GEOGRAPHY TERMS

CONTINENT

LARGE LAND MASS ON EARTH

OCEAN

ONE OF THE LARGE BODIES OF SALT WATER

BAY

BODY OF H20 PARTLY ENCLOSED BY LAND

SEA

LARGE BODY OF H20 ALMOST ENTIRELY ENCLOSED BY LAND

STRAIT

NARROW PASSAGE OF H20 CONNECTING 2 LARGER BODIESOF WATER

Mediterranean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

STRAIT

TRIBUTARY

STREAM FLOWING INTO LARGER STREAM OR RIVER (Think of branches on a tree. Tree trunk = River, Branches = stream

DELTA

TRIANGULAR-SHAPED, SILTDEPOSIT AT MOUTH OFTHE RIVER

LAKE

SIZABLE INLAND BODY OF WATER

LAGOON

BODY OF SHALLOW H20 USUALLY CONNECTED TO A LARGER LAKE OR THE SEA

CATARACT

LARGE WATERFALL or SERIES OF SMALLWATERFALLS IN A ROW

FJORD

LONG, NARROW ARM OF SEARUNNING BETWEEN HIGH, ROCKY CLIFFS

CAPE

POINT OF LAND EXTENDING INTO SEA OR LAKE

SOUND

LONG AND NARROW BODY OF H20 (BIGGER THAN STRAIT)CONNECTING LARGER BODIES OF H20

PENINSULA

PIECE OF LAND ALMOST SURROUNDEDBY WATER

ISTHMUS

PIECE OF LAND CONNECTING 2 LARGER PIECESOF LAND

PLATEAU

LARGE AREA OF ELEVATED FLAT LAND

MESA

HIGH, BROAD, FLAT LAND USUALLY WITH SHARP, ROCKY SLOPES DESCENDING TO THE PLAIN

ATOLL

RING-SHAPED CORAL ISLAND, ALMOST COMPLETELYENCLOSING A LAGOON

ARCHIPELAGO

SEA WITH MANY ISLANDS OR THE ISLANDS THEMSELVES

TUNDRA

TREELESS, OFTEN FROZEN, ARCTIC PLAIN

SAVANNA

LARGE AREA OF TROPICAL GRASSLAND, COVEREDIN PART WITH TREES AND SPINY SHRUBS

ESTUARY

INLET OF SEA WHERE FRESH WATER FROM RIVERSAND SALT WATER FROM SEA MIX

ICEBERG

THICK MASS OF ICE,USUALLY FROM A GLACIER,FLOATING IN THE SEA

OASIS

AN AREA IN THE DESERT MADE FERTILE WITHWATER

GEYSER

NATURAL HOT SPRING FROM WHICH STEAM, WATER, OR MUD SHOOT INTO THE AIR

RIVER

LARGE, NATURAL STREAM OF H20 FLOWING INTOLARGER BODY OF WATER

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

GREAT RIDGE OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN SUMMITSSEPARATING WEST-FLOWING STREAMS FROM EAST-FLOWING STREAMS

LATITUDE

DISTANCE ON THE EARTH’S SURFACE MEASURED NORTH OR SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR

LONGITUDE

DISTANCE ON EARTH’S SURFACE MEASUREDEAST OR WEST OF THE PRIME MERIDIAN

TROPIC OF CANCER

LINE OF LATITUDE IN THE TROPICS AT ABOUT 23DEGREES NORTH OF THE EQUATOR

TROPIC OF CAPRICORN

LINE OF LATITUDE IN THE TROPICS AT ABOUT 23 DEGREES SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR

EQUATOR

LINE OF LATITUDE (0 DEGREES) WHICH IS THE SAME DISTANCE FROM BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH POLES

PRIME MERIDIAN

THE LINE OF LONGITUDE (0 DEGREES) FROM WHICHLONGITUDE IS MEASURED. IT PASSES THROUGHGREENWICH, ENGLAND

CHANNEL

A deep strait: It is safe enough for ships to travelbecause it is very deep.

GLACIER

A LARGE MASS OF ICE THAT MOVES SLOWLY DOWNA MOUNTAIN OR A VALLEY