Reference Atlas Flashcards
Study
archipelago
a group of islands
basin
an area of land drained by a given river and its branches; area of land surrounded by lands of higher elevations
Bay
part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, generally smaller than a gulf
canyon
deep and narrow valley with steep walls
cape
point of land that extends into a river, lake, or ocean
channel
wide strait or waterway between two landmasses that lie close to each other; deep part of a river or other waterway
Cliff
steep, high wall of rock, earth, or ice
Continent
one of the seven large landmasses on the Earth
delta
flat, low-lying land built up from soil carried downstream by a river and deposited at its mouth
Divide
stretch of high land that separates river systems
downstream
direction in which a river or stream flows from its source to its mouth
escarpment
steep cliff or slope between a higher and lower land surface
glacier
large, thick body of slowly moving ice
gulf
part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, generally larger and more deeply indented than a bay
highland
elevated land area such as a hill, mountain, or plateau
harbor
a sheltered place along a shoreline where ships can anchor safely
hill
elevated land with sloping sides and rounded summit; generally smaller than a mountain
island
land area, smaller than a continent, completely surrounded by water
isthmus
narrow stretch of land connecting two larger land areas
lowland
land, usually level, at a low elevation
lake
a sizable inland body of water
mountain
land with steep sides that rises sharply (1,000 feet or more) from surrounding land; generally larger and more rugged than a hill
mesa
broad, flat-topped lanform with steep sides; smaller than a plateau
mountain peak
pointed top of a mountain
mountain range
a series of connected mountains
mouth
(of a river) place where a stream or river flows into a larger body of water
oasis
small area in a desert where water and vegetation are found
ocean
one of the four major bodies of salt water that surround the continents
ocean current
stream of either cold or warm water that moves in a definite direction through an ocean
peninsula
body of land jutting into a lake or ocean, surrounded on three sides by water
physical feature
characteristic of a place occurring naturally, such as a landform, body of water, climate pattern, or resource
plain
area of level land, usually at low elevation and often covered with grasses
reef
a chain of rocks, coral or sand at or near the surface of the water
plateau
area of flat or rolling land at a high elevation, about 300 to 3,000 feet (90 to 900 m) high
river
large natural stream of water that runs through the land
sound
broad inland body of water, often between a coastline and one or more islands off the coast
sea
large body of water completely or partly surrounded by land
source
(of a river) place where a river or stream begins, often in highlands
seacoast
land lying next to a sea or an ocean
strait
narrow stretch of water joining two larger bodies of water
tributary
small river or stream that flows into a large river or stream; a branch of the river
upstream
direction opposite the flow of a river; toward the source of a river or stream
valley
area of low land usually between hills or mountains
volcano
mountain or hill created as liquid rock and ash erupt from inside the Earth
