Forms of relief

If you look at school textbooks, you canmake sure that the first idea of ​​the types of relief children receive in primary classes. This article will answer the question, what are the forms of relief in general, what are they caused and what are they?

Section 1. Definition of the concept

Types of terrain are the most diverseforms of the surface of our planet: both low-lying and sublime, both simple and complex, both old and young. The very word "relief" has a Latin origin, although in that once very widespread language, it was not a noun at all, but a verb that could be translated into "modern" or "lift up" in modern Russian.

Under the relief in most cases, theunderstand elevated parts of the Earth's surface, for example, hills and mountains. However, one should not forget about such important components of the landscape as lowlands, hollows and valleys. Few, by the way, think about the fact that, in fact, some forms of relief are altogether planetary in nature. Doubt? Then from what point of view should we consider such of them as the continents or the ocean bed?

If we imagine a kind of scheme inbased on the dimensions of the elements of the earth's surface surrounding us, we will see that below, after the continents and the ocean floor, it is possible to arrange basins, mountain peaks and plains. To large forms, scientists also include intermountain depressions, as well as ridges of mountain ranges.

Ravens, valleys and hills can be considered average, andto small or so-called microforms belong to minor plains and gullies. And where, you ask, should be attributed, such numerous in our edges cracks in the soil and hummocks? Even to a smaller form of organization, to the nanoforms of the relief.

Section 2. How did the main forms of relief

We suggest that we look at this issue withhabitual point of view. Let's imagine that the entire landscape of the Earth is the creation of the hands of an unknown master. Who can act as a "sculptor"? Probably, there were several of them, or rather, two:

1. The first actively influences from the outside. This includes space forces, namely, the solar and lunar attraction, as well as the force of the planet's rotation.
2. The second prefers to change the earth's surface from the inside.

According to the point of view of modern scientists, allforms of relief necessarily bear the effects of both internal and external forces. However, the vast types of lowlands, deep valleys and various ridges are created by purely tectonic (i.e., internal) forces of the planet. External, on the contrary, make every effort to as soon as possible to level the earth's surface and destroy the aforementioned "buildings." This is how the eternal struggle of two opposing forces is conducted on Earth, finding an imprint in our landscape.

Section 3. Forms of relief and their main types

The main types of the earth's landscape include mountains (or hills), hollows, ravines, saddle and ridge. And now let's dwell on each of them in more detail.

1. The mountain is a hill in the form of a cone. It is characterized by the presence of a peak, side skates, which are also called slopes, and a characteristic line of the sole.
2. The basin is a kind of mountain, but directed not up, but strictly down. However, the cone-shaped shape is preserved, as, however, and the side slopes. Instead of the sole there is a crook that connects the slopes of the basin with the surrounding terrain.
3. The ridge can be considered a hill, to the characteristic features of which are an elongated form and its gradual decrease in one direction.
4. A hollow is an elongated and open form from one end, which is a decreasing depression. A component of the hollow is considered to be a weir line and two lines of the edge.
5. And, finally, under the saddle is to be understood a relatively small decrease, which is observed between the mountains in the immediate vicinity.