Complete Summary and Solutions for Landforms and Life – NCERT Class VI Social Science, Chapter 3 – Mountains, Plateaus, Plains, Deserts, Questions, Answers

Detailed summary and explanation of Chapter 3 ‘Landforms and Life’ from the NCERT Class VI Social Science textbook, covering major landforms (mountains, plateaus, plains and deserts), their formation and characteristics, mountain ranges of the world, montane forests and mountain fauna, plateau environments and mineral resources, plains and floodplains (including the Ganga plain), links between landforms, climate, vegetation and human occupations, challenges of living in different terrains, and cultural reflections such as Himalayan hymns and the five tiņais of Sangam poetry—along with all NCERT questions, answers, activities, and map-based exercises.

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Categories: NCERT, Class VI, Social Science, Geography, Chapter 3, Landforms and Life, Mountains, Plateaus, Plains, Deserts, Summary, Questions, Answers

Tags: Landforms and Life, NCERT, Class 6, Social Science, Geography, Landforms, Mountains, Hills, Plateaus, Plains, Deserts, Floodplains, Ganga Plain, Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Tibetan Plateau, Deccan Plateau, Montane Forests, Flora and Fauna, Rivers, Sediments, Agriculture, Terrace Farming, Tourism, Disaster Risks, Flash Flood, Landslide, Avalanche, Cloudburst, Human Adaptation, Resilience, Sangam Tiņai, Culture and Environment, Summary, Explanation, Questions, Answers, Solutions, Chapter 3

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 3: Landforms and Life | Complete NCERT Notes, Activities, Questions & Answers 2025

Full Chapter Summary & Detailed Notes - Landforms and Life

Introduction – Atharva Veda Quote

The chapter starts with a quote from Atharva Veda: Earth as mother, providing riches. It sets the tone for how landforms support life.

Big Questions

What are major types of landforms and their significance to life and culture?
What are challenges and opportunities associated with each landform?

Exploring Landforms

Humans live on varied land. Example journey: Chhota Nagpur (plateau) to Prayagraj (plain) to Almora (mountain).

Let's Explore Activities

Observe school surroundings and discuss landscape changes nearby.
Discuss a journey through Indian regions and list landscapes.

Types of Landforms

Landforms: Physical features shaped over millions of years. Divided into mountains, plateaus, plains.

Mountains

High with steep slopes, narrow summit. Snow-capped at high altitudes. Hills: Lower, rounded.

Think About It: Snow

Snow/hail: Solid precipitation in cold areas (Himalayas).

Mountain Ranges & Examples

Range	Examples
Himalayas	Everest (8849m), Kanchenjunga
Andes	Aconcagua
Alps	Mont Blanc
Isolated	Kilimanjaro
South India	Anamudi

Young mountains: Sharp (Himalayas). Old: Rounded (Aravalli).

Mountain Environment

Montane forests: Pines, firs. Higher: Grasses, mosses, lichens.

Kalidasa Poem

Invocation to Himalayas as living god, with Ganga, deodar trees.

Mountain Fauna

Peregrine falcon, Himalayan tahr, mountain hare, golden eagle, Canadian lynx, yak, ibex, grey fox, leopard, black bear, snow leopard.

Life in Mountains

Terrain: Rugged, steep. Farming: Terrace (valleys/slopes). Occupation: Herding, tourism (skiing, hiking, pilgrimages).

Challenges: Flash floods, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, uncontrolled tourism, heavy snowfall, cold weather.

Don't Miss Out: Bachendri Pal & Arunima Sinha

First Indian women Everest climbers.

Plateaus

Flat top, steep sides. Young/old. Examples: Tibetan (4500m, Roof of World), Deccan (volcanic).

Minerals: Storehouses (gold, diamond in Africa; iron, coal in Chhota Nagpur).

Environment: Rocky soil (less fertile except lava plateaus' black soil). Waterfalls: Victoria, Hundru, Jog, Nohkalikai.

