LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION
A landform is essentially a distinct, recognisable physical feature on the surface of the Earth. Examples include hills, valleys, mountains, and plains. These are the products of geomorphic processes like weathering, erosion, and deposition that have acted upon the Earth’s crust over time.
A landscape is a larger unit that comprises multiple related landforms. For instance, a mountainous landscape might include individual peaks, valleys, and plateaus. Landscapes are shaped by the same geomorphic agents as landforms but are broader in scope and complexity.
Most geomorphic processes are slow and incremental, operating over long periods of time. For example, the Grand Canyon was carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. However, certain events like volcanic eruptions or landslides can dramatically alter landforms in a very short period.
Landforms are not static; they have a lifecycle akin to living organisms, going through stages of youth, maturity, and old age. In their ‘youth’, landforms are generally steep and rugged, as erosional and depositional processes have not yet had time to smooth them out. Over time, these processes make landforms more ‘mature’, rounding off their edges and filling in their valleys. Finally, in their ‘old age’, landforms become increasingly flat and subdued.