LESSON 4: WORLD LANDFORM PATTERNS
As we've learned, landforms are physical features on Earth. They can be organized into landform regions, which are areas with one main landform region. In Canada, three major landform regions are:
- Mountains
- Shields
- Prairies and Lowlands
How Shields are Formed
Shields are rocky landforms that are created when volcanoes and mountains are worn away.
The Canadian Shield is a massive landform region, covering over half of Canada.
The Canadian Shield is too rocky for farming, but it has beautiful scenery and many people go to the region to vacation and enjoy nature.
The Canadian Shield is a massive landform region, covering over half of Canada.
The Canadian Shield is too rocky for farming, but it has beautiful scenery and many people go to the region to vacation and enjoy nature.
How Fold Mountains are Formed
Fold Mountains are formed when tectonic plates collide and the plates are squeezed together, bending the rock upwards.
The Rocky Mountains are great examples of Fold Mountains. They were formed millions of years ago (which is young for a mountain!) when the Pacific plate collided with the North American plate.
Over the years, mountains are eroded to look more like rolling hills. Right now, the Rockies are sharp and steep, and wonderful for skiing and hiking, although they can be dangerous for humans because of avalanches and rockslides.
The Rocky Mountains are great examples of Fold Mountains. They were formed millions of years ago (which is young for a mountain!) when the Pacific plate collided with the North American plate.
Over the years, mountains are eroded to look more like rolling hills. Right now, the Rockies are sharp and steep, and wonderful for skiing and hiking, although they can be dangerous for humans because of avalanches and rockslides.
How Plains and Lowlands are Formed
Plains are flat landform regions that are found around the edges of shield regions. Plains found along a coastal region are called lowlands.
The Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Lowlands (where we live) are great for farming. Farther north, there are the Hudson Bay Lowlands and the Arctic Lowlands, neither of which are good for agriculture. These lowlands are marshy or tundra, and not many people live there.
The Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Lowlands (where we live) are great for farming. Farther north, there are the Hudson Bay Lowlands and the Arctic Lowlands, neither of which are good for agriculture. These lowlands are marshy or tundra, and not many people live there.
How Volcanos are Formed
Volcanos are well-known landforms, thanks to their fiery eruptions of molten rock and lava. Volcanos are formed when molten magma from the mantle layer of the earth breaks through a crack in the crust. When two plates collide, the ocean plate is dragged beneath the continental plate, and the end of the plate as it is pulled down into the hot mantle. Pressure from below pushes the magma upwards, causing the volcano to grow taller and taller.
Two types of volcanos are composite cones (made up of layers of cinders and magma) and shield cones (made up of magma). Volcanos are usually found around the edges of plates. The Pacific Ring of Fire are a circular pattern of active volcanos found along the Pacific ocean, in Japan, Indonesia, and the Phillipines.
Two types of volcanos are composite cones (made up of layers of cinders and magma) and shield cones (made up of magma). Volcanos are usually found around the edges of plates. The Pacific Ring of Fire are a circular pattern of active volcanos found along the Pacific ocean, in Japan, Indonesia, and the Phillipines.
Geo Journal 2
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