How are plains depicted on a physical map? Tell me about a plain that you know well.

1. Flat and hilly plains. Most of the world is occupied by plains. Vast areas of flat or hilly surface of the Earth, some parts of which vary in height, are called plains.
Imagine a flat, treeless steppe covered with grassy vegetation. On such a plain, the horizon is visible from all sides and has a rectilinear outline of the boundaries. This is a flat plain.
Eurasia between the rivers Yenisei and Lena is located Central Siberian plateau. Plateaus also occupy most of Africa.

The second type of plains is hilly plains. The relief of the hilly plains is very complex. Here there are separate hills and hills, ravines and depressions.
The surface of plains usually slopes in one direction. The direction of the flow of the rivers corresponds to this slope. The slope of the plain is clearly visible on the plan and on the map. The plains are the most convenient for human economic activity. Most of the settlements are located on the plains. Flat areas are convenient for agriculture, for the construction of transport routes, industrial buildings. Therefore, man has mastered flat areas since ancient times. At present, the overwhelming majority of the peoples of the globe inhabit flat places.

2. According to the absolute height, three types of plains are distinguished (Fig. 43). Plains with a height of up to 200 m above sea level are called lowlands. On the physical map, lowlands are shown in green. The lowlands located near the coast of the sea are lower than its level. These include Caspian lowland in the west of our country. The largest lowland on the globe is the Amazonian in South America.

Rice. 43. Differences of plains in height.

Plains with an absolute height of 200 m to 500 m are called hills (for example, a hill Ustyurt between the Caspian and Aral seas). On physical maps, hills are shown in yellowish color.
Plains with a height of more than 500 m are plateaus. Plateaus on the map are shown in brown.

3. Formation of plains. Plains are divided into several types according to the method of formation. Plains that have been formed as a result of exposure and uplift of the seabed are called primary plains. These plains include the Caspian lowland.
On the globe there are plains formed from river sediments and sediments. On such plains, the thickness of sedimentary rocks, consisting of pebbles, sand, clay, sometimes reaches several hundred meters. These plains are La Plata along the Parana River in South America, in Asia - Great China Plain, Indo-Gangetic and Mesopotage. At the same time, there are plains on the earth's surface formed as a result of the long-term destruction of mountains. Such plains consist of folded layers of hard rocks. Therefore, they are hilly. Examples of rolling plains include the East European Plain and Saryarka plain.
Some plains are formed by lava flows poured onto the earth's surface. In this case, there is a kind of leveling of the existing irregularities. These plains include the following plateaus: Central Siberian, Western Australian, Deccan.

4. Changing the plains. On the plains, slow oscillatory movements are observed due to the influence of internal forces.
Plains undergo various changes under the influence of external forces. Looking at a physical map, you will see how the surface of the earth is indented by rivers and their tributaries. River water, washing away the banks and the sole, forms a valley. Since the lowland rivers flow meandering, they form wide valleys. The greater the slope, the more rivers cut into the surface of the Earth and change its topography.
In spring, meltwater and heavy rain waters create temporary surface currents (watercourses) that form ravines and ditches. Usually ravines are formed on small slopes of hills that are not fastened by plant roots. If you do not take action on ichus in time ­ friction, then the ravines, branching, grow. This can cause great damage to the economy: fields, arable land, gardens, roads, various buildings. To stop the growth of ravines, they are covered with peat, rubble, stones. The bottom and slopes are covered with peat, which creates conditions for the growth of vegetation.
The moat, like the ravine, is an elongated depression. The only difference is that the moat has gentle slopes. Its bottom and slopes are covered with grass and shrubs.
The plains also change under the influence of the wind. The wind destroys solid rocks and carries away their particles. In deserts, steppes, on arable lands and on the shores of the seas, the effect of the wind is very noticeable. On the coasts of the seas or large lakes, you can see sand ridges formed by waves. The wind blowing from the sea surface easily carries away dry sand from the shores. The grains of sand are moved by the wind until they encounter some kind of obstacle (bush, stone, etc.). Sand, accumulating in this place, gradually takes the form of elongated mounds, on the side where the wind blows, the slopes are gentle, and on the other - steeper. The two lower edges of the mound are elongated and gradually decrease, therefore, they acquire a crescent shape. Such sandy hills are called dunes.
The height of the dunes, depending on the amount of sand and the strength of the wind, reaches from 20-30 m to 50-100 m. The wind, blowing sand grains from the slopes, shifts them towards the slope. Due to this, they are constantly moving forward.
Large dunes, moving from 1 m to 20 m a year, gradually change the terrain, and small dunes move up to 2-3 m per day during a strong storm. Moving dunes cover forests, gardens, fields, settlements.
Sandy hills in the desert are called dunes (Fig. 44). If the dunes are formed by the accumulation of sand brought by the waters of the oceans, seas and rivers, then the dunes arise from the sand during the weathering of local rocks. In our country, dunes are common in the Northern Aral Sea region, in the Kyzylkum, the Caspian lowland, and in the Southern Balkhash region. The height of dunes usually reaches 15-20 m, and in the largest deserts of the globe - the Sahara, Central Asia, Australia - up to 100-120 m.

