Landform Definitions Flashcards
Delta
A low fan shaped area of soil at a river’s mouth
Beach
A shore of a body of water covered with sand, gravel, or rock fragments
Glacier
A large mass or field of ice that moves slowly down a mountain
Harbor
A sheltered body of water deep enough to furnish anchor for ships along a coastal area
Hills
A piece of ground higher than the surrounding land, but not as high as a mountain
Island
An area of land completely surrounded by water
Isthmus
An narrow strip of land between two bodies of water that connects two large areas of land
Mesa
A hill or small plateau with flat top and steep sides
Peninsula
An area of land surrounded by water on three sides
Plain
A flat or level area land
Waterfall
A natural stream of water falling from a high place
Dessert
Land area with little or no precipitation and few plants
Volcano
An opening in the earth’s crust from which hot ash and lava flow
River
A large body of flowing water
Ocean
One of the four large bodies of salt water on the Earth’s surface
Strait
A narrow body of water connecting two larger bodies of water
Plateau
An area of high flat land
Lake
A body of water completely surrounded by land
Canyon
A deep gorge or ravine with steep sides, often a stream flows through it
Mountain
The highest form of land of land on the earth’s surface
Moraine
An accumulation of earth and stones carried and finally deposited by a glacier
River Valley
Often located at the base of a waterfall, gorge or ravine with a stream flowing through it
Tributary
A stream feeding a larger stream or lake
Barrier Sand Bar
A ridge or bank of sand in a river or bay, or along a shoreline built up by the action of waves
Gulf
A part of an ocean or sea that extends into land
Cape
A point of a land extending into water, usually smaller than a peninsula
Divide
A ridge or area of high land between two regions
Butte
A mountain or hill that stands alone(isolated) having a wider base than peak
