Different Types of landforms

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A landform is a feature on the Earth's surface that is part of the terrain. Tectonic plate movement under the Earth can create landforms by pushing up mountains and hills.

Erosion by water and wind can wear down land and create landforms like valleys and canyons. Both processes happen over a long period of time, sometimes millions of years.

Mountains, hills, plateaus, and plains are the four major types of landforms. Minor landforms include buttes, canyons, valleys, and basins.

Some of the landforms are described below:

Mountains

Mountainous regions of Pakistan and Nepal are similar. In Pakistan, these regions abound in vast glaciers, fast flowing rivers, large lakes, and green valleys. Some of the highest peaks of the world are located here, the highest being K2 at 28,250 ft. (8,610 m).

It is second only to Mount Everest located in the mountainous region of Nepal, its height being 29,128 ft. (8,878 m). The topography of Nepal is similar to the northern region of Pakistan.

In the mountainous regions of Pakistan, people make a living through agriculture and tourism. The scenic beauty of the mountains attract tourists from all corners of the world.

Similarly, in Nepal’s mountainous region, the people’s livelihood depends on arable agriculture and cattle breeding. They also engage in the sale of herbal medicines collected from the forests. Tourism is a good source of income for the people.

Plateaus

The plateau regions of Pakistan are quite similar to those of Iran. They both have dry hills which contain deposits of minerals and other natural resources like oil, natural gas, coal, limestone, and gypsum. Deposits of oil found in Iran are much greater than those found in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the Potohar plateau and the Salt Ranges are located to the south of the mountainous region. The Attock oil refinery which is located near Rawalpindi on the Potohar plateau, is the oldest in the country. In the salt mines of Khewra, rock salt, gypsum, and limestone are quarried.

The Arak oil refinery is one of the largest in Iran. It is located in Arak which is one of the main industrial cities of Iran.

People living in the plateau regions of Pakistan and Iran engage in agriculture. Many people work in the quarries and the oil drilling companies, as well as refineries.

Plains

The Indus plain region is quite similar to the Gangetic plain region of India. Both plains are fertile and densely populated. The majority of people living on the plains are engaged in agriculture because of the soil is fertile and water is plentiful.

Both regions grow two types of crops, the kharif and the rabi. The kharif crops, grown in summer, include cotton, rice, maize, millet, and sugar cane. The rabi crops are grown in winter and include wheat, pulses, gram, and mustard.

Deserts

The Thar Desert region of Pakistan extends to India. The Sahara and Thar deserts lie more or less in the same latitudes, between 23 degree to 25 degree north.

The inhabitants of these regions depend on what little agriculture is possible in the oases, and grazing for animals. Most of the people are engaged in raising livestock such as cattle, donkeys, and goats. Life in the desert is harsh and difficult because of the climate and the lack of water.

Delta

The Indus delta in Pakistan is similar to the Nile delta in Egypt in that they both form the shape of the bird’s foot when they flow into the Arabian and Mediterranean seas respectively.

The Mississippi and the Indus deltas are good breeding places for prawns, shrimps, and fish so people living in these regions can earn a living through fishing. The Indus delta is rich in mangrove forests.