Links to Wikipedia articles on landforms
Landforms are categorized by characteristic physical attributes such as their creating process, shape, elevation, slope, orientation, rock exposure, and soil type.
Landforms by process
Landforms organized by the processes that create them.
Aeolian landforms
Aeolian landform – Landforms produced by action of the winds include:
Dry lake – Basin or depression that formerly contained a standing surface water bodySandhill – Type of ecological community or xeric wildfire-maintained ecosystemVentifact – Rock that has been eroded by wind-driven sand or ice crystalsYardang – Streamlined aeolian landform
Coastal and oceanic landforms
Coastal and oceanic landforms include:
Abyssal fan – Underwater geological structures associated with large-scale sediment depositionAbyssal plain – Flat area on the deep ocean floorArchipelago – Collection of islandsAtoll – Ring-shaped coral reefArch – Arch-shaped natural rock formationAyre – Shingle beaches in Orkney and ShetlandBarrier bar – Natural submerged sandbank that rises from a body of water to near the surfacePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Barrier island – Coastal dune landform that forms by wave and tidal action parallel to the mainland coastBay – Recessed, coastal body of water connected to an ocean or lakeBaymouth bar – Sandbank that partially or completely closes access to a bayBeach – Area of loose particles at the edge of the sea or other body of waterRaised beach – Emergent coastal landformBeach cusps – Shoreline formations made up of various grades of sediment in an arc patternBeach ridge – Wave-swept or wave-deposited ridge running parallel to a shorelineBight – Shallowly concave bend or curve in a coastline, river, or other geographical featureBlowhole – Hole at the top of a sea-cave which allows waves to force water or spray out of the holeChannel – Type of landform in which part of a body of water is confined to a relatively narrow but long regionCape – Large headland extending into a body of water, usually the seaCalanque – Narrow, steep-walled inlet on the Mediterranean coastCliff – Tall, near vertical rock faceCoast – Area where land meets the sea or oceanContinental shelf – Coastal and oceanic landformCoral reef – Outcrop of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of stony coral skeletonsCove – Small sheltered bay or coastal inletCuspate foreland – Geographical features found on coastlines and lakeshoresDune system – Hill of loose sand built by aeolian processes or the flow of waterEstuary – Partially enclosed coastal body of brackish waterFirth – Scottish word used for various coastal inlets and straitsFjard – Glacially formed, broad, shallow inletFjord – Long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial activityGeo – Inlet, a gully or a narrow and deep cleft in the face of a cliffGulf – Large inlet from the ocean into the landmass
Headland – Landform extending into a body of water, often with significant height and dropInlet – Indentation of a shorelineIsland – Piece of subcontinental land completely surrounded by waterIslet – Very small islandIsthmus – Narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areasLagoon – Shallow body of water separated from a larger one by a narrow landformMachair – Fertile low-lying grassy plainMarine terrace – Emergent coastal landformMid-ocean ridge – Basaltic underwater mountain system formed by plate tectonic spreadingOceanic basin – Geologic basin under the seaOceanic plateau – Relatively flat submarine region that rises well above the level of the ambient seabedOceanic ridge – An underwater mountain system formed by plate tectonic spreadingOceanic trench – Long and narrow depressions of the sea floorPeninsula – Landform surrounded more than half but not entirely by waterRia – Coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of an unglaciated river valleyRiver delta – Silt deposition landform at the mouth of a riverSalt marsh – Coastal ecosystem between land and open saltwater that is regularly floodedSea cave – Cave formed by the wave action of the sea and located along present or former coastlinesSeamount – Mountain rising from the ocean seafloor that does not reach to the water's surfaceSeamount chains – Mountain rising from the ocean seafloor that does not reach to the water's surfacePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Shoal – Natural submerged sandbank that rises from a body of water to near the surfaceShore – Area where land meets the sea or oceanPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Sound – A long, relatively wide body of water, connecting two larger bodies of waterSpit – Coastal bar or beach landform deposited by longshore driftStrait – Naturally formed, narrow, typically navigable waterway that connects two larger bodies of waterStrandflat – Type of landform found in high-latitude areasStack – Geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock, and stumpSubmarine canyon – Steep-sided valley cut into the seabed of the continental slopeSurge channel – Type of coastal landformTessellated pavement – Relatively flat rock surface that is subdivided into more or less regular shapes by fracturesTidal marsh – Marsh subject to tidal change in waterTide pool – Rocky pool on a seashore, separated from the sea at low tide, filled with seawaterTombolo – Deposition landform in which an island is connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmusVolcanic arc – Chain of volcanoes formed above a subducting plateWave-cut platform – Narrow flat area created by erosion
Cryogenic landforms
Blockfield – a surface covered by angular rocks, a landform result of periglaciationPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Cryoplanation terrace – Formation of plains, terraces and pediments in periglacial environmentsEarth hummocks – Small knoll or mound above groundPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Kurum – Mantle of loose rocks moving by creeping on gentle slopes.Lithalsa – Frost-induced raised land form in permafrost areasNivation hollow – Geomorphic processes associated with snow patchesPalsa – A low, often oval, frost heave occurring in polar and subpolar climatesPermafrost plateau – A low, often oval, frost heave occurring in polar and subpolar climatesPingo – Mound of earth-covered iceRock glacier – Glacial landformSolifluction lobes and sheets – Freeze-thaw mass wasting slope processesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Thermokarst – Irregular land surface of marshy hollows and small hummocks formed as permafrost thaws
Erosion landforms
Landforms produced by erosion and weathering usually occur in rocky or fluvial environments, and many also appear under those headings.
