Editing Plain

{{short description|Expanse of land that is mostly flat and treeless}}
{{Redirect|Plains||Plain (disambiguation)|and|Plains (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Maniototoevening.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Kakanui Range]] dominates the eastern horizon of the [[Maniototo Plain]] of [[New Zealand]]]]
In [[geography]], a '''plain''', commonly known as '''flatland''', is a flat expanse of land  that generally does not change much in [[elevation]], and is primarily treeless. Plains occur as [[lowland]]s along [[valley]]s or at the base of [[mountain]]s, as [[coastal plain]]s, and as [[plateau]]s or [[Highland|uplands]]. Plains are one of the major [[landform]]s on earth, being present on all continents and covering more than one-third of the world's land area. Plains in many areas are important for [[agriculture]]. There are various types of plains and [[biome]]s on them.[[File:Horton Plains 2021.jpg|thumb|Montane plains as seen in [[Horton Plains]] in [[Sri Lanka]].]]

== Description ==
[[File:Marmilla las plassas.jpg|thumb|Plain of [[Campidano]], [[Italy]]]]
A plain or flatland is a flat expanse of land with a layer of grass that generally does not change much in [[elevation]], and is primarily treeless. Plains occur as [[lowland]]s along [[valley]]s or at the base of [[mountain]]s, as [[coastal plain]]s, and as [[plateau]]s or [[Highland|uplands]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rood|first=Stewart B.|last2=Pan|first2=Jason|last3=Gill|first3=Karen M.|last4=Franks|first4=Carmen G.|last5=Samuelson|first5=Glenda M.|last6=Shepherd|first6=Anita|date=2008-02-01|title=Declining summer flows of Rocky Mountain rivers: Changing seasonal hydrology and probable impacts on floodplain forests|journal=Journal of Hydrology|volume=349|issue=3–4|pages=397–410|doi=10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.11.012|bibcode=2008JHyd..349..397R}}</ref> Plains are one of the major [[landform]]s on earth, where they are present on all continents, and cover more than one-third of the world's land area.<ref name="Wilson">{{Cite book |author1=Geoff C. Brown |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kgk4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA93 |title=Understanding the Earth |author2=C. J. Hawkesworth |author3=R. C. L. Wilson |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-521-42740-1 |edition=2nd |page=93 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603090000/https://books.google.com/books?id=Kgk4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA93 |archive-date=2016-06-03 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In a valley, a plain is enclosed on two sides, but in other cases a plain may be delineated by a complete or partial ring of hills, by mountains, or by [[cliff]]s. Where a geological region contains more than one plain, they may be connected by a [[Mountain pass|pass]] (sometimes termed a [[Gap (landform)|gap]]). Coastal plains mostly rise from [[sea level]] until they run into elevated features such as mountains or plateaus.<ref>{{cite book|author=Whittow, John |date=1984|title=Dictionary of Physical Geography|location=London|publisher=Penguin|page= 467|isbn=978-0-14-051094-2}}</ref> Plains can be formed from flowing [[lava]]; from [[Deposition (geology)|deposition]] of sediment by water, ice, or wind; or formed by [[erosion]] by the agents from hills or mountains.

[[Biome]]s on plains include [[grassland]] ([[temperate]] or [[subtropical]]), [[steppe]] ([[semi-arid]]), [[savannah]] ([[tropical climate|tropical]]) or [[tundra]] ([[polar climate|polar]]). In a few instances, [[desert]]s and [[rainforest]]s may also be considered plains.<ref>{{cite book | editor-last = Gornitz | editor-first = Vivien | date = 2009 | title = Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology And Ancient Environments | publisher = Springer | location = Dordrecht | page = 665 | ISBN = 9781402045516}}</ref>

Plains in many areas are important for [[agriculture]] because where the soils were deposited as [[sediment]]s they may be deep and [[Fertility (soil)|fertile]], and the flatness facilitates mechanization of crop production; or because they support grasslands which provide good grazing for [[livestock]].<ref>Powell, W. Gabe. 2009. Identifying Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Using [[National Agriculture Imagery Program]] (NAIP) Data as a Hydrologic Model Input for Local Flood Plain Management.  Applied Research Project, Texas State University.</ref>

