Landform Development Explain how one of the following influences the development of landforms: • Folding - Leaving Cert Geography - Question B - 2015

Folding, a geological process resulting from the compression of the Earth's crust, significantly influences landform development. As tectonic plates collide, the stress causes layers of rock to bend and warp, resulting in features such as anticlines and synclines.

Key Features of Folding

1. Anticlines and Synclines: These are the most common landforms created through folding. Anticlines are upward-arching folds, while synclines are downward-arching folds. These structures can create hills or valleys and are often visible in mountain ranges.

2. Fold Mountains: Regions where folding is extensive, such as the Himalayas, result in elevated terrain. The process of the Earth’s crust folding leads to the construction of high mountain ranges, dramatically altering the landscape.

3. Erosion and Weathering: After folding occurs, erosion and weathering act upon these landforms, further developing valleys and peaks. The softer rocks adjacent to the harder folded formations tend to erode faster, allowing for the creation of distinctive landscapes.

Overall, folding is a crucial geological mechanism that shapes mountains and valleys, impacting both the physical environment and human settlements.