Landforms have influenced the region's pattern of development. The
location of Greater Cleveland is not an accident. It was built to take advantage of
specific characteristics of the landscape. These features remain today and still
influence activity and development.
Understanding the landform patterns of our area provides information
for making decisions that are environmentally intelligent and strategic and can assist in
targeting locations for development and for open space preservation and restoration.
Features that form the physiography of the Valley and its surroundings and which are
delineated on the Physiography Map include:
- Lake Erie
- Cuyahoga River Channel and Other Inland Water Bodies
- Lake Flats, Cuyahoga River Flats and Valley Floors
- Lake Plain
- Bluffs and Escarpments
- First Terrace (including flatter areas)
- Upper Plateau (including flatter areas)