Arête – Narrow ridge of rock which separates two valleysBadlands – Type of heavily eroded terrainBornhardt – A large dome-shaped, steep-sided, bald rockButte – Isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat topCanyon – Deep chasm between cliffsCave – Natural underground space large enough for a human to enterCirque – An amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosionCliff – Tall, near vertical rock faceChink , regional term in Central Asia for steep chalk and limestone escarpments and cliffs of height up to 350m, often around flat-top elevationsCryoplanation terrace – Formation of plains, terraces and pediments in periglacial environmentsCuesta – Hill or ridge with a gentle slope on one side and a steep slope on the otherDissected plateau – Plateaus area that has been severely eroded so that the relief is sharpErg – Broad area of desert covered with wind-swept sandEtchplain – Plain where the bedrock has been subject to considerable subsurface weatheringExhumed river channel – Ridge of sandstone that remains when the softer flood plain mudstone is eroded awayFjord – Long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial activityFlared slope – Rock-wall with a smooth transition into a concavity at the foot zoneFlatiron – Steeply sloping triangular landformGulch – Deep V-shaped valley formed by erosionGully – Landform created by running water and/or mass movement eroding sharply into soilHogback – Long, narrow ridgeHoodoo – Tall, thin spire of relatively soft rock usually topped by harder rockHomoclinal ridge – Ridge with a moderate sloping backslope and steeper frontslopeInselberg , also known as Monadnock – Isolated, steep rock hill on relatively flat terrainInverted relief – Landscape features that have reversed their elevation relative to other featuresLavaka – Type of gully, formed via groundwater sappingLimestone pavement – Natural karst landform consisting of a flat, incised surface of exposed limestoneMesa – Elevated area of land with a flat top and sidesMushroom rock – Naturally occurring rock whose shape resembles a mushroomNatural arch – Arch-shaped natural rock formationPaleoplain - A buried erosion plain; a particularly large and flat erosion surfacePediment – Very gently sloping inclined bedrock surfacePediplain – Extensive plain formed by the coalescence of pedimentsPeneplain – Low-relief plain formed by protracted erosionPlanation surface – Large-scale surface that is almost flatPotrero – Long mesa that at one end slopes upward to higher terrainRidge – Long, narrow, elevated landformRôche moutonnée – Rock formation created by the passing of a glacierPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets List of rock formations Strike ridge – Ridge with a moderate sloping backslope and steeper frontslopeStructural bench – Long, relatively narrow land bounded by distinctly steeper slopes above and belowStructural terrace – A step-like landformTepui – Table-top mountain or mesa in the Guiana Highlands of South AmericaTessellated pavement – Relatively flat rock surface that is subdivided into more or less regular shapes by fracturesTruncated spur – Ridge that descends towards a valley floor or coastline that is cut shortTor – Large, free-standing rock outcrop on a gentle hill summitValley – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itWave-cut platform – Narrow flat area created by erosionWind gap – Topographic gap made by a former waterway
Fluvial landforms
Fluvial – Sediment processes associated with rivers and streamsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets landforms include:
Ait – Islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in EnglandAlluvial fan – Fan-shaped deposit of sedimentAnabranch – A section of a river or stream that diverts from the main channel and rejoins it downstream.Arroyo – Dry watercourse with flow after rainPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Asymmetric valley – Valley that has steeper slopes on one sideBackswamp – Environment on a floodplain where deposits settle after a floodBajada – compound Alluvial fanPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Bar – Natural submerged sandbank that rises from a body of water to near the surfaceBayou – Body of water in flat, low-lying areasBench – Long, relatively narrow land bounded by distinctly steeper slopes above and belowBraided channel – Network of river channels separated by small, and often temporary, islandsCanyon – Deep chasm between cliffsCave – Natural underground space large enough for a human to enterCliff – Tall, near vertical rock faceCut bank – Outside bank of a water channel, which is continually undergoing erosionCrevasse splay – Sediment deposited on a floodplain by a stream which breaks its leveesConfluence – Meeting of two or more bodies of flowing waterDrainage basin – Land area where water converges to a common outletDrainage divide – Elevated terrain that separates neighbouring drainage basinsEndorheic basin – Closed drainage basin that allows no outflowEntrenched meander – One of a series of curves in a channel of a matured streamPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Epigenetic