Geographic Terms

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Geographic Terms
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Continent-
Very large land mass, 7 on the planet
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Island-
Land surrounded by water on all sides
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Archipelago
Large group or chain of islands
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Hill-
Rounded, raised landform
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Mountain-
High rounded or pointed landform with steep
sides, higher than a hill
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Glacier-
Large ice mass that moves slowly down a mountain
or over land
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Canyon-
A deep narrow valley with steep sides
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Valley-
Low land area between mountains or hills
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Cape-
Pointed piece of land extending into an ocean or
large body of water
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Peninsula-
Body of land surrounded by water on three sides
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Plateau/Mesa-
Broad, flat area of land higher than surrounding
land, mesa is smaller than a plateau
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Plain-
Large area of flat or nearly flat land
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Erosion-
The process of wearing away land by wind or water
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Desert-
A very dry area where few plants grow, does not
have to be hot--Antarctica
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Ocean-
Largest bodies of water on the planet, saltwater,
interconnected
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Lake-
Body of water surrounded by land
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Source of a River-
Place where a river begins, often in mountains or
from an underground spring
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Mouth of a River-
Place where a river empties into a larger body of
water
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Tributary-
River or stream that flows into a larger river or
stream
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Delta-
Triangular area at the mouth of a river formed
from sand, dirt, and rocks
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Strait-
Narrow strip of water connecting two large bodies
of water
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Canal-
Man-made narrow waterway connecting two larger
bodies of water
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Isthmus-
Narrow strip of land connecting two large
landmasses
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Port/Harbor-
Place on a coastline where ships can dock and
unload goods, deep water
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Gulf/Bay-
Part of an ocean or lake extending into the land,
gulf is larger than a bay
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Currents-
Steady flow of ocean water in one direction,
linked to winds and lunar gravity