Transcript Geographic Terms

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