Morphogenic setting and diversity of processes and landforms: The geomorphological regions of Belgium

Abstract

Following a few words about the historical context of geomorphological research in Belgium and Luxembourg, the main geomorphic regions of the two countries are presented. The dominant controls exerted on morphogenic processes by lithology and elevation (i.e., tectonic background) lead to distinguish northern Belgium, corresponding to the low-elevation Cenozoic Belgian basin where sedimentation generally prevails over erosion, and the Ardennian Paleozoic massif of southern Belgium and northern Luxembourg, uplifted and strongly incised and eroded in the Plio-Quaternary. In between are the transitional plateaus of Middle Belgium. South of the Ardenne, Belgian Lorraine and Luxembourgian Gutland pertain to the homoclinal landscapes of the Paris basin. Finally, a brief overview is presented of the processes and landforms treated in the successive chapters.