Plains

Flat/gently undulating, <300m above sea level. Floodplains: Fertile from river sediments.

Agriculture: Major occupation (rice, wheat, etc.). Flora/fauna variety.

World Map Activity

Add landforms to names: Tibetan plateau, Rocky range, Nile plain.

Life in Plains

High population (Gangetic plain: 40 crore). Occupations: Farming, fishing. Irrigation: Canals, groundwater (depletion issue). Problems: Pollution, overpopulation.

Cultural: River confluences sacred. Transportation: Rivers, boats.

Additional: Deserts

Hot (Sahara, Thar) or cold (Gobi). Unique flora/fauna, human adaptation.

Tinais (Ancient Tamil)

Tinai	Landscape	Occupation
Kurinji	Mountains	Hunting/gathering
Mullai	Grasslands/forests	Cattle rearing
Marudam	Plains	Farming
Neydal	Coastal	Fishing
Palai	Deserts	Journeying/fighting

Key Takeaways

Landforms: Mountains, plateaus, plains – different environments.
Human adaptation: Opportunities (agriculture, tourism) vs challenges (disasters).
Cultural connections: Sacred mountains, rivers.

Golden Exam Answer

“Mountains are high with steep slopes and snow-capped peaks. Life involves terrace farming and tourism, but challenges like landslides exist.”

Key Terms & Definitions – Complete Glossary (Chapter 3)

All important terms with detailed explanation, examples, exam tips & common mistakes.

Landform

Definition: Physical feature on Earth's surface shaped over millions of years.

Example: Mountains, plateaus, plains.

Exam Tip: Connected to environment and life.

Altitude

Definition: Height above sea level.

Example: Mountain altitude, plane flight.

Exam Note: Affects climate, snow.

Mountains

Definition: High land with steep slopes, narrow summit.

Example: Himalayas (young, sharp).

Confusion: Vs hills (lower, rounded).

Plateaus

Definition: Flat top, steep sides, rises from surroundings.

Example: Tibetan (high), Deccan (old, volcanic).

Exam Tip: Mineral storehouses.

Plains

Definition: Flat/gently undulating, <300m above sea level.

Example: Gangetic plain (fertile).

Exam Note: Ideal for agriculture.

Precipitation

Definition: Water from atmosphere: rain, snow, hail.

Example: Snow in Himalayas.

Exam Favourite: Solid in cold areas.

Montane Forest

Definition: Forests in mountains: conifers like pines.

Example: Deodar in Himalayas.

Terrace Farming

Definition: Steps cut into slopes for cultivation.

Example: North India mountains.

Flash Flood

Definition: Sudden flood from cloudburst.

Example: Mountain challenge.

Landslide

Definition: Mass of earth/rock collapse from mountainside.

Example: Human-made or natural.

Avalanche

Definition: Snow/ice/rock fall when melting starts.

Example: Snowy mountains.

Cloudburst

Definition: Sudden violent rainstorm.

Example: Causes floods/landslides.

Confluence

Definition: Meeting point of rivers.

Example: Sacred in cultures.

Sea Level

Definition: Average ocean surface level.

Example: Plains <300m above.

Terrain

Definition: Land's physical features.

Example: Rugged in mountains.

Valley

Definition: Low area between hills/mountains, often with river.

Example: For farming in mountains.

Exam Quick Tips & Mnemonics

Landforms: MPP (Mountains, Plateaus, Plains)
Mountains: High, steep, snow
Plateaus: Flat top, minerals, waterfalls
Plains: Flat, fertile, populated
Mnemonic: "Mountains Peak High, Plateaus Flat Store, Plains Grow Life"

Activities + 25+ Questions and Answers - Landforms and Life

Activities with Detailed Observations and Inferences

Let's Explore 1: School Surroundings

Setup: Form groups, observe school's landscape.
Observation: Kind of landscape (plain/mountain/plateau)? Changes nearby?
Inference: Landscapes vary even locally; compare with groups.
Exam Tip: Shows diversity in landforms.

