landforms

desert

dry region, little to no rain

tributary

stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river

ocean

a vast body of salt water

canal

an artificial waterway for navigation and/or irrigation

glacier

extended mass of ice, constrained or controlled by topography

archipelago

chain of islands

plain

broad area of fairly level land that is generally close to sea level

lake

body of water surrounded by land

shield

a large, exposed area of rock that dates back billions of years

tundra

a treeless plain, noted for extreme cold and frost

steppes

grassland or shrub land with no trees and extreme temperature swings

canyon

deep, narrow valley with high steep sides

source of river

place where a river begins

delta

land area formed by soil that is deposited at the mouth of a river

bay

part of a body of water that is partly enclosed by land

mountain

high, steep, rugged land area that rises sharply above land

ice cap

type of glacier formation, usually smaller than an ice sheet

isthmus

narrow strip of land joining two large land areas or joining peninsula to a mainland

continent

major land masses of the earth

peninsula

peice of land that is surrounded by water on three sides

cape

narrow point of land that extends into a body of water

basin

a large, bowl-shaped depression in the surface of the land or ocean floor

highland

generic term for elevated region

gulf

arm of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land, usually larger than a bay

sea

body of salt water that is smaller than an ocean

strait

narrow channel that connects two larger bodies of water

plateau

large area of high, flat, or gently rolling land

coral reef

a marine ridge or reef consisting of coral or other organic material

range

a group of mountains or hills, usually in a line

wetland

land area saturated with water