JLKP+6.1

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 * 6.1 Exploring Earth's Surface** (back to homepage)


 * Vocabulary**


 * topography**- the shape of the land
 * elevation**- the height above sea level of a point on Earth's surface
 * relief**- the difference between the highest and lowest parts of an area
 * landform**- a feature of topography formed by the processes that shape Earth's surface
 * landform region**- a large area of land where the topography is similar
 * plain**- a landform made up of flat or gentle rolling land with low relief
 * mountain**- a landform with high elevation and relief
 * mountain range**- a group of mountains closely related in shape, structure, and age
 * plateau**- a landform with more or less level surface
 * lithosphere**- Earth's solid, rocky outer layer
 * atmosphere**- the outermost sphere
 * hydrosphere**- Earth's oceans, lakes, rivers and ice
 * biosphere**- all living things on Earth


 * Outline**

Exploring Earth's Surface
 * Topography
 * there is different topography; elevation, relief, and landforms
 * Elevation
 * elevation is the height above sea level of a point on Earth's surface
 * Relief
 * the difference between the lowest and highest points of an area
 * plains have low relief
 * mountains might have high relief depending on the height of the mountains
 * Landforms
 * a feature of topography formed by the processes that shape Earth
 * there are different types of landforms
 * Types of Landforms
 * three main types of landforms
 * Plains
 * flat, "gentle" land
 * low relief
 * two types of plains
 * coastal plain
 * a plain that lies along a seacoast
 * have both low elevation and low relief
 * interior plain
 * a plain that lies away from the coast
 * low relief, but elevation can vary
 * Mountains
 * high elevation
 * are usually part of mountain ranges
 * mountains are part of mountain ranges
 * mountain ranges are part of mountain system
 * Bitterroot Mountains are a mountain range that are part of a mountain system known as the Rocky Mountains
 * mountain ranges and mountain systems in a long, connected chain form a larger unit called a mountain belt.
 * Rocky Mountains are part of a great mountain belt that stretches don the western sides of North America and South America