Features and Mode of Formation of Landforms caused by Wind Erosion

The integrated actions of the abrasion, deflation and attrition processes create spectacular desert landforms. Some Landforms created through these different processes of erosion are;

• Inselbergs
• Rock Pedestals
• Zeugens
• Yardangs
• Mesas and Buttes
• Ventifacts & Dreikanters
• Deflation Hollows

1. Inselbergs:

An Inselberg is a large, isolated rock hill or small mountain that rises suddenly from a flat or gently sloping surrounding plain. It is also called a Monadnock .

The word “Inselberg” comes from the German words:

• “Insel” meaning island , and
• “Berg” meaning mountain ,
  because it looks like an island standing alone in a flat “sea” of land.

Inselbergs are most commonly found in arid and semi-arid regions, and they are usually made of hard rocks like granite that resist weathering better than the surrounding land.

Characteristics of Inselbergs:

Inselbergs are isolated rocky landforms that protrude abruptly from a virtually level surrounding plain.

They have the following features:

i. Inselbergs usually have steep sides, often vertical sides and round, dome-shaped tops.

ii. They are made up of resistant rock types, such as granite and gneiss, which can withstand erosion while the surrounding landscapeA landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or man-made features, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal. A... More is