Tectonic activities play a big role in how different landforms are made. This happens through things like folding, faulting, and volcanic activity.

Key Landforms and How They Are Made:

1. Mountains:

   • Mountains mainly form because of tectonic forces, especially where two plates collide.
   • For example, the Himalayas are getting taller by about 5 mm each year because the Indian plate is crashing into the Eurasian plate.

2. Valleys:

   • Valleys can form from faulting (like rift valleys) and from glaciers wearing down land.
   • A great example is the East African Rift Valley, where tectonic plates are pulling apart and creating a valley.

3. Plains:

   • Plains often form when rivers drop off sediment and when nearby areas are pushed up by tectonic forces.
   • The Great Plains in North America were made mostly from the buildup of dirt and rocks caused by tectonic activity and erosion.

4. Plateaus:

   • Plateaus are made by volcanic activity or when flat rocks are pushed up.
   • The Colorado Plateau is a well-known example, showing layers of sediment that have been lifted.

Through these processes, tectonic activities shape the Earth's surface. This creates many different types of landscapes that help us understand physical geography better.