Landforms and Life | Class 6 Social Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read
Landforms and Life – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Landforms and Life from Class 6 Social Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Mountain Environment and Life
Mountain environments are characterized by montane forests, which mainly consist of conifer trees such as pines, firs, spruce, and deodar. These trees are tall and cone-shaped with thin, pointed leaves adapted to cold and snow. At higher altitudes, trees give way to grasses, mosses, and lichens. Mountains support diverse fauna including the golden eagle, peregrine falcon, Canadian lynx, snow leopard, ibex, Himalayan tahr, mountain hare, yak, grey fox, and black bear. The rugged terrain and steep slopes make regular farming difficult, so terrace farming is practiced by cutting steps into slopes to create flat areas for cultivation. Herding is often preferred over agriculture in many mountain regions. Tourism is an important source of income, attracting visitors for scenic beauty, pure air, and sports like skiing and mountaineering. However, excessive tourism can harm the fragile mountain environment. Mountains also hold cultural and religious significance, revered as sacred places in many traditions, such as Mount Everest and Mount Kailash.
📊 Diagram: Fig. 3.4. A few mountain animals including Peregrine falcon, Himalayan tahr, Mountain hare, Golden eagle, Canadian lynx, Yak, Ibex, Grey fox, Leopard, Black bear; Fig. 3.5. Terrace farming in north India.
🧪 Activity: Discuss verses from Kālidāsa’s Kumārasambhava about the Himalayas and answer questions about the western and eastern oceans and the significance of the Ganga river.
🔗 Connection: Leads to Life in the mountains section discussing human adaptations and challenges.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the major types of landforms and their significance to life and culture?
The major types of landforms are mountains, plateaus, and plains. Mountains are elevated landforms with steep slopes and high altitudes, often covered with snow at the peaks. Plateaus are elevated flat areas, and plains are low-lying flat lands. These landforms influence climate, vegetation, and human activities. Mountains provide water sources through snowmelt and have unique flora and fauna. Plateaus often have rich mineral resources and support agriculture and settlements. Plains are fertile
2. What are the challenges and opportunities of life associated with each landform?
Mountains: Challenges include difficult terrain, harsh climate, and limited agriculture; opportunities include tourism, hydroelectric power, and unique biodiversity. Plateaus: Challenges include soil erosion and water scarcity; opportunities include mineral resources and agriculture. Plains: Challenges include flooding and overpopulation; opportunities include fertile soil for farming, dense settlements, and trade. Each landform offers unique resources and conditions that shape the lifestyle and
List a few famous pilgrimage spots in India along with the landforms in which they are found.
Some famous pilgrimage spots in India and their landforms are:
- Varanasi: Located on the Gangetic plains.
- Kedarnath: Situated in the Himalayas (mountainous region).
- Tirupati: Located on the Eastern Ghats (hilly region).
- Rameswaram: Situated on the coastal plains.
- Amarnath: Located in the Himalayas.
These pilgrimage spots are found in diverse landforms such as mountains, plains, hills, and coastal areas.
State whether true or false — → The Himalayas are young mountains with rounded tops. → Plateaus usually rise sharply at least on one side. → Mountains and hills belong to the same type of landform. → Mountains, plateaus and rivers in India have the same types of flora and fauna. → Ganga is a tributary to the Yamuna. → Deserts have unique flora and fauna. → Melting snow feeds rivers. → Sediments from rivers deposited in the plains makes the land fertile. → All deserts are hot.
→ The Himalayas are young mountains with rounded tops. — False (They have sharp peaks) → Plateaus usually rise sharply at least on one side. — True → Mountains and hills belong to the same type of landform. — False (They differ in height and formation) → Mountains, plateaus and rivers in India have the same types of flora and fauna. — False (They have different flora and fauna) → Ganga is a tributary to the Yamuna. — False (Yamuna is a tributary of Ganga) → Deserts have unique flora and fauna. —
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