==Types of plain==
[[File:AlluvialPlain.JPG|thumb|A small, [[river incision|incised]] alluvial plain from [[Red Rock Canyon State Park (California)]].]]
[[File:floodislewight.jpg|thumb|right|A flood plain in the [[Isle of Wight]].]]
[[File:Borgo San Michele e Grato Uccelli Carmagnola Miele.jpg|thumb|[[Po Valley]], [[Carmagnola]], countryside near the [[Po (river)|Po river]], [[Italy]]]]

===Depositional plains===
The types of depositional plains include:
* [[Abyssal plain]]s, flat or very gently sloping areas of the deep ocean basin.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Goudie|editor-first=A. S. |editor-link=Andrew Goudie (geographer) |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Geomorphology |title=Denudation chronology |year=2004 |pages=244–248}}</ref><ref name=Vino1997>{{Cite book |first=N.G. |last=Vinogradova |title=The Biogeography of the Oceans |chapter=Zoogeography of the Abyssal and Hadal Zones |volume=32 |pages=325–387 |year=1997 |doi=10.1016/S0065-2881(08)60019-X |series=Advances in Marine Biology |isbn=9780120261321}}</ref>
* {{anchor|Planitia}}[[Planitia]] {{IPAc-en|p|l|ə|'|n|ɪ|ʃ|i|ə}}, the [[Latin language|Latin]] word for plain, is used in the naming of plains on extraterrestrial objects (planets and moons), such as [[Hellas Planitia]] on [[Mars]] or [[Sedna Planitia]] on [[Venus]].
* '''Alluvial plains''', which are formed by rivers and which may be one of these overlapping types:
** [[Alluvial plain]]s, formed over a long period of time by a [[river]] depositing sediment on their flood plains or beds, which become [[alluvial]] soil. The difference between a flood plain and an alluvial plain is: a flood plain represents areas experiencing flooding fairly regularly in the present or recently, whereas an alluvial plain includes areas where a flood plain is now and used to be, or areas which only experience flooding a few times a century.<ref name="LandformGloss">{{cite web | url=https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/PA_NRCSConsumption/download?cid=nrcs142p2_053182&ext=pdf | title=Glossary of Landform and Geologic Terms | publisher=[[National Cooperative Soil Survey]] | work=National Soil Survey Handbook—Part 629 | date=April 2013 | format=PDF | access-date=17 August 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022224040/http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/PA_NRCSConsumption/download/?cid=nrcs142p2_053182&ext=pdf | archive-date=22 October 2016 }}</ref>[[File:雪山下的成都市天际线 Chengdu skyline with snow capped mountains.jpg|thumb|[[Chengdu]] Plain, [[Sichuan]]]]
** [[Flood plain]], adjacent to a lake, river, stream, or wetland that experiences occasional or periodic [[flooding]].
** [[Scroll plain]], a plain through which a river [[meander]]s with a very low gradient.<!--NOTE this may be merged with flood plain or alluvial plain in the near future.-->
* '''Glacial plains''', formed by the movement of glaciers under the force of gravity:
** [[Outwash plain]] (also known as sandur; plural sandar), a glacial out-wash plain formed of sediments deposited by melt-water at the terminus of a glacier. Sandar consist mainly of stratified (layered and sorted) gravel and sand.<ref>Magilligan F.J., Gomez B., Mertes L.A.K., Smith, L.C. Smith N.D., Finnegan D., Garvin J.B., ''Geomorphic effectiveness, sandur development, and the pattern of landscape response during jökulhlaups: [[Skeiðarársandur]], southeastern Iceland'', Geomorphology 44 (2002) 95–113</ref><ref>Smith L.C., Sheng Y., Magilligan F.J., Smith N.D., Gomez B., Mertes L., Krabill W.B., Garven J.B., ''Geomorphic impact and rapid subsequent recovery from the 1996 Skeiðarársandur jökulhlaup, Iceland, measured with multi-year airborne lidar''. Geomorphology vol. 75 Is. 1–2 (2006) 65–75</ref>
** [[Till plain]]s, plain of [[glacial till]] that form when a sheet of [[ice]] becomes detached from the main body of a [[glacier]] and melts in place depositing the [[sediment]]s it carries. Till plains are composed of unsorted material (till) of all sizes.
* [[Lacustrine plain]]s, plains that originally formed in a lacustrine environment, that is, as the bed of a [[lake]].<ref>United States. Department of Conservation. Division of Geology. Glacial Sluceways and Lacustrine Plains of Southern Indiana. By William D. Thornburry. Bloomington: n.p., 1950. Web. <{{cite web |url=https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2022/205/B04.pdf?sequence=1 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-12-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230354/https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2022/205/B04.pdf?sequence=1 |archive-date=2016-03-03 }}>.</ref>
* [[Lava plain]]s, formed by sheets of flowing [[lava]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/LavaPlateaus/description_lava_plateaus.html|title=Lava Plateaus|access-date=2014-01-26|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114161356/http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/LavaPlateaus/description_lava_plateaus.html|archive-date=2013-11-14}}</ref>

