Tekisliklar

Tekisliklar, or plains, are large, flat or gently rolling expanses of land with very low relief. They occur on most continents and form a substantial portion of the world’s land surface. Plains support a variety of ecosystems and human activities and vary widely in climate, soils, and vegetation.

Plains can form through several processes. Tectonic subsidence can create broad basins that accumulate sediments. Rivers deposit alluvial soils in floodplains and along deltas. Wind-blown sediments accumulate as loess or sands to form loess and desert plains. Retreating or advancing glaciers leave behind outwash and moraine plains. Some plains are remnants of ancient peneplains that have been uplifted or eroded over time. Based on origin, plains are commonly categorized as alluvial, lacustrine, coastal, deltaic, desert, glacial, or loess plains.

Key characteristics include low relief, wide open horizons, and soils that are often fertile when formed from alluvial or loess deposits. Climate and vegetation vary by region, producing grasslands such as steppes and prairies in temperate zones, savannas in tropical areas, or arid deserts in dry regions. Plains are frequently centers of agriculture due to favorable soils and flat topography, though they can be prone to flooding or drought and may require irrigation, drainage, or protection from erosion.

Notable examples include the Great Plains of North America, the Indo-Gangetic Plain of South Asia, the North European Plain, the Siberian Plain, the Pannonian Basin in Central Europe, and the Loess Plateau in China. Plains have shaped settlement patterns, transport routes, and cultural development across history.