Name: _______________________________ Hr: _____
Geography Landforms Dictionary
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ocean -- a great expanse of salt water
sea -- a relatively large body of water, either part of an ocean that is partially
surrounded by land (the Caribbean Sea), or a body of water that is completely
landlocked (the Caspian Sea)
prairie -- an extensive area of flat or rolling, mostly treeless grassland
plateau -- an elevated level expanse of land; a tableland.
mountain -- An high, steep elevation of the earth's surface, higher than a hill.
volcano -- An opening in the earth's crust through which molten lava, ash, and gases
are ejected
archipelago -- a chain of islands
island -- a piece of land completely surrounded by water
peninsula -- a narrow stretch of land surrounded on three sides by water
gulf -- A large area of a sea or ocean partially enclosed by land (the Gulf of Mexico)
bay -- an area of sea partially enclosed by land, smaller than a gulf
sound -- a long passage of water connecting two larger bodies
isthmus -- a narrow strip of land, like a bridge, connecting two larger strips of land
delta -- a place at the river's mouth, where the river splits into many different sections,
forming a marshy triangle.
river mouth -- the place where a river empties into a larger body of water
harbor -- a sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for
ships
strait -- A narrow channel of water joining two larger bodies of water (usually narrower
than a sound)
cape -- A point or head of land projecting into a body of water
river -- A large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other body of
water
tributary -- A stream that flows into a larger stream or other body of water
valley -- An elongated lowland between ranges of mountains, hills, or other uplands,
often having a river or stream running along the bottom
divide -- a ridge of land that marks the directional flow of rivers on either side
moraine -- An accumulation of boulders, stones, or other debris carried and deposited
by a glacier
glacier -- A huge mass of ice slowly flowing over a land mass
butte -- A hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding area and has sloping sides and a
flat top
mesa -- A broad, flat-topped elevation with one or more cliff like sides
canyon -- A narrow chasm with steep cliff walls, cut into the earth by running water
lake -- A large inland body of fresh water or salt water
basin -- A large, bowl-shaped depression in the surface of the land, often drained by a
single river (the Amazon Basin)
hill -- a small elevation in the earth's surface
swamp -- A lowland region saturated with water
oasis -- A fertile or green spot in a desert or wasteland
desert -- an area with very little rainfall or vegetation
steppe -- A vast grass-covered plain
cataract -- A large or high waterfall
marsh -- An area of soft, wet, low-lying land, with grassy vegetation, often forming a
transition zone between water and land
flood plain -- A plain bordering a river and subject to flooding
Landform Map