islands and is formed at the mouth of a river.
11- Ria
These are the deep mouths of the rivers, which cause the sea to penetrate into the interior of these rivers.
12- Marsh
The marshes are moist areas, some marshy, which are located below sea level. They may have been invaded by sea water or an estuary.
Underwater relief
As in the surface areas of the Earth, the sea floor also presents geographical accidents. But unlike the continental relief, in the underwater relief, being protected by the waters, do not act erosive agents that wear the materials.
For this reason, in this type of relief they emphasize other types of forms like the rounded ones, the leveled ones and others of smooth slopes.
1- Continental Shelf
This is the natural region that goes from the superficial part of the water, that is, from the level of the sea in the coast line until 200 meters of depth. It is called the continental shelf because although it seems that the continents end up on the edge of the sea, it is not.
These continue below this until forming a sloping base that can be smooth or fast. It can be said that the submarine platform has great similarity with the continental relief that surrounds it.
2- Region batial
After reaching its end, the continental shelf gives way to the batial region. The level of the ground descends abruptly to the 3000-3500 meters. This rapid slope is known as the continental slope.
3- Abyssal Region
This area, also known as Abyssal plain , Is the one that extends after the batial region. It is an underwater surface that has a great depth that can oscillate between three and six thousand meters deep. In this ocean floor can be found deposits of organic origin (animal or vegetable remains).
4- Fosas
They are very narrow cavities that can have more than 5,000 meters of depth. These are depressions that are located in the ocean bottom, especially near the areas where there are geological faults.
Types of relief according to the continent
1- The relief of America
The relief of the American continent is formed by mountain ranges, plains, massifs and plateaus. The highest peak is located in the Andes mountains And is the Aconcagua. The most important islands are Victoria, Greenland, Newfoundland, Baffin, Aleutian, Antilles and Tierra del Fuego.
2- The relief of Asia
The relief of the Asian continent presents mountains, plains, plateaus and depressions. In this zone the mountains are young and elevated and the plateaus are very high. In the case of depressions, these are occupied by seas.
3- The relief of Africa
The relief of Africa is formed by extensive depressions and plateaus, by massifs, tectonic pits, plains and two great mountain ranges.
4- The relief of Europe
The relief of Europe has three basic units. Plateaus and mountains in the north and in the center: the Great European Plain in the center; And young mountains of high altitude in the south.
5- The relief of Oceania
In this continent it emphasizes the relief of Australia, which is characterized by the MacDonnell and Hamersley mountains, as well as by the Great Dividing Mountain Range. But there are also mountainous areas due to the volcanic origin of some islands.
6- The relief of Antarctica
This is the highest continent on the planet. Its relief is composed of mountains with Volcanoes And plateaus.
References
- . General geography. Hill. Retrieved from geography.laguia2000.com.
- The relief shapes. The reliefs. (Without date). Retrieved from professorenlinea.cl.
- Forms of relief I. Biology and Geology. (Without date). Recovered resources.educacion.es.