Plateaus and

Plains
By Dr Vipan Goyal
 Plateaus
• A plateau is an elevated area
with a more or less levelled land
on its top. It has a large area on
its top and a steep slope on its
sides.
• They are also called as high
plains or tablelands.
• The plateaus cover about 18% of
the earth’s land surface and take
up one third of the Earths land.
• The Deccan plateau in India is
one of the oldest plateaus.
• Valleys form when river water cuts
through the plateau.
• Example : The Columbia Plateau,
between the Cascade and Rocky
mountains in the northwestern
United States, is cut through by the
Columbia River.
 CLASSIFICATION OF PLATEAUS
• On the basis of their geographical location and
structure of rocks, the plateaus can be classified as:
• Intermontane Plateaus
• Piedmont plateaus
• Continental plateaus
• Volcanic plateaus
• Dissected plateaus
 Intermontane Plateaus
• The plateaus which are bordering the mountain
ranges (generally fold mountains) or are partly or
fully enclosed within them are the intermontane
plateaus.
• The word ‘intermontane’ means ‘between
mountains’.
• Intermontane plateaus are the highest in the world.
• They have nearly horizontal rock layers which are
raised to very heights by vertical movements of the
earth.
• Examples: The Plateau of Tibet is an example of the
intermontane plateau which is surrounded by the
fold mountains like the Himalayas, the Karakoram,
the Kunlun and the Tien Shah.
 Piedmont Plateaus
• Plateaus which is situated at the foot of a
mountain and is locked on the other side by a
plain or a sea/ ocean is called as a piedmont
plateau.
• The word ‘piedmont’ means ‘foot of a
mountain’.
• They are also called as Plateaus of
denudation as the areas once were high to
the level of mountains, have now been
reduced to the foot level of the mountain by
various agents of erosion.
• Examples: The Malwa Plateau (Madhya
Pradesh ) is an example of piedmont plateau.
 Continental Plateaus
• They are formed either by an extensive
continental upliftment or by the spread
of horizontal basic lava (less viscous)
sheets completely covering the original
topography.
• This kind of plateaus shows an abrupt
elevation in contrast to the nearby
lowland or sea (i.e. more steepness on
sides).
• The Continental Plateaus are also
known as Plateaus of Accumulation.
• Examples: Plateau of Maharashtra is an
example of the continental plateau.
 Volcanic Plateaus
• A volcanic plateau is a plateau
produced by volcanic activity. There
are two main types: lava plateaus and
pyroclastic plateaus.
• Lava plateaus are formed by highly
fluid basaltic lava during numerous
successive eruptions through
numerous vents without violent
explosions.
• Pyroclastic volcanic plateaus are
produced by massive pyroclastic flows
and they are underlain by pyroclastic
rocks.
 Dissected Plateaus
• A dissected plateau is a plateau area
that has been severely eroded so
that the relief is sharp. Such an area
may appear as mountainous.
• Dissected plateaus are
distinguishable from orogenic
mountain belts by the lack of
folding, metamorphism, extensive
faulting.
MAJOR PLATEAUS OF THE WORLD
 Tibetan Plateau
• Highest and largest plateau in the world and
hence called the ‘roof of the world’.
• Formed due to collision of the Indo-Australian
and Eurasian tectonic plates.
• The plateau is sufficiently high enough to drive
the monsoons of India towards the south.
• It covers most of the Autonomous Tibetan
Region, part of Western China, and a part of
Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
• It is surrounded by mountains to the south by
the Himalayan Range, to the northeast by
the Kunlun Range, and to the west by
the Karakoram Range.
 Columbia – Snake Plateau
• River Columbia and its tributary
Snake meet in this plateau.
• It is bordered by the Cascade
Range and Rocky Mountains and
divided by the Columbia River.
• This plateau has been formed as
the result of volcanic eruptions
with a consequent coating
of basalt lava (Flood Basalt
Plateau).
 Colorado Plateau
• It is the largest plateau in
America.
• It is divided by the Colorado
River and the Grand Canyon.
• This plateau is an example of
intermontane plateau.
• The plateau is known for the
groundwater which is under
positive pressure and causes the
emergence of springs
called Artesian wells.
 Deccan Plateau
• Deccan Plateau is a large plateau which forms
most of the southern part of India.
• It is bordered by two mountain ranges, the
Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
• The plateau includes the Deccan Traps which is
the largest volcanic feature on Earth.
• Made of multiple basalt layers or lava flows.
• The Deccan Traps are known for containing
some unique fossils.
• The Deccan is rich in minerals. Primary mineral
ores found in this region are mica and iron ore
in the Chotanagpur region, and diamonds, gold
and other metals in the Golconda region.