Rice. 44. Dunes.

The dunes, like the dunes, are moved by the wind. Small dunes move up to 100-200 m per year, and large ones - up to 30-40 m per year. In most cases, the person himself contributes to the movement of sand. Sandy hills turn into wandering sands as a result of deforestation, overgrazing on pastures.
To stop the movement of dunes and dunes, drought-resistant shrubs and plants are planted on their gentle slopes. Trees are planted in the hollows between the hills.

1. What is called the plains? What types of plains exist?

2. How do the plains differ in height?

3. On the physical map, find all the plains named in the text.

4. If your area is flat, describe the topography of the land. By height and relief, determine what type of plains it belongs to. Learn from adults how your area is used for economic purposes?

5. What forces and how do they affect the change in the relief of the plains? Justify your answer with specific examples.

6. Why can't running water wash away slope soil with vegetation?

7*. In what parts of the territory of Kazakhstan is sandy relief common and why?

Plains are very large areas of the earth's surface, the height fluctuations on which are small, and the existing slopes are insignificant. They are distinguished by absolute height and by the method of formation or, in other words, by origin. What are the plains in terms of height and origin?

What are the plains in height

According to the absolute height, the plains are divided into lowlands, uplands, and plateaus. A lowland is a plain, the highest parts of which do not exceed 200 meters above sea level. Examples of such plains are the Caspian or Amazonian lowlands.

If the elevation difference of the earth's surface on a plain is in the range from 200 to 500 meters, then it is called a hill. In Russia, such plains include, for example, the Central Russian Upland or the Volga Upland.

Plateaus or, in other words, upland plateaus are plains located above half a kilometer above sea level. This, for example, is the Central Siberian Plateau or the Great Plains located in North America.

What are the plains by origin

By origin, alluvial (or, in other words, accumulative), denudation, marine, continental accumulative, water-glacial, abrasion and reservoir plains are distinguished.

Alluvial plains are formed as a result of many years of deposition and accumulation of river sediments. Examples of such plains are the Amazonian and La Plata lowlands.

Denudation plains are formed as a result of the long destruction of mountainous terrain. This, for example, is the Kazakh upland.

Sea plains are located along the coasts of the seas and oceans and they were formed as a result of the retreat of the sea. An example of such a plain is the Black Sea Lowland.

Continental accumulative plains are located at the foot of the mountains and they were formed as a result of the deposition and accumulation of rocks brought by water flows. Examples of such a plain are the Kuban or Chechen plains.

Water-glacial plains are called plains that were once formed as a result of the activity of a glacier, such as Polesie or Meshchera.

Abrasive plains were formed as a result of the destruction of the coastline of the seas by waves and surf.

Stratum plains make up 64% of all plains on the continents. They are located on the platforms of the earth's crust, and are composed of layers of sedimentary rocks. Examples of such plains are the East European, West Siberian and many others.

Plains of the plains

areas of the land surface, the bottom of the oceans and seas, characterized by slight fluctuations in altitude. On land, plains are distinguished below sea level, low-lying (altitude up to 200 m), elevated (from 200 to 500 m) and upland (above 500 m). According to the structural principle, the plains of the platform and orogenic (mountain) regions are distinguished (mainly within the intermountain and foothill troughs); according to the predominance of certain external processes - denudation, formed as a result of the destruction of elevated landforms, and accumulative, arising from the accumulation of layers of loose deposits. Collectively, plains cover most of the Earth's surface. The greatest plain in the world is the Amazonian (over 5 million km 2).