Let's Explore 2: Journey Discussion

Setup: Discuss a journey through India.
Observation: List landscapes (e.g., Chhota Nagpur plateau, Prayagraj plain, Almora mountain).
Inference: Travel shows major landforms.

Think About It: Snow

Snow is frozen precipitation in cold high altitudes. In most India, rain/hail; Himalayas get snow.

Poem Discussion

Western/Eastern oceans: Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal. Lord of mountains: Himalayas. Ganga: Sacred river from Himalayas.

Let's Explore: Mountain Challenges (Fig. 3.6)

Discuss floods, landslides, etc. Why live there? Beauty, air, culture, opportunities.

Let's Explore: World Map (Fig. 3.8)

Add: Tibetan plateau, Rocky range, Nile plain, etc.

Let's Explore: Satellite View (Fig. 3.9)

Ganga plain: Green. White: Snowy Himalayas. Brown: Deccan Plateau.

Let's Explore: River Activities

Examples: Sacred confluences (Prayagraj). Observe: Fishing, rituals, transport.

Questions, Activities and Projects (End-of-Chapter) - Fully Solved

1. In what type of landform is your town/village/city located? Features?

Depends on location, e.g., Delhi: Plain; features: Flat, fertile.

2. Describe landforms from Chhota Nagpur to Prayagraj to Almora.

Chhota Nagpur: Plateau; Prayagraj: Plain; Almora: Mountain.

3. Famous pilgrimage spots and landforms.

Kailash: Mountain; Prayagraj: Plain confluence.

4. True/False

Himalayas young with rounded tops → False (sharp).

Plateaus rise sharply one side → True.

Mountains/hills same → True (hills lower mountains).

Flora/fauna same → False (diverse).

Ganga tributary to Yamuna → False (opposite).

Deserts unique → True.

Melting snow feeds rivers → True.

Sediments fertile → True.

All deserts hot → False (cold like Gobi).

5. Match Pairs

Mount Everest - Ganga

Rafting - River

Camels - Desert

Plateau - Roof of the world

Gangetic plains - Rice fields

Waterway - Climbing

Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa

Yamuna - Tributary

Extra Practice Questions (Exam Booster – 25+ Questions)

1. What are three major landforms?

Mountains, plateaus, plains.

2. Define altitude.

Height above sea level.

3. Difference between mountains and hills.

Mountains: Higher, steeper; hills: Lower, rounded.

4. What is precipitation?

Rain, snow, hail from atmosphere.

5. Name two highest Himalayan peaks.

Everest, Kanchenjunga.

6. Why are Himalayas young?

Sharp peaks, recent formation.

7. What is montane forest?

Mountain forests with conifers.

8. Define moss and lichen.

Moss: Small green plant; lichen: Clings to rocks.

9. Why is Ganga mentioned in Kalidasa poem?

Sacred river from Himalayas.

10. Name mountain animals.

Snow leopard, yak, ibex.

11. What is terrace farming?

Steps on slopes for cultivation.

12. Mountain challenges?

Floods, landslides, avalanches.

13. Who is Bachendri Pal?

First Indian woman Everest climber (1984).

14. Define plateau.

Flat top, steep sides.

15. Tibetan Plateau nickname?

Roof of the World (4500m).

16. Why plateaus mineral-rich?

Storehouses; mining major.

17. Name plateau waterfalls.

Victoria, Hundru, Jog, Nohkalikai.

18. Define plains.

Flat, <300m above sea level.

19. What are floodplains?

Formed by river sediments, fertile.

20. Gangetic plain population?

40 crore, agriculture main.

21. Plains problems?

Overpopulation, pollution, groundwater depletion.

22. Define confluence.

Rivers meeting point, sacred.

23. Describe deserts.

Dry, little precipitation; hot/cold.

24. What are tinais?

Ancient Tamil landscapes: Kurinji (mountains), etc.

25. Human resilience in landforms?

Adaptation to challenges for opportunities.

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