GEOGRAPHY VOCABULARY -- KEY
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Physical feature -- characteristics of a place occurring naturally
Plain – area of level land
Elevation – height of land above sea level
Mountain – an elevation higher than a hill
Mountain range – a series of connected mountains
Continental divide -- an extensive stretch of high ground separating river
systems that flow to opposite sides of a continent.
 The continental divide in North America is formed by the Rocky
Mountains--also known as the Great Divide--separating U.S. streams and
rivers flowing west from those flowing east.
7. Plateau – area of flat or rolling land at a high elevation
8. Ocean – one of the large bodies of salt water covering ¾ of the earth’s surface
9. Gulf -- part of a large body of water that extends into the shoreline but is
smaller than an ocean
10. Bay -- part of a large body of water that extends into the shoreline but is
smaller than a gulf
11. Harbor -- a sheltered place along a shoreline where ships can anchor safely
12. Strait -- narrow stretch of water connecting two larger bodies of water
13. Isthmus -- narrow stretch of land connecting two larger areas of land
14. Source (of a river) – the beginning of a stream of water
15. Mouth (of a river) -- the place where a stream or river enters a larger
body of water
16. Tributary (of a river) -- a stream or river flowing into a larger stream or river
17. Canal -- an artificial (man-made) waterway built for navigation or for the
movement of water
18. Parallel (in geography) -- one of the imaginary circles on the earth’s
surface parallel to the equator that mark latitude
19. Physical map -- a map showing physical features of an area such as
mountains, deserts, plains, rivers, lakes, etc.
20. Political map -- a map showing governmental boundaries such as
countries, states, and counties. They also can include major cities and
bodies of water.
21.Region -- an area or division, esp. part of a country or the world having
definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries
22.Place -- a particular position or point in space