Which one of the following is a component of lateral hill slope?

The correct answer is 'Free-face'

Key Points

• Free-face:
  • A free-face is a steep, often vertical portion of a hill slope that is devoid of vegetation and soil, typically composed of rock.
  • This feature is part of the lateral hill slope and is often observed in areas where erosion or weathering has removed the overlying material.
  • Free-faces are common in mountainous and hilly terrain where the slopes are steep and prone to processes such as rockfalls and landslides.
  • These features are significant in geomorphology as they indicate active erosional processes and can influence the stability of the hill slope.

Additional Information

• Arete:
  • An arete is a sharp, narrow ridge found in mountainous regions, formed by the erosion of two adjacent glacial valleys.
  • It is not a component of a lateral hill slope but rather a feature of glacial topography.
• Watershed:
  • A watershed is an area of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
  • It is a large-scale geographical feature that encompasses multiple hill slopes and is not limited to a single lateral hill slope.
• Nick-point:
  • A nick-point is a break or change in the slope of a river profile, often indicating a point of increased erosion such as a waterfall or rapid.
  • It is associated with river geomorphology rather than the lateral slopes of hills.