Library Guides: Landscapes & Landforms: Types of Landforms

Source: Paul Macallan (2020)

A landform is a naturally-formed feature on the Earth’s surface, often with a recognizable shape like a valley or mountain. They range in size and can be small like hills or much larger like mountains. They are geographical features found all over the world, and they affect the ecosystem, climate, and weather of a place. Read through the resources below to learn more about landforms and how they're created.

Landform facts for kids (Kiddle, n.d.)
A landform is a word that describes a form of land. Each type of landform is defined by its size, shape, location, and what it is made of. Landforms do not include man-made features, such as canals, ports and many harbors; and geographic features, such as deserts, forests, and grasslands. Many of the terms are not restricted to refer to features of the planet Earth, and can be used to describe surface features of other planets and similar objects in the Universe. Examples are mountains, hills, polar caps, and valleys, which are found on all of the terrestrial planets. Read through this article to learn more.
What are landforms? (Earth Eclipse, n.d.)
Landforms are the natural features and shapes existent on the face of the earth. Landforms possess many different physical characteristics and are spread out throughout the planet. Together, landforms constitute a specific terrain and their physical arrangement in the landscape forms what is termed as topography. Read through this website to learn more.
Significant rock features (GeoScience Australia, n.d.)
Australia has some of the oldest geological features in the world with the oldest known rocks dating from more than 3000 million years ago and rare zircon crystals dating back 4400 million years located in much younger rocks. This website lists some of the most well-known ones.
Australian landforms and their history (GeoScience Australia, n.d.)
Australia is a land of geological contradictions with some of the oldest features in the world alongside rocks which are in the process of formation. The continent is home to rocks dating from more than 3000 million years while others are the result of volcanic activity which continued up to only a few thousand years ago. Read through this website to learn more about Australia's landforms.
Landform (National Geographic, n.d.)
A landform is a feature on the Earth's surface that is part of the terrain. Mountains, hills, plateaus, and plains are the four major types of landforms. Read through this article to learn more.
Glacial landforms (BBC, n.d.)
Corries, cwms or cirques are the starting points for a glacier. This study guide looks at glacial landforms that are created by processes of erosion and deposition. Read through this website to learn more and test your knowledge with a quick quiz!
Landform regions of Australia (Daniel Harris, 2021, August 23)
This story map looks at the different landform regions across Australia and includes lots of amazing maps and photos.
The different types of landforms (Sciencing, 2018, October 22)
Many different types of landforms make up Earth’s topography. Several major categories of landform define that smaller portion of the planet not covered by water, including mountains, plains, plateaus and valleys. These can be formed by a variety of natural forces, including erosion from water and wind, plate movement, folding and faulting, and volcanic activity. Read this article to learn more.
List of all landforms (World Landforms, n.d.)
This website has a list of all the landforms found on Earth. Scroll through to see if you can find any you don't know!
Landforms (Quizlet, n.d.)
Use this quick quiz to check your understanding of landforms.

Australia's landforms by Bruce McClish
Publication Date: 2006
A landform is any natural feature of the Earth's surface. Explore high mountains, dive down to coral reefs and trek across dry deserts as you visit Australia's Landforms. Discover the plants and animals that inhabit the dunes, valleys, mountains, volcanic plains, coasts and lakes of Australia and find out more about how these places came to be.
Planet Earth by John Farndon
Publication Date: 2000
Explains the marvels of the earth and investigates how it has been shaped. Practical projects help you make your own discoveries. Over 200 full-colour photographs and explanatory artworks. Ideal reference for use at home or at school.
Planet Earth by Brian Williams
Publication Date: 2007
Answers more than 70 questions to help you understand key subject areas. Discover how much the Earth weights, what starts an avalanche, why the sky is blue plus many more exciting facts. Accurate illustrations and photographs create a visual factfinder packed with essential information on the forces and activity that shape our planet.
Geological change by Denise Walker
Publication Date: 2007
Using clear text, simple experiments, full-color photographs, and easy-to-read diagrams, Core Chemistry explores the earth|and its chemical foundations. Complete with a glossary and list of useful Web sites, each book invites readers to discover the fundamentals of chemistry and demonstrates how to apply this knowledge in real-world contexts.
Geology by Mark A. S. McMenamin
Publication Date: 2007
Goes deep into the core of this gritty earth science, covering everything from the history of geological theory to the formation and structure of the Earth's layers to the basics of plate tectonics, magma and fossils.