🏞️ LANDFORMS / RELIEF FEATURES World Geography · Ch 11

BPSC / BSSC — World Geography Mind Map Series

🗺️ Classification of Landforms

Erosional Landforms

Formed due to erosion in landforms

Depositional Landforms

Formed due to deposition of sediments and debris

🌬️ Landforms Formed by External Agents
  • River / Flowing Water
  • Glacier / Glacial action
  • Marine Water / Sea Waves
  • Underground Water / Karst region
  • Wind (Arid / Desert regions)
⚡ Quick Recall
Every external agent produces BOTH erosional (wearing away) and depositional (building up) landforms.
🏞️ River / Flowing Water
Processes Abrasion, Solution, Attrition, Hydraulic action
🌊 Young Stage (Erosional)
  • V-shaped valley, I-shaped valley
  • Gorge and Plunge Pool
  • Canyons, Waterfalls
  • Crater, Depression basin
🌀 Mature Stage
  • River meander on meander plain
  • Structural steps, river bed, Point bar (within floodplain)
  • Ox-bow lake
📌 Incised meander A sunken river valley feature
🌊 Old Stage (Depositional)
  • Alluvial fan, Alluvial cone
  • Natural embankments (Levee)
  • Flood plain
  • Delta (Natural port)
📌 World's largest Delta Sundarban Delta (India-Bangladesh)
⚠ Exam Trap
V-shaped valley and Waterfalls belong to the Young Stage; Ox-bow Lake belongs to the Mature Stage; Delta belongs to the Old Stage — river-stage matching is a common MCQ pattern.
🧊 Glacier / Glacial
Processes Abrasion, Plucking

Erosional Landforms

  • U-shaped valley
  • Hanging or suspended valley
  • Cirque or Ice cave
  • Cirque lake or Tarn
  • Arête or sharp ridge / Horn
  • Pyramidal peak, Nunatak
  • Spur or tail
  • Roche moutonnée (sheepback rock)
  • Glacial steps
  • Fjord

Depositional Landforms

  • Drumlins (egg-basket shape)
  • Moraines
  • Eskers
  • Kames, Kame terraces
  • Kettle holes
  • Hummocks
  • Glacial till plains
⚡ Quick Recall
Glaciers carve U-shaped valleys; Rivers carve V-shaped valleys — a frequently tested contrast.
🌊 Marine Water / Sea Waves
Processes Hydraulic action, Abrasion, Attrition, Dissolution, Wave erosion

Erosional Landforms

  • Coastal cliffs
  • Coastal grabens, caves
  • Stacks, Blowholes, Inlets
  • Natural Arch
  • Small bay, Chimney rocks

Depositional Landforms

  • Beaches
  • Barriers (barrier island)
  • Spit, Hook, Loop
  • Tombolo
  • Connecting barriers
  • Offshore barriers
🗺️ Major Coast Types
  • Fjord coast, Ria coast
  • Haff coast
  • Dalmatian coast (named after Dalmatia, Croatia — Adriatic Sea)
⚠ Exam Trap
India's western (Konkan) coast is generally classified as a Ria coast — don't confuse it with the Dalmatian coast, which is a separate coast type named after Croatia's Dalmatia region.
🕳️ Underground Water / Karst Region (Limestone-rich areas)
Processes Dissolution, Hydraulic action, Abrasion, Attrition

Erosional Landforms

  • Lapies (Limestone grooves)
  • Sinkholes / Dolines
  • Uvalas (combined dolines)
  • Polje (large valley)
  • Blind valley
  • Natural bridge
  • Karst windows

Depositional Landforms

  • Stalactite (hangs from roof)
  • Stalagmite (rises from floor)
  • Cave pillars (Stalactite + Stalagmite meet)
📌 Karst topography found in South India, Mediterranean Sea region (Limestone & Dolomite areas)
📌 Largest number of wells Australia
⚡ Quick Recall
Stalactite hangs from the roof; Stalagmite rises from the floor — together they can meet to form a Cave Pillar.
🏜️ Wind (Arid / Desert regions)
Processes Abrasion, Attrition, Deflation

Erosional Landforms

  • Inselberg (isolated hill)
  • Blow-outs
  • Mushroom rocks / Pedestal rocks
  • Earth pillars
  • Zeugen
  • Ventifact
  • Dreikanter
  • Yardang (wind-carved ridges)
  • Umbrella rocks
  • Honey-combed rocks

Depositional Landforms

  • Barkhan (crescent dune)
  • Loess (silt deposit)
  • Bajada (coalesced alluvial fans)
  • Pediment
  • Corridor (between dunes)
  • Playa (desert lake/flat)
⚡ Quick Recall
Loess Plain of China → formed by desert wind · Loess Plain of Northern Europe → formed by glacial action.
❄️ Periglacial Landforms
  • Pingo
  • Involution
  • Hummock
  • Palsa
  • Tarn
  • Talik
📌 Important Notes
  • World's largest Delta – Sundarban Delta (India-Bangladesh)
  • Incised / Sunken meander – a sunken river valley feature
  • Karst topography – present in South India, Mediterranean region • Formed in Limestone & Dolomite
  • Largest number of wells – Australia
  • Loess Plain of China – Desert wind • Loess Plain of Northern Europe – Glacial
  • Stalactite hangs from roof, Stalagmite rises from floor
⚡ Quick Recall
Periglacial landforms occur in cold, non-glaciated regions with permafrost — distinct from true glacial landforms.
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