===Erosional plains===
'''Erosional plains''' have been leveled by various agents of denudation such as running water, rivers, wind and glacier which wear out the rugged surface and smoothens them. Plain resulting from the action of these agents of denudation are called ''[[peneplain]]s'' (almost plain) while plains formed from wind action are called ''[[pediplain]]s''.<ref name=Migon>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Migoń|first=Piotr|author-link=Piotr Migoń|editor-last=Goudie|editor-first=A.S.|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Geomorphology|title=Planation surface|year=2004|pages=788–792}}</ref>

===Structural plains===
'''Structural plains''' are relatively undisturbed horizontal surfaces of the Earth. They are structurally depressed areas of the world that make up some of the most extensive natural lowlands on the Earth's surface.<ref name=Brit>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|title=Pediplain|url=http://global.britannica.com/science/pediplain}}</ref>

[[File:Curry County Eastern New Mexico 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Curry County, New Mexico|Curry County]], eastern [[New Mexico]], on the North American [[Great Plains]]]]

==Notable examples==
{{See also|Category: Plains by country}}

[[File:Esta%C3%A7%C3%A3o_Ecol%C3%B3gica_do_Taim.jpg|thumb|The [[Pampas]] are a huge area of fertile [[grasslands]] in the southeastern area of South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[File:Bozan_village.jpg|thumb|Nineveh Plains ([[Bozan, Iraq]])]]
[[File:Liminka field 20080726 01.jpg|thumb|A field plain in [[Liminka]], [[Finland]]]]
[[File:View of Fields at Biccavolu.jpg|thumb|View of Fields at [[Biccavolu]], Eastern coastal plains, [[Andhra Pradesh]], India]]
[[File:Yilan Plain 2011-05-11.jpg|thumb|Yilan Plain, Taiwan]]
[[file:Store Mosse Stora Gungflyet.jpg|thumb|View of the South Småland peneplain at [[Store Mosse National Park]] in Sweden.]]
[[File:Nsomersetlevels.JPG|thumb|North Somerset Levels taken from [[Dolebury Warren]], England, UK]]
[[File:Fulda countryside.jpg|thumb|Terrain near the central German town of [[Fulda]].]]
[[File:Argeş County Romania bgiu.jpg|thumb|The Wallachian Plain, in the southern part of [[Argeș County]].]]
[[File:Festos - Valley of Messara 2.jpg|thumb|View of Messara from the hill of [[Phaistos|Phaestus]], Greece.]]
[[File:Western Sydney (Badgerys Creek) Airport site - Anton Rd.JPG|thumb|Cumberland Plain [[Cumberland Plain Woodland|bushland]] in [[Western Sydney]], Australia.]]
[[File:TaieriPlain.jpg|thumb|Looking southeast across the Taieri Plain, Otago, [[New Zealand]].]]