valley – Valley created by erosion and with little or no sympathy for bedrock structureEsker – Long, winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel associated with former glaciersExhumed river channel – Ridge of sandstone that remains when the softer flood plain mudstone is eroded awayFloodplain – Land adjacent to a river which is flooded during periods of high dischargeFluvial island – Exposed landmass within a riverFluvial terrace – Elongated terraces that flank the sides of floodplains and river valleysGorge – Deep chasm between cliffsGully – Landform created by running water and/or mass movement eroding sharply into soilLevee – Ridge or wall to hold back waterMarsh – Low-lying and seasonally waterlogged landMeander – One of a series of curves in a channel of a matured streamMisfit stream – River too large or too small to have eroded the valley or cave passage in which it flowsNarrows – Restricted land or water passageOxbow lake – U-shaped lake or poolPoint bar – Landform related to streams and riversPlunge pool – Depression at the base of a waterfallRapids – River section with increased velocity and turbulenceRiffle – Shallow landform in a flowing channelRiver – Natural flowing watercourseRiver delta – Silt deposition landform at the mouth of a riverRiver island – Exposed landmass within a riverRock-cut basin – Cylindrical depression cut into stream or river bedsShut-in – Type of rock formation found in Ozarks streamsThalweg – Line of lowest elevation in a watercourse or valleyTowhead – Exposed landmass within a riverShoal – Natural submerged sandbank that rises from a body of water to near the surfaceSpring – A point at which water emenges from an aquifer to the surfaceStrath – Large valleyStream – Body of surface water flowing down a channelStream pool – Deep and slow-moving stretch of a watercourseSwamp – A forested wetlandValley – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itVale – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itWadi – River valley, especially a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rainWaterfall – A point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical dropWatershed – Land area where water converges to a common outletYazoo stream – Hydrologic termV-shaped valley – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Impact landforms
Landforms created by extraterrestrial impacts – Collision of two astronomical objects – include:
Central peak – Large impact craters with uplifted centresPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Complex crater – Large impact craters with uplifted centresCratered landscape
Ejecta blanket – Symmetrical apron of ejecta that surrounds an impact craterImpact crater – Circular depression in a solid astronomical body formed by the impact of a smaller objectImpact crater lake – Lake formed within an impact craterSimple crater – Circular depression in a solid astronomical body formed by the impact of a smaller objectPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Lacustrine landforms
Lacustrine – associated with lakes – landforms include:
Beach – Area of loose particles at the edge of the sea or other body of waterRaised beach – Emergent coastal landformCarolina bay – Elliptical depressions concentrated along the Atlantic seaboard of North AmericaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Dry lake – Basin or depression that formerly contained a standing surface water bodyChott – dry lake in the Saharan area of AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Endorheic basin – Closed drainage basin that allows no outflowLacustrine plain – Lakes filled by sedimentLacustrine terraces – A step-like landformLake – Large body of relatively still waterOasis – Fertile area in a desert environmentOxbow lake – U-shaped lake or poolParallel Roads of Glen Roy – Nature reserve in the Highlands of Scotland with ancient shoreline terracesPond – Relatively small body of standing waterProglacial lake – Lake formed by the action of iceSalt pan , also known as salt flat – Flat expanse of ground covered with salt and other minerals
Mountain and glacial landforms
Mountain and glacial landform – Landform created by the action of glaciers – include:
Arête – Narrow ridge of rock which separates two valleys formed by glacial movementCirque – An amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosionCol – Lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaksCrevasse – A deep crack, or fracture, in an ice sheet or glacierCorrie – An amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosion or cwmCove (mountain) – Small valley in the Appalachian Mountains between two ridge linesDirt cone – Depositional glacial feature of ice or snow with an insulating layer of dirtDrumlin – Elongated hill formed by glacial action and drumlin field – Elongated hill formed by glacial actionPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Esker – Long, winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel associated with former glaciersFjord – Long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial activityFluvial terrace – Elongated terraces