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Geographical Features
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Prime Meridian
Equator
Latitude lines are horizontal, dividing the globe
into north and south. 0 degree latitude is the
Equator. Longitude lines are vertical, dividing
the globe into east and west. 0 degree longitude
is the Prime Meridian.
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Continents and Oceans

• There are 7 continents
• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• Australia/Oceania
• Antarctica

• There are 5 oceans
• Atlantic
• Pacific
• Indian
• Arctic
• Southern

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Rivers and their Valleys
Most civilizations began along rivers. Why??? Rive
rs provide water. - drinking, washing,
cooking Rivers provide food (fish). Rivers
provide transportation. River valleys have
fertile soil. Are there negatives to
rivers? Rivers sometimes overflow (floods).
Nile River in Africa
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Inland Water Vocabulary
Pond - a still body of water smaller than a
lake Lake - a large inland body of fresh or salt
water Stream - a body of running water River - a
large natural stream of water emptying into a
large



body of water Tributary - a river or
stream flowing into a larger river or stream
Hudson River
Lake George
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Mountains
Mountains are beautiful. Mountains provide
trees. - wood for shelter and heat Mountains
provide food (game) Mountains are often the
source of rivers. Are there any negatives to
mountains? Mountains used to isolate
people.. Mountains may have volcanoes.
Mt. Fugi in Japan
Hawaii
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Landform Vocabulary
Hill - a natural elevation smaller than a
mountain Slope - a stretch of land forming a
natural incline Ridge - a long narrow land
elevation Butte - a hill that rises in an area
it has sloping sides and a flat top Mesa - a
flat-topped elevation with cliff-like sides Cliff
- A high, steep, or overhanging rock face Plateau
- an elevated, fairly level expanse of land,
larger than a butte



or mesa Isthmus - a narrow strip
of land connecting to large land masses Cape - a
point of land projecting into the sea Peninsula -
a long projection of land into water
Catskill Mountains
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Deserts
Deserts dont have many positives. Deserts are
hot and dry in the day, and may get very cold at
night. There is not much life in a desert. Some
people live on oases, fertile spots in a
desert. Deserts have been places where people
have gone to think (theres not much else to do).
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Islands
Islands are land masses completely surrounded by
water. An archipelago is a large group of
islands. Japan is an example of a country made
up of an archipelago. Inhabitants of islands used
to be isolated from other peoples and cultures
because of transportation difficulties. Now,
with airplanes, this is no longer the case.
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Coastlines
Regular coastline - one which is fairly straight,
without indentations. Irregular coastline - one
with many indentations. Water is necessary for
people, but when discussing coasts, we are
dealing with oceans (salt water). Oceans are a
source of salt water fish, but the water can not
be used for drinking. An irregular coastline is
best for ports because the ocean is not as rough.
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Coastline Water Vocabulary
Inlet - a recess along a coastline Fiord - a
long, narrow, often deep inlet from the sea
between



steep cliffs and slopes Cove - a
small sheltered bay in a shoreline Bay - a body
of water partially enclosed by land, with a wide




outlet to the sea Gulf - a large area of sea or
ocean partially enclosed by land Strait - a
narrow passageway of water between two large
bodies



of water Sound - a long, wide body of
water similar to a strait Channel - a broad
strait Canal manmade connection between two
large bodies of water

Long Island Sound
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Natural Resources
Natural resources are things found in nature (not
man-made) which are a benefit to people. Oil,
coal, and natural gas are found underground and
are used for heating our homes. Wood from trees
is used to build homes, and sometimes to heat
them. These resources are not renewable, once
we use them, they can not be replaced. These
resources need to be conserved (saved).
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Weather Issues
tornado
Some regions have weather situations which can
cause death to people and damage to property.
Examples are monsoons, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
People living in these regions must be prepared
to evacuate (leave) their homes, leaving personal
possessions behind. Sometimes there is little
warning of the weather change, and people are
forced to find other shelter, and hope to
survive.
Flooding after monsoon
Flooding after hurricane
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Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Earthquakes are a series of waves in the crust of
the earth caused by easing of strains on
geographic faults and by volcanoes. Volcanoes are
vents in the earths crust which may erupt giving
off molten lava. Many people live in regions
where there is possibility of disaster caused by
these features.
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Culture and Geography
Culture includes all the socially passed on
behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions,
and products of human work, thought typical of a
population or community. Geography is the study
of the earth and its features, and of the
distribution of life on the earth. What is the
connection? People create behavior patterns,
arts, beliefs, institutions, and products based
on what is available to them in their
environment. For example, people go fishing for
food, work, or sport, if they live near rivers,
lakes, or oceans. People realized that they
could not control the weather or the earth, so
they began to believe in a Higher Power (God) to
whom they prayed. Those who live in regions
where weather is a problem are usually less
materialistic they save little because it is all
taken from them in monsoon, flood, or hurricane.
Some make jewelry from coral, if they live near
oceans others make jewelry from minerals, if
they live near mountains (mining).
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Natural Resources
Floods
Mountains
Rivers
Volcanoes Earthquakes
Regular Irregular
Deserts
Geographical Features
Coastlines
Islands