Ch. A Geography Terms Flashcards
Altitude
the elevation of an object in relationship to a given plane, often sea level
Archipelago
a body of water interspersed with many isles
Arm
a long, narrow passage of water; a creek
Atoll
a ring-shaped coral reef, island or set of small islands nearly or completely surrounding a lagoon.
Basin
a hollow place for water; an enclosed part of water, forming a broad space within a strait or narrow entrance; a little bay
Bank
a steep slope of ground rising from a lake, a river, or the sea
Bluff
a high bank, almost perpendicular, projecting into the sea
Bayou
a soggy, swampy, slow-moving body of water, obstructed by vegetation
Bay
an arm of the sea, extending into the land, smaller than a gulf and larger than a creek
Beach
a shore of the sea or of a lake, washed by the tide and waves
Bog
soft, wet ground covered with grass or other plants, too soft to bear a man
Branch
a smaller stream running into a larger one or proceeding from it
Breakers
a rock that breaks the waves; a wave that breaks against a rock, a sand bank, or the shore, exhibiting a white foam
Brink
the edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice or the bank or a river
Canyon
a long, deep hollow with steep, rocky sides worn by a stream or torrent of water
Cape
a head land; the head, point, or termination of a neck of land, extending some distance into the sea beyond the common shore
Canal
an artificial cut or passage for water used for transportation
Brook
a small natural stream of water; a current flowing from a spring
Canal
an artificial cut or passage for water used for transportation
Canyon
a long, deep hollow with steep, rocky sides worn by a stream or torrent of water
Cape
a head land; the head, point, or termination of a neck of land, extending some distance into the sea beyond the common shore
Cave
a hollow place in the earth; a subterraneous cavern; a den; may be natural or artificial
Cavern
a deep, naturally hollow place in the earth, deeper than a cave
Channel
an arm of the sea; a straight or narrow sea between tow continents or between a continent and an isle
Chasm
a cleft or fissure in a rock or the earth’s surface caused by a disrupture
Cinder Cone
a cone-shaped hill of volcanic material surrounding an opening in the earth
Cliff
a high, steep almost vertical rock, usually on a coast
Coast
the edge or margin of the land next to the sea; the seashore
Continent
a great extent of land, not disjoined or interrupted by a sea
Continental Shelf
the edge of a continent that is submerged in water
Country
any tract of land or inhabited land; any region, as distinguished from other regions; a kingdom, state, or lesser district
Cove
a small inlet or bay; a recess in the sea shore
Crag
a steep, rugged rock; a rough, broken rock or point of a rock
Crater
the aperture or mouth of a volcano
Creek
a small inlet; a recess in the shore of the sea or of a river; a small stream
Cultivated Land
land prepared for crops
Current
a flowing or passing of water, a stream
Dale
a low place between hills, a vale or valley
Dam
a bank or mound of earth; any wall or a frame of wood raised to obstruct a current of water
Dell
a small vale with woods
Delta
an area of triangular shaped land located at the mouth of a main river from which distributaries flow
Desert
a vast sandy plain characterized by minimal precipitation and plant growth
Dike
a ditch; a mound of earth, stones, or other materials, intended to prevent low lands from being inundated by the sea or a river
Divide
a ridge that determines the direction water drains from adjacent water systems; a watershed
Downstream
the direction a river flows; flowing with the current
Drainage Basin
area drained by a river and its tributaries; a watershed
Dune
hill, mound, or ridge of sand formed by wind
Earth
the terraqueous globe that we inhabit
Elevation
elevated ground; a rising ground; a hill or mountain
Estuary
an arm of the sea; the mouth of a river or lake where the tide meets the current
Fall Line
the point where rivers descend rapidly due to a distinct decline in elevation
Field
a piece of land enclosed for tillage or pasture
Fjord
a long, narrow, deep valley formed by glacial erosion and flooded by ocean water
Forest
an extensive wood; a large tract of land covered with trees
Glacier
a field or an immense mass of ice formed in deep but elevated valleys, remaining frozen throughout the heat of summer
Glen
a valley; a dale; a depression or space between hills
Gorge
a narrow hollow with steep, rocky sides worn by a stream or torrent of water
Grove
a wood of small extent
Gulch
a small, narrow hollow with steep walls worn by a stream or torrent of water
Gulf
a recess in the ocean from the general line of the shore in to the land; a tract of water extending from the ocean or a sea into the land between two points or promontories; a large bay
Harbor
a port or haven for ships; a large inlet of the sea where ships can moor
Headland
a cape; a promontory; a point of land projecting from the shore into the sea or other expanse of water
Hill
a natural elevation of land; a mass of earth rising above the common level of the surrounding land
Horizon
the line that terminates the view when extended on the surface of the earth
Iceberg
a hill or mountain of ice; a vast body of ice accumulated in valleys in high northern latitudes
Inlet
a bay or recess in the shore of the sea, a lake, or a large river; a narrow body of water between isles
Irrigated Land
land watered by causing a stream to flow upon it and spread over it
Island
a tract of land surrounded by water
Isthmus
a neck or narrow slip of land by which two continents are connected or by which a peninsula is united to the mainland
Junction
the place or point of union
Keys
a chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water; a cay
Knob
a round hill or mount
Knoll
the top or crown of a hill; a little round hill or mount; a small elevation of earth
Lagoon
an enclosed or partially enclosed shallow body of salt water divided from the ocean by low sandy dunes or a coral reef
Lake
a large and extensive collection of water contained in a cavity or hollow of the earth
Land
earth; the solid matter that constitutes the fixed part of the surface of the globe
Latitude
the distance of any place on the globe, north or south of the equator
Ledge
a ridge; a prominent row
Left Bank
the slope of ground on the left-hand side of the river when facing downstream
