landscape

Landscape refers to the visible features of an area of land, including topography such as hills, valleys, and plains, bodies of water, vegetation, and built elements. It encompasses both natural and cultural attributes and exists at multiple scales, from a single hillside to entire regions. The concept is studied across disciplines such as geography, geology, ecology, archaeology, and art, where it is used to describe physical processes that shape landforms as well as human influences on land cover and land use.

Elements of a landscape include terrain, hydrology, soils, vegetation, built structures, and land use patterns. Landscape types are often categorized as natural or semi-natural (forests, grasslands, deserts), agricultural, urban or rural, coastal or mountainous, and industrial. Landscape ecology examines how spatial patterns and ecological processes interact, including fragmentation, connectivity, and ecosystem services produced by landscapes.

Landscape design and landscape architecture apply professional methods to shape outdoor spaces for function, aesthetics, and sustainability. This includes public parks, streetscapes, campuses, and residential grounds. Planning aims to balance human needs with environmental constraints, conserve biodiversity, manage water and soil, and adapt landscapes to climate change while preserving cultural heritage.

Landscape also has significant cultural and artistic dimensions. Landscape painting, photography, and literature explore how people perceive and relate to scenery, often shaping national or regional identities. In everyday use, landscapes reflect historical land use, power relations, and economic activity, and they continue to evolve with technology, agriculture, and urban development.