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.
Mountains
Mountains are landforms that rise significantly above the surrounding land. They have a broad base, steep slopes, and a narrow summit. Some mountains are snow-capped, especially those at high altitudes where snow never melts, while others have seasonal snow that melts in summer, feeding rivers. Mountains differ in height and shape; high mountains like the Himalayas have sharp peaks and are considered young, while older mountains like the Aravalli range have rounded tops due to erosion. Hills are smaller highlands with gentler slopes and rounded tops. Mountains are often grouped in ranges that can stretch thousands of kilometres, such as the Himalayas in Asia, the Alps in Europe, and the Andes in South America. Mountains influence climate, vegetation, and human activities. They are home to montane forests with conifer trees like pines and deodars, and at higher altitudes, grasses, mosses, and lichens. The mountain environment supports diverse fauna including snow leopards, yaks, and golden eagles. Human life in mountains is adapted to rugged terrain through terrace farming and herding. Mountains also have cultural and religious significance, being revered as sacred in many traditions.
📊 Diagram: Fig. 3.1. This drawing illustrates three landforms — mountains in the background (two of them snow-capped), a plateau on the left and a plain in the foreground, with a river emerging from the mountains; Fig. 3.2. Pictures of six mountains of the world; Fig. 3.3. A sketch showing the relative heights of six mountains of the world.
🧪 Activity: Think about what snow is and where it occurs. Discuss why snow and hail are forms of solid precipitation and why they are common in high-altitude mountain regions.
🔗 Connection: Leads to Mountain Environment and Life section exploring flora, fauna, and human adaptations.
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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