Levee
a bank or a causeway, particularly along a river to prevent inundation
Locks
the barrier of a canal that confines the water and can be opened or shut at pleasure
Longitude
the distance of any place on the globe from another place, eastward or westward, the distance of any place from a given meridian
Marsh
a tract of low land, very wet and miry and overgrown with coarse grass
Meadow
pasture or grassland annually mown for hay
Mesa
a flat-topped mountain with steep walls
Mine
a pit or excavation in the earth from which metallic ores, mineral substances, and other fossil bodies are taken by digging
Moor
a tract of land overrun with heath; a marsh; a fen; ground covered with stagnant water
Mountain
a large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land, but of no definite altitude
Mountain Chain
a line of connected mountain ranges
Mountain Range
a row of mountains
Mouth
the opening or entrance of a cave, pit, well, or den
Natural Resource
materials found in nature, such as land, forests, and minerals, that have economic value
Oasis
small fertile area in a desert, irrigated by natural springs or other source of fresh water
Ocean
the vast body of water that covers more than three-fifths of the surface of the globe, also called the sea
Pass
a gap in a mountainous area suitable for passing through; a means of passage through a rugged terrain
Pasture
ground covered with grass appropriated for the food of cattle
Peak
the top of a hill or mountain, ending in a point
Peninsula
a portion of land connected with a continent by a narrow neck or isthmus but nearly surrounded with water
Piedmont
the bottom of a mountain
Pier
a structure constructed perpendicular to the harbor for securing vessels and receiving goods unladen or to be shipped on board
Plain
large area of flat land
Plateau
flat section of land higher than the surrounding area
Point
a small cape, headland, or promontory; a tract of land extending into the sea
Pond
a body of stagnant water usually without an outlet, larger than a puddle and smaller than a lake
Pool
a small collection of water in a hollow place, supplied by a spring and discharging its surplus water by an outlet, smaller than a lake
Prairie
an extensive tract of land, mostly level, destitute of trees, and covered with tall, coarse grass
Precipice
a steep fall or descent of land, perpendicular or nearly so
Rapids
a fast-moving river current, caused by a moderate descent
Reef
a chain or range of rocks, lying at or near the surface of the water
Reservoir
a place where water is collected and kept for use when wanted
Ridge
a long or continued range of hills or mountains; the upper part of such a range
Right Bank
the slope of ground on the right-hand side of the river when facing downstream
River
a large stream of water flowing in a channel on land toward the ocean, a lake, or another river, larger than a brook
River Mouth
the part or channel of a river by which its waters are discharged into the ocean or into a lake
River Source
the beginning of a river; the headwaters
Sandbar
narrow ridge of fine particles of stone created by the current or tide
Savanna
an extensive open plain or meadow; a plain destitute of trees
Sea
a large body of water nearly enclosed by land
Sea Level
ocean surface level used as base for measuring elevation and sea depth; the average tide level
Seaport
a harbor of the sea, accommodating seafaring vessels
Shoal
a place where the water is shallow or of little depths; a sand bank or bar; a shallow
Shore
the coast or land adjacent to the sea, a large lake, or a river
Shoreline
the place where a body of water meets the land
Slope
any ground whose surface forms an angle with the plane of the horizon
Snowline
the altitudinal border above which a mountain is always covered in show
Soil
the upper stratum of the earth; the compound substance that furnishes nutriment to plants or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them
Sound
a narrow passage of water; a strait between the mainland and an isle; a strait connecting two seas or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean
Spit
a small point of land running into the sea; a long narrow shoal extending from the shore in to the sea
Steppe
a prairie; a grassy plain characterized by a lack of trees and a shortage of rain
Strait
a narrow pass or passage, either in a mountain or in the ocean, between continents or other portions of land
Stream
a current of water like a river, brook, or rivulet; a current of water in the ocean
Summit
the highest point of a mountain
Swamp
spongy land; low ground filled with water; soft, wet ground
Tableland
a large, flat section of land higher than the surrounding area
Terrace
a raised bank of earth with sloping lines
Tide
the cyclical rise and fall of sea water, resulting from the gravitational attractive force between the earth and the moon
Timber
wood that is proper for building or for the tools, utensils, furniture, ships, and the like
Timberline
the altitudinal border above which trees do not grow
Topography
the detailed description of a particular place, city, town, manor, parish, or tract of land
Tributary
smaller streams or rivers flowing into a larger body of water
Tundra
a vast treeless plain in the arctic region in which the ground is perpetually frozen
Tunnel
a large subterraneous arch through a hill
Upstream
against the current
Vale
a tract of low ground or of land between hills, a valley
Valley
a hollow or low tract of land between hills or mountains
Vegetation
the process of growing plants by means of nourishment derived from the earth or from water and air received through roots and leaves; vegetables or plants in general
Volcano
an opening in the surface of the earth or in a mountain from which smoke, flames, stones, lava, or other substances are ejected
Waterfall
a fall or perpendicular descent of the water of a river or stream; a cascade, a cataract
Watershed
an area that drains in to a river; the divide that leads streams of water in two opposite directions
Waves
a moving swell or volume of water; usually, a swell raised and driven by wind
Wharf
a perpendicular bank, mound, timber, or stone and earth, raised on the shore of a harbor or extending some distance in to the water, for the convenience of lading and unlading ships and other vessels
Whirlpool
an eddy of water; a vortex or gulf where the water moves round in a circle
Woods
a large, thick collection of trees, a forest