===America===
====Caribbean and South America====
* [[Altiplano]] (Bolivia, Chile)
* [[Altiplano Cundiboyacense]] (Colombia)
* [[Caroni Plain]] ([[Trinidad and Tobago]])
* [[Chilean Central Valley]]
** {{ill|Cancha Rayada, Chile|lt=Cancha Rayada|es|Cancha Rayada}}
** [[Los Llanos, Chile|Los Llanos]]
* [[Gran Chaco]] (Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay)
* [[Llanos]] ([[Colombia]] and [[Venezuela]])
* [[Pampas]] (Argentina, [[Uruguay]], [[Brazil]])
* [[Coastal plains of Chile]]

====North America====
* [[Atlantic coastal plain]] ([[United States]])
* [[Carrizo Plain]] ([[California]], United States)
* [[Great Plains]] ([[Canada]] and United States)
* [[Guatemala South Coast]] ([[Guatemala]])
* [[Gulf Coastal Plain]] ([[Mexico]] and United States)
* [[Interior Plains]] (Canada and United States)
* [[Lake Superior Lowland]] ([[Wisconsin]], United States)
* [[Laramie Plains]] ([[Wyoming]])
* [[Mississippi Alluvial Plain]] ([[Mississippi]])
* [[Oxnard Plain]] ([[Ventura County]], California)
* [[Snake River Plain]] ([[Idaho]])

===Asia===
====Eastern Asia====
* [[Chianan Plain]] ([[Taiwan]])
* [[Depsang Plains]] ([[China]] and [[India]])
* [[Honam Plain]] (South Korea)
* [[Kantō Plain]] ([[Japan]])
* [[Kedu Plain]] ([[Indonesia]])
* [[Kewu Plain]] (Indonesia)
* [[Mallig Plains]] ([[Philippines]])
* [[Nōbi Plain]] (Japan)
* [[North China Plain]] (China)
* [[Osaka Plain]] (Japan)
* [[Pingtung Plain]] (Taiwan)
* [[Sarobetsu plain]] (Japan)
* [[Sendai Plain]] (Japan)
* [[Yilan Plain]] (Taiwan)

==== North Asia ====
* [[West Siberian Plain]] ([[Russia]])

====South Asia====
* [[Bhuikhel]] ([[Nepal]])
* [[Depsang Plains]] ([[India]] and [[China]])
* [[Dooars]] ([[India]] and [[Bhutan]])
* [[Eastern coastal plains]] ([[India]])
* [[Indo-Gangetic Plain]]s ([[Bangladesh]], [[India]], [[Nepal]] and [[Pakistan]])
* [[More plains]] ([[India]])
* [[North Bengal plains]] ([[Bangladesh]] and [[India]])
* [[Punjab Plain]]s ([[Pakistan]] and [[India]])
* [[Terai]] ([[India]] and [[Nepal]])
* [[Utkal Plains]] ([[India]])
* [[Western coastal plains]] ([[India]])

====Western Asia====
* [[Al-Ghab Plain]] ([[Syria]])
* [[Aleppo plateau]] (Syria)
* [[Ararat Plain]] ([[Armenia]] and [[Turkey]])
* [[Israeli coastal plain]] ([[Israel]])
* [[Khuzestan Plain]] ([[Iran]])
* [[Mugan plain]] ([[Azerbaijan]] and Iran)
* [[Nineveh Plains]] ([[Iraqi Kurdistan]])
* [[Shiraki Plain]] ([[Georgia (country)|Georgia]])

===Europe===
====Central Europe====
* [[Limagne]] ([[France]])
* [[North German Plain]]
* [[Ochsenfeld]] (France)
* [[Pannonian Basin]] ([[Central Europe]])
* [[Parndorf Plain]] (Austria)
* [[Westphalian Lowland]] (Germany)

