Location, Geology and Landforms of the Loess Plateau

Abstract

The Loess Plateau is a highland region in north-central China with average elevation about 1,200 m. It has the thickest known loess deposits in the world. Although there are several definitions in the literature for the plateau boundary and area, two definitions are the most commonly reported. The first of these defines the plateau from the standpoint of physical geography. As a large geographical unit, “Loess Plateau” is defined as the highland area with thick loess deposit, covering about 380,000 km2. Another commonly accepted definition, is that of the “Loess Plateau region”, which refers to a larger loess-distribution area with loess landscape and related environmental characteristics, covering about 640,000 km2. Formation of the plateau began about 2.6 million years ago. Information about past global climate change has been derived from samples taken from deep layers of loess deposit. Since loess is highly subject to erosion, a unique morphology has developed in the region. Typical landforms are loess Yuan, Liang, and Mao and various valleys of different erosion magnitudes. Loess hills and gullies are very common and are symbolic landscapes of the plateau region.