PLAINS, areas of the land surface, the bottom of the oceans and seas, characterized by slight fluctuations in altitude. On land, there are plains lying below sea level. (cm. SEA LEVEL), low-lying (height up to 200 m), elevated (from 200 to 500 m) and upland (above 500 m). According to the structural principle, the plains of the platform and orogenic (mountain) regions are distinguished (mainly within the intermountain and foothill troughs); according to the predominance of certain external processes - denudation, formed as a result of the destruction of elevated landforms, and accumulative, resulting from the accumulation of layers of loose deposits. Collectively, plains cover most of the Earth's surface. The greatest plain in the world is the Amazonian (over 5 million km 2).
* * *
Plains, vast, fairly flat areas of the earth's surface. They occupy 15-20% of the land. Altitude fluctuations within them do not exceed 200 m, and slopes are less than 5 °. Plains are one of the most important elements of the relief of both land and the bottom of the seas and oceans.
Types of land plains
Numerous types of plains are distinguished by the nature and height of the surface, geological structure, origin and history of development.
Depending on the appearance and size of irregularities, they distinguish: flat, wavy, ridge, stepped and other plains.
According to the shape of the surface, they are distinguished: horizontal (Great Plain of China (cm. GREAT CHINA PLAIN)), inclined (mainly foothills) and concave (plains of intermountain depressions - the Tsaidam basin (cm. TsAYDAM BELL)) plains.
The classification of plains by height relative to sea level is widespread. Negative plains are located below sea level, often in deserts, for example, the Qattara depression (cm. KATTARA) or the lowest place on land - the Ghor depression (cm. GHOR)(up to 395 m below sea level). The low plains, or lowlands (heights from 0 to 200 m above sea level), include the greatest plains in the world: the Amazonian lowland (cm. AMAZON LOWLAND), The East European Plain (cm. THE EAST EUROPEAN PLAIN) and the West Siberian Plain (cm. WEST SIBERIAN PLAIN). The surface of elevated plains, or hills, is located in the altitude range of 200-500 m (Central Russian Upland (cm. CENTRAL RUSSIAN HIGHLIGHT), Valdai Upland (cm. Valdai hill)). Upland plains rise above 500 m, for example, one of the largest in Central Asia - the Gobi (cm. GOBI (band of deserts and semi-deserts in Mongolia)). Both elevated and upland plains with a flat or undulating surface, separated by slopes or ledges from lower neighboring territories, the term plateau is often used. (cm. PLATEAU).
The role of external processes
The appearance of the plain depends largely on external processes. By the sum of the impact of external processes, the plains are divided into accumulative and denudation. Accumulative plains formed during the accumulation of strata of loose sediments (see accumulation (cm. ACCUMULATION)), are river (alluvial), lacustrine, marine, ash, glacial, water-glacial, etc. For example, the thickness of sediments, mainly river and marine, on the Flanders Lowland (North Sea coast) reaches 600 m, and the thickness of silty rocks ( loess ( cm. LESS)) on the Loess Plateau (cm. LESS PLATEAU)- 250-300 m. Accumulative plains also include volcanic plateaus composed of hardened lavas and loose products of volcanic eruptions (Dariganga plateau in Mongolia, Columbian plateau (cm. COLOMBIA PLATEAU) in North America).
