Reliëfformen

Reliëfformen, or landforms, are the natural physical features of the Earth's surface. They are the result of geological processes acting over long periods. Common examples include mountains, which are large natural elevations of the Earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level; hills, which are similar to mountains but generally smaller and less steep; valleys, which are low areas between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through them; plateaus, which are areas of relatively level high ground; and plains, which are large areas of flat land with few trees.

Other types of landforms are shaped by erosion and deposition. For instance, canyons are deep, narrow valleys with steep sides, often carved by rivers. Deltas are landforms created by deposition of sediment that is carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth and enters slower-moving or standing water. Coastal features like beaches, cliffs, and islands are also considered landforms, shaped by the interaction of land and sea. Even features beneath the ocean, such as ocean trenches and mid-ocean ridges, are recognized as significant landforms. The study of these features and how they are formed is known as geomorphology.