Plateaus are high tablelands that have broad and flat tops. These highlands rise sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. These tablelands are present in every continent. Approximately 40% of total land surface of the Earth is made up of plateaus. The average height of a plateau may range from a few hundred to several thousand metres above the sea level. The shape of this landform can be influenced by erosion. The Tibetan plateau, situated in the North of the Himalayas, is the highest in the world. Most of the plateaus are rich sources of minerals like iron, gold, etc.
Plains: Plains are flat surfaces on the Earth that have very gentle slopes. Some plains are formed when rivers deposit the washed-away soil and debris from glaciers, mountains and plateaus. While some are formed when erupting magma flows out and solidifies. Plains cover more than one-third of the world’s land area, and exist in every continent. Plains are densely populated as they have fertile soil, abundant water and an ideal climate for human settlements since ancient times. There are three types of plains: floodplain (formed when the flooded river recedes), alluvial plain (formed from steep mountain valley rivers) and coastal plains (lowlands near oceans).
