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- The UK's physical landscapes
The UK's physical landscapes
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The UK has rugged mountains in the north and west and gentle lowlands in the south and east. Rock type is a big part of the reason.
Three rock types
Igneous rocks form from cooled magma, for example granite. They are usually hard.
Sedimentary rocks form from layers of sediment, for example chalk, clay, limestone and sandstone. Many are softer.
Metamorphic rocks are changed by heat and pressure, for example slate and schist.
Sedimentary rocks form from layers of sediment, for example chalk, clay, limestone and sandstone. Many are softer.
Metamorphic rocks are changed by heat and pressure, for example slate and schist.
Upland and lowland
Upland areas are mostly in the north and west of the UK, on older, harder rocks.
Lowland areas are mostly in the south and east, on younger, softer rocks.
A rough dividing line is often drawn from the River Tees to the River Exe.
Lowland areas are mostly in the south and east, on younger, softer rocks.
A rough dividing line is often drawn from the River Tees to the River Exe.
Shaping the land
Landscapes are shaped by geology, by past processes such as glaciation, and by people, for example farming, forestry and building settlements.
Harder rock resists erosion, so it often forms higher ground.
Harder rock resists erosion, so it often forms higher ground.
Why does Dartmoor form high ground?
- Dartmoor is made of granite.
- Granite is an igneous rock and is very resistant to erosion.
- So it has been worn down less than the surrounding rocks.
Answer: It is made of hard, resistant granite.
Igneous (granite), sedimentary (chalk, clay, limestone) and metamorphic (slate) rocks. Hard old rocks form uplands in the north and west; softer rocks form lowlands in the south and east.
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