The desert isn’t just dry, flat sand. Deserts have some of the world’s most unique landforms - arches, pedestals, plains, mesas, buttes, and dunes.
How are Desert Landforms Created?
It takes thousands of years for desert landforms to be formed by three main processes: weathering, erosion, and deposition. Weathering is the wearing away of rock and soil, creating sediments. Erosion is the movement of sediments to another place. Deposition is the dropping of sediment in a new location. Wind and rain cause weathering, erosion, and deposition in deserts. Ice can also contribute to weathering, erosion, and deposition – just not in a desert!
Arches
There are four different types of desert arches. Freestanding arches stand alone and have
an easily visible opening. A pothole arch forms on the top of a rock mass. This can join with a cliff wall arch to create a small room-like opening. A natural bridge is an arch that forms over a flowing body of water, like a stream, river, or channel. Weathering by water and wind-blown sand creates arches.
Mesas, Buttes, and Plains Rising out of otherwise flat plains, mesas and buttes are two types of elevated landforms that can be found in deserts.
Mesas are steep-sided and flat- topped hills or mountains. They are sometimes referred to as table hills or mountains. Mesas are more massive than buttes.
Buttes are smaller and steeper versions of mesas, as seen in the comparison picture above. The larger landform on the left is a mesa
and the narrower landforms on the right are buttes. In the foreground, you can see a flat plain. Few plants grow in these dry areas.
Pedestals
Another elevated landform is known as a pedestal. Pedestals are made by weathering which occurs when wind-blown sediments grind away at formations. Pedestals are cut at the base of the large rock structure and the top is left intact.
Sand Dunes
A sand dune is a large mound of sand formed by wind deposition of sediments. Much of the rock lost by mesas, arches, and pedestals might end up as a dune. Dunes often shift back and forth, changing in height as the wind blows. They can get quite large. The tallest dune in the world is the Duna Federico Kirbus in Argentina at 9,334 feet or 2,845 meters above sea level!
Which of the following is the best definition of sand dune?
Dropping of sediment in a new location by wind, water, or ice
A large hill or mound of sand formed by the deposition of sand by the wind
Landforms created over thousands of years by rain
Steep-sided, flat-topped hills or mountains found in deserts
Which of the following processes includes the dropping of sediment in a new location by wind, water, or ice?
Deposition
Erosion
Abrasion
Pedestals
What does the word elevated mean in paragraph four?
Formed over thousands of years
Moving upward from one level to the next
Situated lower than the surrounding area
Situated higher than the surrounding area
What is the key difference between a mesa and a butte?
Buttes are formed by water while mesas are formed by wind.
Buttes are situated lower than the surrounding area and mesas are higher.
Buttes are smaller and steeper than mesas.
Mesas are only found in deserts and buttes are not.
Which of the following is NOT a type of arch?
Pothole
Cliff Wall
Freestanding
Underground
Which of the following is true about desert landforms? Select all that are true.
The three main processes that create desert landforms are weathering, erosion, and deposition.
Freestanding arches are formed on top of a land mass.
Mesas have pointed or sloping tops.
Buttes are smaller and steeper than mesas.
Pedestals are wide on the bottom and small on the top.
Pedestals are created by weathering.
In which section of the article can the reader learn about weathering, erosion, and deposition?
How are Desert Landforms Created?
Sand Dunes
Arches
Mesas, Buttes, and Plains
What can the reader infer about the photo of the landform in the middle of page two?
It was created by erosion.
It was created by weathering.
It was created by deposition.
It was man-made because of its odd shape.
Which of the following best describes the text structure of paragraph four, “Mesas, Buttes, and Plains?”
Chronological
Cause/Effect
Compare/Contrast
Persuasive
What is the best summary of the selection?
Desert landforms are uniquely varied and include sand dunes, arches, mesas, buttes, plains, and pedestals. Arches, mesas, buttes, and pedestals are formed by weathering of rain and wind-blown sand against rocks. The weathered pieces of rock are eroded, carried away. Sand dunes are formed by deposition of sediments into large piles which shift with the wind. Plains are flat and dry, with few plants.
There are four different types of desert arches: cliff wall, freestanding, pothole, and natural bridge. Arches are the only landform found in most deserts. Occasionally, a river or stream is seen with many trees on the banks and floating islands of waterlilies. The deserts of Australia have the deepest rivers on Earth.
Deserts have some of the world’s most unique landforms created by erosion, deposition, and man-made construction projects. There are lots of man-made lakes to store water for drinking. These lakes are protected by great walls called mesas which prevent sand dunes from drifting into the water and filling
the lakes up.
Desert landforms are often seen in dry countries. Deposition grinds at the sides of mountains, creating arches, buttes, and pedestals, which rise above the flat land called mesas. This deposition leads to weathering, which carries sand away. Erosion is the dropping off of the weathered sand into large sand dunes. Australia has the tallest sand dune which is 9,334 feet or 2,845 meters above sea level.