 Kimberley and Katanga Plateau
• Kimberley Plateau
 Lies in the northern part of Australia.
 This plateau is made of volcanic eruption.
 Many minerals like iron, gold, lead, zinc,
silver and diamond are found here.
 Diamond is also found here.
• Katanga Plateau
 It is lying in Congo.
 It is famous for copper production.
 Other minerals like Cobalt, Uranium, Zinc,
Silver, Gold and Tin are also mined here.
 Mascarene and Laurentian Plateau
• Mascarene Plateau
 Plateaus also form in the ocean,
such as the Mascarene Plateau
in the Indian Ocean.
 It extends between the
Seychelles and Mauritius
Islands.
• Laurentian Plateau
 Lying in the eastern part of
Canada, it is a part of Canadian
Shield.
 Fine quality of iron-ore is found
here.
 Mexican and Patagonian Plateau
• Mexican Plateau
 It is called as ‘Mineral Store’. Different types
of metallic minerals like silver, copper etc. are
obtained from here.
 World’s biggest silver mine Chihuahua is
situated in the plateau.
• Patagonian Plateau
 It is a Piedmont plateau (Arid Landforms)
lying in southern part of Argentina.
 It is a rain shadow desert plateau.
 It is an important region for sheep rearing.
 Bolivian and Massif Central Plateau
• Altiplano Plateau or Bolivian
Plateau
 It is an intermontane plateau which
is located between two ranges of
Andes Mountain.
 It is a major area of Tin reserves.
• Massif Central
 This plateau lies in the central
France.
 It is famous for Grapes cultivation.
 Anatolian Plateau
• Anatolian Plateau
 Also known as Asia Minor, most
of Turkey lies on this plateau.
 It is an intermontane plateau
lying between Pontiac and
Taurus Mountain ranges.
 Tigris – Euphrates Rivers flow
through this plateau.
 Precious wool producing
Angora goats are found here.
 Spanish Plateau and Loess Plateau
• Spanish Plateau or Iberian
Plateau: It is situated in the middle
of Spain. It is a lava plateau. It is rich
in minerals like Iron.
• Loess Plateau: It is in China. The soil
here is made of fine particles
brought by the wind. This fine
loamy soil is extremely productive.
Crops grown in this soil along
the Yellow River give great yields.
 Potwar, Bavarian and Ahaggar Plateau
• Potwar Plateau: It is situated
in northern plateau (Punjab)
region of Pakistan. Its
average ‘Salt Range’ is
located to the south-west of
the plateau.
• Bavarian Plateau: Southern
part of Germany.
• Ahaggar Plateau: A small
plateau located in Algeria,
Sahara.
 Plains

• Plains are the most important landforms found on the earth surface.
• A plain is nothing but a low-lying relatively flat land surface with very
gentle slope and minimum local relief.
• About 55% of the earth’s land surface is occupied by plains.
• Most of the plain have been formed by deposition of sediments brought
down by rivers.
• Besides rivers, some plains have also been formed by the action of the
wind, moving ice and tectonic activities
• Plains usually are the best land of a country & are heavily cultivated &
populated
 CLASSIFICATION OF PLAINS
• On the basis of their mode of formation,
plains can be classified as:
• Structural plain
• Erosional plains
• Depositional plains
 Structural Plains
• These plains are mainly formed by the
upliftment of a part of the sea floor or
continental shelf.
• They are located on the borders of
almost all the major continents.
• They are formed by horizontally bedded
rocks, relatively undisturbed by the
crustal movements of the earth
• Examples include Russian Platforms,
Great plains of USA & Central lowlands
of Australia
 Erosional Plains (Peneplains)
• Erosional plains are formed by the continuous
and longtime erosion of uplands.
• The surface of such plains is hardly smooth and
hence, they are also called as Peneplains,
which means almost plain.
• These plains are carved by the agents of
erosion (Rain, river, ice, and wind)
• However scooped out by the ice are now filled
by the lakes for ex. in Northern Europe &
Northern Canada.
• Finland is estimated to have 35000 lakes
occupying 10 % of total land surface of the
country
 Depositional Plains
• These plains are formed by the depositional
activity of various geomorphic agents.
• When plains are formed by the river
deposits, they are called as riverine or
alluvial plains.
• The depositions of sediments in a lake give
rise to a Lacustrine Plain or Lake Plains.
• Example : The Valley of Kashmir .
• When plains are formed by glacial deposits,
they are called as Glacial or Drift Plains.
• When the wind is the major agent of
deposition, those plains are called as Loess
Plains.
Thank You