Denudation plains arose as a result of the destruction of ancient hills or mountains and removal by water, wind, etc. (see denudation (cm. DENUDATION)) of the resulting material. Depending on the prevailing process, due to which the destruction of the ancient relief and the leveling of the surface occurred, erosional (with the predominance of the activity of flowing waters), abrasion (created by wave processes on the sea coasts), deflationary (leveled by wind) and other denudation plains are distinguished. Many plains have a complex origin, as they were shaped by various processes. Depending on the mechanism of formation, the following are distinguished among the denudation plains: penepleny - in this case, the removal and demolition of material occurred more or less evenly from the entire surface of the ancient mountains, for example, the Kazakh upland (cm. KAZAKH SMALL-SOPOCHNIK) or syrts of the Tien Shan; pediplains arising from the destruction of a previously elevated relief, which begins from the outskirts (many plains at the foot of the mountains, mainly deserts and savannahs of Africa, etc.).
The role of internal processes
The participation of tectonic processes in the formation of plains can be both passive and active. With passive participation, the main role in the formation of structural plains is played by a fairly even - horizontal or inclined (monocline) - occurrence of rock layers (see Turgai Plateau (cm. TURGAI PLATEAU)). Many structural plains are simultaneously accumulative, for example, the Caspian lowland (cm. CASPIAN LOWLAND), North German Plain (cm. NORTH GERMAN LOWLAND). With the predominance of denudation in the formation of structural plains, layered plains are distinguished (Swabian-Franconian Jura (cm. Swabian-Franconian Jura)). The socle plains worked out in dislocated rocks (Lake Plateau in Finland) differ from them.
In the course of intermittent tectonic uplifts, followed by a period of rest, sufficient for the destruction and leveling of the relief, layered plains are formed, for example, the Great Plains (cm. GREAT PLAINS).
Geological principle of typification
Platform plains are formed in areas of relatively calm tectonic and magmatic activity. These include most of the plains, including the largest ones. Plains of orogenic regions (see orogen (cm. ORogen)) are characterized by intense activity of the earth's interior. These are the plains of intermountain basins (Fergana Valley (cm. FERGANA VALLEY)) and foothill troughs (Podolsk Upland (cm. PODILSKY HIGHLIGHT)). Sometimes the plains are considered parts of the so-called lowland countries - vast spaces where small areas with highly dissected relief are found (for example, the Zhiguli (cm. ZHIGULI) on the Russian plain (cm. RUSSIAN PLAIN)- flat country).
Land plains are the most favorable for comprehensive development by man. They are home to the majority of the world's population. The largest tracts of forests and arable land with the most fertile soils are concentrated here, full-flowing rivers flow and large lakes are located. On the accumulative plains, oil, gas, coal, salts and other minerals are being extracted. However, part of the plains is characterized by an arid climate, they are occupied by giant deserts - Kyzylkum (cm. KYZILKUM) and the Karakum on the Turan lowland (cm. TURAN LOWLAND), Great Sandy Desert (cm. GREAT SANDY DESERT) and the Great Victoria Desert (cm. GREAT VICTORIA DESERT) on the Western Plateau of Australia, etc.
Types of underwater plains
Among the underwater plains, two types are most common: continental shallows and deep-sea abyssal plains. (cm. ABYSSAL PLAINS). Continental shelf, or shelf (cm. SHELF), usually extends from the coast to depths of 200 m and occupies the underwater margin of the continents (cm. UNDERWATER MATERIAL). The most extensive shoals, more than 1000 km wide, are located on the northern outskirts of Eurasia and North America. Deep-water abyssal plains (wavy, flat, hilly) occupy huge basins - the ocean bed and the transition zone depressions (cm. TRANSITION ZONE) at depths of 3000-7000 m. Abyssal plains are especially numerous in the Atlantic Ocean; the largest of them are the Som and Demerera plains (cm. DEMERARA).

encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

See what "plains" are in other dictionaries:

Areas of the land surface, the bottom of the oceans and seas, characterized by slight fluctuations in altitude. On land, plains are distinguished below sea level, low-lying (altitude up to 200 m), elevated (from 200 to 500 m) and upland (above 500 m). By… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Rivers differ from highlands in that they are at a low altitude above sea level. It can be approximately assumed that the plains are below 150 soots. or 300 m., or 1000 rus. ft. above sea level, and the highlands are higher. Similar to what has already been seen…… Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

PLAINS, areas of the land surface, the bottom of the oceans and seas, characterized by small slopes and slight fluctuations in heights. On land, there are plains lying below sea level, low-lying (height up to 200 m), elevated (200-500 m) and upland ... ... Modern Encyclopedia

Rivers differ from uplands (see) in that they are at a low altitude above sea level. It can be approximately assumed that the plains are below 150 soots. or 300 m, or 1000 rus. ft. above sea level, and the highlands are higher. Like what already... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Areas of the land surface, the bottom of the oceans and seas, characterized by insignificant. height fluctuations. On land, R. are distinguished, lying below ur. m., low-lying (height up to 200 m), elevated (from 200 to 500 m) and upland (above 500 m). According to the structural principle ... ... Natural science. encyclopedic Dictionary

Plains- Plains, in: Great Plains (plateau) ... Russian spelling dictionary

- (English Sto Plains) a fictional area in the series of books "The Flat World" by Terry Pratchett. Contents 1 General characteristics 2 Cities and countries of the plain Sto 2.1 Sto Lat ... Wikipedia

Lichkov, 1935, vast plains that arise during the era of the existence of high-water streams fed by melting glaciers (for example, Polesie, Meshcherskaya lowland, etc.). Like the great accumulative plains, they are confined to the tect. deflections. The term... ... Geological Encyclopedia

Plains - areas of the land surface, the bottom of the oceans and seas, characterized by slight fluctuations in altitude (up to 200 m, slopes less than 5 °). According to the structural principle, the plains of platform and orogenic (mountain) areas are distinguished (mainly within the intermountain and foothill troughs); according to the predominance of certain external processes - denudation, formed as a result of the destruction of elevated landforms, and accumulative, arising from the accumulation of layers of loose deposits. Together, the plains occupy most of the Earth's surface, 15-20% of the land. The greatest plain in the world is the Amazonian (over 5 million sq. km).

Numerous types of plains are distinguished by the nature and height of the surface, geological structure, origin and history of development. Depending on the appearance and size of irregularities, they distinguish: flat, wavy, ridge, stepped plains. According to the shape of the surface, horizontal plains (Great Chinese Plain), sloping plains (mainly foothills), concave plains (in intermountain depressions - the Tsaidam basin) are distinguished.

The classification of plains by height relative to sea level is widespread. Negative plains are located below sea level, often in deserts, for example, the Qattara depression or the lowest place on land - the Ghor depression (up to 395 m below sea level). The low plains, or lowlands (heights from 0 to 200 m above sea level), include the greatest plains in the world: Amazonian lowland, East European Plain and West Siberian Plain. The surface of elevated plains, or hills, is located in the altitude range of 200-500 m (Central Russian Upland, Valdai Upland). Upland plains rise above 500 m, for example, one of the largest in Central Asia - the Gobi. Both elevated and upland plains with a flat or undulating surface, separated by slopes or ledges from lower neighboring territories, the term plateau is often used.

The appearance of the plain depends largely on external processes. By the sum of the impact of external processes, the plains are divided into accumulative and denudation. Accumulative plains formed during the accumulation of strata of loose deposits (accumulation) are river (alluvial), lacustrine, marine, ash, glacial, water-glacial. For example, the thickness of sediments, mainly river and marine, on the Flanders Lowland (North Sea coast) reaches 600 m, and the thickness of silty rocks (loesses) on the Loess Plateau is 250-300 m. loose products of volcanic eruptions (Dariganga plateau in Mongolia, Columbian plateau in North America).

Denudation plains arose as a result of the destruction of ancient hills or mountains and the removal of water, wind (denudation) of the resulting material. Depending on the prevailing process, due to which the destruction of the ancient relief and the leveling of the surface occurred, erosional (with the predominance of the activity of flowing waters), abrasion (created by wave processes on the sea coasts), deflationary (leveled by wind) and other denudation plains are distinguished. Many plains have a complex origin, as they were shaped by various processes. Depending on the mechanism of formation, among the denudation plains, the following are distinguished: peneplens - in this case, the removal and demolition of material occurred more or less evenly from the entire surface of the ancient mountains, for example, the Kazakh upland or the Tien Shan syrts; pediplains arising from the destruction of a previously elevated relief, which begins from the outskirts (many plains at the foot of the mountains, mainly the deserts and savannas of Africa).

The participation of tectonic processes in the formation of plains can be both passive and active. With passive participation, the main role in the formation of structural plains is played by a fairly even - horizontal or inclined (monocline) - occurrence of rock layers (Turgai plateau). Many structural plains are simultaneously accumulative, such as the Caspian Lowland, the North German Lowland. With the predominance of denudation in the formation of structural plains, layered plains (Swabian-Franconian Jura) are distinguished. The socle plains worked out in dislocated rocks (Lake Plateau in Finland) differ from them. In the course of intermittent tectonic uplifts, followed by a period of rest, sufficient for the destruction and leveling of the relief, layered plains are formed, for example, the Great Plains.

