Landforms and Life

Class-6

Social Science

Prepared By- Nayab Singh

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Landforms

A landform is a physical feature on the surface of our planet Earth.

Landforms take shape over millions of years.

Landforms connected with the environment and life.

They can broadly be divided into three categories:

• Mountains
• Plateaus
• Plains

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Mountains

1. Mountains are landforms that are much higher than the surrounding landscape.
2. They can be recognised by a broad base, steep slopes and a narrow summit.
3. Depending on their height, some mountains are covered with snow.
4. At lower altitudes, the snow melts every summer and turns into water that feeds rivers.

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Mountain environment

Mountain slopes are often covered with a type of forest called montane forest.

Conifer trees such as pines, firs, spruce and deodar are common.

These conifer trees grow tall and cone-shaped, with thin, pointed leaves.

At higher altitudes, the trees give way to grasses, mosses and lichen.

Deep forests, flowing rivers, lakes, grasslands and caves in the mountains are home to diverse fauna

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Life in the mountains

*The mountain terrain is usually rugged or rough, and has steep slopes.

*Regular farming can only be practised in some valleys.

*Cultivation is practised on the slopes by cutting steps

into the slope. This is called terrace farming.

*In many mountainous regions of the world, herding

is the preferred occupation over agriculture.

*Tourism is often an important source of income

for the people living in the mountains.

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