PLAINS AND

PLATEAUS
Group 2: Tusi
(L)

Baares | Conde | Guiloreza | Manese |

Manlapig

Plains and Plateaus

Plains
and
plateaus
are
some of
the
major
landform
s that
can be
found on
the
earths
surface.

Plains

Aplainisa flat, low-lying area.

They are one of the major landforms on earth.
Plains can be found in lowlands, at the bottom
of valleys, and on top of plateaus.
Excellent agricultural ground.
Plant life is dependent on the plains
surrounding climate.
Planitia

(Mars ; Hellas Planitia :: Venus ; Sedna Planitia)

PRAIRIE

SAVANNA
H

TUNDR
A

FORESTED
PLAINS

Formation of Plains

Plains
are
areas
that
are
nottectonicallyactive, but are quite
stable.
Plains are formed primarily byerosion,
the
deposition
of
sediment,
and
sometimes volcanic activity.

Types of Plains

Structural plains- tend to be large flat

surfaces that make up extensive lowlands.
Erosional plains- those that have been
created by erosion due to glaciers, wind,
running water and rivers.
Depositional
plainscreated
when
material is deposited from rivers, glaciers,
waves and wind.
Alluvial plains- created by a river that
deposits material that becomes the soil.
Glacial plains- formed when a glacier

Coastal plains- lowlands that stretch

along the shore and slope towards it.
Floodplains- plains that experience
periodic flooding or just occasional
flooding.
Lava plains- formed when lava creates
sheets over time, eventually becoming
rich soil.
Lacustrine plains- a plain that was
originally the bottom of a lake.
Abyssal plains- an area of the ocean

Structural
Plain

Erosional
Plain

Glacial Plain Coastal Plain

Lava Plain

Lacustrine

Alluvial Plain

Floodplain

Abyssal

Significance of Plains

Soil throughout the region is fertile and very

productive when water is available.
Some of the crops that can grow in plains are
wheat, sorghum, flax, and cotton.
Cattle and sheep are raised throughout most
of the land.
Oil, natural gas, coal, and gold are among its
mineral deposits.
Transportation and settlement is made easy
because of the low slope of the land.

The Great
Plains

Eurasian
Steppe

ajor Plains of the Wor

Pampas of South
America

The Bushveld of

Plateaus

A plateau isa flat land that is raised

significantly above the ground.
Plateaus are also known as high plains,
tablelands or flat-topped mountains.
Plateau; flat top :: Mountain; jagged/pointed
peak
High altitude: cold climate & harsh living
conditions
The grasslands in plateaus are used for
grazing animals.

Formation of Plateaus

Plateaus can be formed by a number of

processes,
including
upwelling
ofvolcanicmagma, extrusion oflava,
anderosionby water and glaciers.

Magma
Lava
Erosional processes ofglaciers
Water

Types of Plateaus

Intermontane plateaus bordered by mountains

on all sides.
Piedmont plateaus bordered on one side by the
plains or sea and on the other side by mountains.
Continental plateaus bordered on all sides by
the sea or plains
Volcanic plateaus produced by volcanic activity
Dissected plateaus are highly eroded plateaus
cut by rivers and broken by deep narrow valleys.
Oceanic plateaus are found in the ocean and
are composed of continental crust or indigenous
rock.

Intermontan
e

Erosional
Piedmont
Plain

Continental

Floodplain

Volcanic

Dissected
Lacustrine

Oceanic

Significance of Plateaus

Plateaus and Minerals

Plateaus and Climate
Plateaus and Vegetation

Tibetan Plateau

Antarctic
Plateau

ajor Plateaus of the Wor

Colorado Plateau

Autana Tepui

QUIZ

Part A

A___________isa flat, low-lying area.

Plains that exist on other planets are referred to as
________.
Mars ; Hellas Planitia :: Venus ; ___________.
A plain that was originally the bottom of a lake.
An area of the ocean basin that is either flat or sloping
very gently.
Plateaus are also known as _(give at least 1) .
Plateau; __________ :: Mountain; jagged/pointed peak
A plateau that is bordered on one side by plains or sea
and on the other side by mountains.
What is the largest and highest plateau in the world?
Minerals that can be found in plateaus (give at least 2)

Part B

Identify the type of plain or plateau

shown in each picture.
#2
#3
#1
#4

#5

Answer Key: Part A

Plain
Plainitia
Sedna Planitia
Lacustrine Plain
Abyssal Plain
High plains, Tablelands or Flat-topped
Mountains
Flat top
Piedmont Plateaus
Tibetan Plateau

Answer Key: Part B

Structural Plain
Glacial Plain
Floodplain
Piedmont Plateau
Dissected Plateau