landform
Natural surface shape
A landform is a natural feature of the Earth's surface—mountains, valleys, plains, plateaus, canyons, and the like.
The term belongs to geography and geology, where it describes shapes created by erosion, tectonic activity, volcanic processes, or glacial movement: The Colorado Plateau contains some of North America's most dramatic landforms.
Sandy waterside margin
- shorelineLand-water boundary
- cliffVertical rock wall
- duneWind-formed sand ridge
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
estuary · bay · cove · peninsula · island · reef · sandbar · headland
Utmost height attained
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
- rangeExtent of variation
- massifUnified mountain group
plateau · highland · pinnacle · tor · crag · butte · mesa · escarpment
Glacier-deposited debris pile
- drumlinStreamlined glacial hill
- eskerSerpentine glacial gravel deposit
- cirqueGlacier-carved mountain basin
- hornPointed animal headgear
arête · U-shaped valley · hanging valley · fjord · tarn · erratic · roche moutonnée · finger lake
Symbol denoting variation
- alluvial fanFan-shaped sediment deposit
- floodplainFlood-prone riverside lowland
- leveeRiver flood barrier
- meanderTo travel without direction
oxbow lake · cutbank · riverbed · watershed · drainage basin · confluence · estuary · bayou
Flat highland area
- prairieOpen grassy flatland
- steppeTreeless Eurasian grassland
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- tundraFrigid treeless biome
pampas · veld · moor · heath · floodplain · coastal plain · peneplain · bajada
Collapsed volcanic summit basin
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- lava domeSteep-sided volcanic mound
- cinder coneSteep volcanic debris hill
- shield volcanoLow-profile basaltic mountain
stratovolcano · fumarole · geyser · hot spring · lava field · lava tube · volcanic island · volcanic plateau
Channel carved by flowing water
- rillVery small stream
- badlandsArid, heavily eroded terrain
- hoodooFolk magic tradition
- natural archStone formation with opening
sea arch · slot canyon · pediment · sea cave · blowhole · pothole · natural bridge · pinnacle
beach
Sandy waterside margin
lagoon · estuary · bay · cove · peninsula · island · reef · sandbar · headland · inlet
gorge
Deep, narrow valley
dale · vale · hollow · basin · dell · gully · coulee · chasm · depression · trough
peak
Utmost height attained
massif · plateau · highland · pinnacle · tor · crag · butte · mesa · escarpment · sierra
moraine
Glacier-deposited debris pile
- drumlinStreamlined glacial hill
- eskerSerpentine glacial gravel deposit
- cirqueGlacier-carved mountain basin
horn · arête · U-shaped valley · hanging valley · fjord · tarn · erratic · roche moutonnée · finger lake
delta
Symbol denoting variation
- alluvial fanFan-shaped sediment deposit
- floodplainFlood-prone riverside lowland
- leveeRiver flood barrier
meander · oxbow lake · cutbank · riverbed · watershed · drainage basin · confluence · estuary · bayou · backswamp
plateau
Flat highland area
tundra · pampas · veld · moor · heath · floodplain · coastal plain · peneplain · bajada · playa
caldera
Collapsed volcanic summit basin
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- lava domeSteep-sided volcanic mound
- cinder coneSteep volcanic debris hill
shield volcano · stratovolcano · fumarole · geyser · hot spring · lava field · lava tube · volcanic island · volcanic plateau · aa
gully
Channel carved by flowing water
natural arch · sea arch · slot canyon · pediment · sea cave · blowhole · pothole · natural bridge · pinnacle
landformbuilt environment
Human-created physical surroundings
infrastructure · building · architecture · urban development · earthwork
landformwater body
Contained natural liquid expanse
body of water · ocean · sea · lake · river