====Eastern Europe====
* [[Bărăgan Plain]] ([[Romania]])
* [[Danubian Plain (Bulgaria)|Danubian Plain]] ([[Bulgaria]])
* [[Dnieper Lowland]] ([[Ukraine]])
* [[East European Plain]]
* [[European Plain]]
* [[Great Hungarian Plain]]
* [[Kosovo field (region)|Kosovo field]] ([[Kosovo]])
* [[Little Hungarian Plain]] ([[Austria]], [[Hungary]], and [[Slovakia]])
* [[Pannonian Steppe]] (Hungary)
* [[Polesian Lowland]] (Ukraine and [[Belarus]])
* [[Upper Thracian Plain]] (Bulgaria)
* [[Wallachian Plain]] (Romania)

====Northern Europe====
* [[Cheshire Plain]] ([[England]])
* [[Hardangervidda]] ([[Norway]])
* [[Kaffiøyra]] ([[Svalbard]], Norway)
* [[Muddus plains]] ([[Sweden]])
* [[North European Plain]]
* [[North Northumberland Coastal Plain]] ([[Northern England]])
* [[North Somerset Levels]] ([[North Somerset]], England)
* [[Salisbury Plain]] (England)
* [[Solway Plain]] ([[Cumbria]], England)
* [[Somerset Levels]] ([[Somerset]], England)
* [[South Coast Plain]] ([[Hampshire]] and [[Sussex]], England)
* [[South Småland peneplain]] (Sweden)
* [[Stora Alvaret]] ([[Öland]], Sweden)
* [[Strandflat]] (Norway)
* [[Sub-Cambrian peneplain]] ([[Nordic countries]])
** [[Central Swedish lowland]]
** [[Ostrobothnian Plain]] (Finland)
* [[The Fylde]] ([[Lancashire]], England)

====Southern Europe====
* [[Agro Nocerino Sarnese]] ([[Italy]])
* [[Campidano]] (Italy)
* [[Lelantine Plain]] ([[Greece]])
* [[Mesaoria]] ([[Cyprus]])
* [[Messara Plain]] (Greece)
* [[Nurra]] ([[Sardinia]], Italy)
* [[Po Valley]] (Italy)
* [[Rieti Valley]] ([[Central Italy]])
* [[Tavoliere delle Puglie]] ([[Southern Italy]])

===Oceania===
====Australia====
* [[Bogong High Plains]] ([[Victorian Alps]], Australia)
* [[Cumberland Plain]] ([[Sydney]], Australia)
* [[Esperance Plains]] ([[Western Australia]])
* [[Molonglo Plain]] ([[Australian Capital Territory]])
* [[Mulga Lands]] ([[eastern Australia]])
* [[Nullarbor Plain]] ([[Southern Australia]])
* [[Ord Victoria Plain]] ([[Northern Australia]])
* [[Swan Coastal Plain]] ([[Perth]], Australia)

====New Zealand====
* [[Awarua Plains]] ([[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]])
* [[Canterbury Plains]] ([[Canterbury Region|Canterbury]])
* [[Hauraki Plains]] ([[Waikato]])
* [[Maniototo]]  ([[Otago]])
* [[Taieri Plains|Taieri]] ([[Otago]])

==See also==
{{portal|Geography}}
* {{annotated link|Field (agriculture)|Field}}
* {{annotated link|Flooded grasslands and savannas}}
* {{annotated link|Flood-meadow}}
* {{annotated link|Machair}}
* {{annotated link|Meadow}}
* {{annotated link|Pasture}}
* {{annotated link|Prairie}}
* {{annotated link|Rangeland}}
* {{annotated link|Water-meadow}}
* {{annotated link|Wet meadow}}
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Plains}}

{{Earth's landforms}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Plains| ]]
[[Category:Slope landforms]]
[[Category:Agricultural land]]
[[Category:Grasslands]]
[[Category:Meadows]]
[[Category:Geography terminology]]