that flank the sides of floodplains and river valleysFlyggberg – Isolated, steep rock hill on relatively flat terrainGlacier – Persistent body of ice that is moving under its own weightGlacier cave – Cave formed within the ice of a glacierGlacier foreland – The region between the current leading edge of the glacier and the moraines of latest maximumHanging valley – A tributary valley that meets the main valley above the valley floorHighland – Area of high elevation such as a mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateauHill – Landform that extends above the surrounding terrainInselberg , also known as monadnock – Isolated, steep rock hill on relatively flat terrainKame – Mound formed on a retreating glacier and deposited on landKame delta – Glacial melt water landformKettle – Depression or hole in an outwash plain formed by retreating glaciers or draining floodwatersMoraine – Glacially formed accumulation of debris
Rogen moraine , also known as Ribbed moraines – Landform of ridges deposited by a glacier or ice sheet transverse to ice flowMoulin – Shaft within a glacier or ice sheet which water enters from the surfaceMountain – Large natural elevation of the Earth's surfaceMountain pass – Route through a mountain range or over a ridgeMountain range – Geographic area containing several geologically related mountainsNunatak – Landform within an ice field or glacierProglacial lake – Lake formed by the action of icePyramidal peak , also known as Glacial horn – Angular, sharply pointed mountainous peakOutwash fan – Type of sediment deposition by a melting glacierOutwash plain – Plain formed from glacier sediment transported by meltwaterRift valley – Linear lowland created by a tectonic rift or faultRôche moutonnée – Rock formation created by the passing of a glacierPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Sandur – Plain formed from glacier sediment transported by meltwaterSide valley – Valley with a tributary to a larger riverSummit – Point on a surface with a higher elevation than all immediately adjacent pointsTrim line – Clear line on the side of a valley marking the most recent highest extent of the glacierTruncated spur – Ridge that descends towards a valley floor or coastline that is cut shortTunnel valley – Glacial-formed geographic featureValley – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itU-shaped valley – Valleys formed by glacial scouring
Slope landforms
Slope landforms include:
Bluff – Tall, near vertical rock faceButte – Isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat topCanyon – Deep chasm between cliffsCliff – Tall, near vertical rock faceCol – Lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaksCuesta – Hill or ridge with a gentle slope on one side and a steep slope on the otherDale – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itDefile – Narrow pass or gorge between mountains or hillsDell – Small secluded hollowDoab , also known as Interfluve – Land between two converging, or confluent, rivers, mainly in the PunjabDraw – Terrain feature formed by two parallel ridges or spurs with low ground in betweenPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Escarpment , also known as scarp – Steep slope or cliff separating two relatively level regionsFlat (landform) – Relatively level surface of land within a region of greater reliefGlen – Name for valley commonly used in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of ManGully – Landform created by running water and/or mass movement eroding sharply into soilHill – Landform that extends above the surrounding terrainHillock , also known as Knoll – Small hillMesa – Elevated area of land with a flat top and sidesMountain pass – Route through a mountain range or over a ridgePlain – Expanse of land that is mostly flat and treelessPlateau – Highland area, usually of relatively flat terrainRavine – Small valley, often due to stream erosionRidge – Long, narrow, elevated landformRock shelter – Shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or cliffSaddle – Land connecting two high pointsScree – Broken rock fragments at base of cliffSolifluction lobes and sheets – Freeze-thaw mass wasting slope processesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Strath – Large valleySummit – Point on a surface with a higher elevation than all immediately adjacent pointsTerrace – A step-like landformTerracette – Small natural step-arranged soil ridges on hillsidesVale – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Valley – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itValley shoulder – Low area between hills, often with a river running through itPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Tectonic landforms
Landforms created by tectonic activity include:
Asymmetric valley – Valley that has steeper slopes on one sideDome – Geological deformation structureFaceted spur – Ridge that descends towards a valley floor or coastline that is cut shortFault scarp – Small vertical offset on the ground surfaceGraben – Depressed block of planetary crust bordered by parallel normal faultsHorst – Raised fault block bounded by normal faultsMid-ocean ridge – Basaltic underwater mountain system formed by plate tectonic spreadingMud volcano – Landform created by the eruption of mud or slurries, water and gasesOceanic trench – Long and narrow depressions of the sea floorPull-apart basin – Type of basin in geologyRift valley – Linear lowland created by a tectonic rift or faultSand boil – Cone formed by the ejection of sand on a surface from a central point
Volcanic landforms
Volcanic landforms include:
Caldera – Cauldron-like volcanic feature formed by the emptying of a magma chamberCinder cone – Steep hill of pyroclastic fragments around a volcanic ventComplex volcano – Landform of more than one related volcanic centreCryptodome – Roughly circular protrusion from slowly extruded viscous volcanic lavaCryovolcano – Type of volcano that erupts volatiles such as water, ammonia or methane, instead of molten rockDiatreme – Volcanic pipe associated with a gaseous explosionDike – A sheet of rock that is formed in a fracture of a pre-existing rock bodyFissure vent – Linear volcanic vent through which lava eruptsGeyser – Natural explosive eruption of hot waterGuyot – Isolated, flat-topped underwater volcano mountainHornito – Conical structures built up by lava ejected through an opening in the crust of a lava flowKīpuka – Area of land surrounded by one or more younger lava flowsLava – Molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruptionLava dome – Roughly circular protrusion from slowly extruded viscous volcanic lavaLava coulee – Roughly circular protrusion from slowly extruded viscous volcanic lavaLava field , also known as lava plain – Large, mostly flat area of lava flowsLava lake – Molten lava contained in a volcanic craterLava spine – Vertical growth of solid volcanic lavaLava tube – Natural conduit through which lava flows beneath the solid surfaceMaar – Low-relief volcanic craterMalpais – Rough and barren landscape of relict and largely uneroded lava fieldsMamelon – Rock formation created by eruption of relatively thick or stiff lava through a narrow ventMid-ocean ridge – Basaltic underwater mountain system formed by plate tectonic spreadingPit crater – Depression formed by a sinking or collapse of the surface lying above a void or empty chamberPyroclastic shield – Shield volcano formed mostly of pyroclastic and highly explosive eruptionsResurgent dome – Dome formed by swelling or rising of a caldera floor due to movement in the magma chamber beneath itRootless cone , also known as pseudocrater – Volcanic landformSeamount – Mountain rising from the ocean seafloor that does not reach to the water's surfaceShield volcano – Low-profile volcano usually formed almost entirely of fluid lava flowsStratovolcano – Type of conical volcano composed of layers of lava and tephraSomma volcano – Volcanic caldera that has been partially filled by a new central coneSpatter cone – Landform of ejecta from a volcanic vent piled up in a conical shapeVolcanic crater lake – Lake formed within a volcanic craterSubglacial mound – Volcano formed when lava erupts beneath a thick glacier or ice sheetSubmarine volcano – Underwater vents or fissures in the Earth's surface from which magma can eruptSupervolcano – Volcano that has erupted 1000 cubic km of lava in a single eruptionTuff cone – Landform of ejecta from a volcanic vent piled up in a conical shapeTuya – Flat-topped, steep-sided volcano formed when lava erupts through a thick glacier or ice sheetVolcanic vent – Rupture in a planet's crust where material escapesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Volcanic cone – Landform of ejecta from a volcanic vent piled up in a conical shapeVolcanic crater – Roughly circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activityVolcanic dam – Natural dam produced directly or indirectly by volcanismVolcanic field – Area of Earth's crust prone to localized volcanic activityVolcanic group – Collection of related volcanoes or volcanic landformsVolcanic island – Island of volcanic originVolcanic plateau – Plateau produced by volcanic activityVolcanic plug – Volcanic object created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcanoVolcano – Rupture in a planet's crust where material escapes
Weathering landforms
Weathering landforms include:
Bornhardt – A large dome-shaped, steep-sided, bald rockEtchplain – Plain where the bedrock has been subject to considerable subsurface weatheringFlared slope – Rock-wall with a smooth transition into a concavity at the foot zoneFlute – in geology, process of differential weathering and erosion that produces a corrugated surface of ridges or flutesPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Honeycomb weathering – Form of cavernous weathering and subcategory of tafoniInselberg – Isolated, steep rock hill on relatively flat terrainKarst – Topography from dissolved soluble rocksNubbin – Small hill of bedrock with rounded residual blocksPanhole – Depression or basin eroded into flat or gently sloping cohesive rock (Weathering pit)Tafoni – Small to large indentations in vertical to steeply sloping granular rockTor – Large, free-standing rock outcrop on a gentle hill summit