Platform plains are formed in areas of relatively calm tectonic and magmatic activity. These include most of the plains, including the largest ones. The plains of the orogenic regions (see orogen) are distinguished by the intense activity of the earth's interior. These are the plains of intermountain basins (Fergana Valley) and foothill troughs (Podolsk Upland). Sometimes the plains are considered parts of the so-called flat countries - vast spaces where there are small areas with a highly dissected terrain (for example, the Zhiguli on the Russian Plain - a flat country).

If you look at the physical map of the world, you can see that mountains and plains are the main types of land relief, and the plains are larger in area than the mountain ranges. Most of the population of our planet lives on the plains, which are distinguished by fertile soils and a climate favorable for agriculture.

Interestingly, not all continents are equally flat. Most of the plains are located in Africa (about 84%), in Asia, on the contrary - 57% of the territory of the continent is occupied by the largest mountain systems of the world: Tibet, Altai, Himalayas, Pamir, etc.

What are plains and how did they appear

Before we learn the history of the appearance of plains and classify them according to existing types, let's define the term itself. In principle, the word itself contains the answer to the question of what plains are. These are flat areas at the bottom of the oceans or on the surface of the Earth, often occupying vast areas. The largest plain on our planet is the Amazonian lowland in South America.

The plains differ from each other in their geological structure, the nature of the relief and height. In short, geologists explain their appearance on land in this way: once in prehistoric times, mountains rose in the place where the plains are now, then over a long period these mountains were destroyed by earthquakes until they were almost completely leveled.

At first glance, it may seem that the plains are practically flat spaces. In fact, their relief is complex and diverse. So, in some parts of the Earth, the plains are really almost flat, for example, in the semi-deserts north of the Caspian, in other places their surface is crossed by ridges, hills and ridges - hills with gentle slopes. Such a hilly plain is, for example, East European.

Classification of plains by absolute height

It is not difficult to give a description of the plain, because, as we have already found out, this term means the vast expanse of land with a flat or hilly relief. All plains, depending on the height at which they are located relative to sea level, are divided into several types.

• The first is the lowlands. They can be located either below sea level, like the Caspian, or their height does not exceed 200 meters above sea level, like, for example, at the West Siberian. Where the earth's crust sags, there are coastal plains. One of these places is the Padana Lowland, on which the city of Venice is located.
• Uplands are the next type of plains. Their height above sea level ranges from 200 to 500 meters. Highlands are a mixture of hilly and flat areas, such as the Central Plains of North America.
• The highest plains on Earth are plateaus with a flat or hilly terrain, located at an altitude of 500 m to 1 km and above. An example of a plateau is the Anatolian in Turkey or the Altiplano in South America.

the East European Plain

The second largest plain in the world is the East European, which is also called Russian. It stretches from the coast of the White Sea in the north to the coast of the Caspian Sea in the south. The Russian Plain belongs to the type of uplands, since its average height above sea level reaches 170 m.

Most of its climate is temperate continental, only in the far north is subarctic. Despite urbanization, almost half of the territory of the East European Plain is covered with forests, and in some of its areas, the reserves Askania Nova, Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Vodlozersky National Park, etc. have been created.

West Siberian Plain

Between the Central Siberian Plateau and the Ural Mountains is the West Siberian Plain - the third largest after the Amazonian and Russian. Its main feature is a very even relief. The climate throughout its territory is continental with a sharp temperature drop and unstable weather.

The Siberian Plain is rich in minerals. In addition to gas and oil, iron ore, peat, brown coal are mined here. On the territory of the plain there are about a million lakes of various sizes and several vegetation zones: tundra, forest-tundra, forest-steppe, forest swamps and steppe.

Severe waterlogging of large areas is another distinguishing feature of the Siberian Plain. This is due to several reasons: permafrost, low temperatures, flat relief, excessive moisture.

In conclusion, we note that the relief of the plains is the most convenient for economic activity and life, therefore their territories have been largely changed by mankind.