Physical Geography Terms

Archipelago

A group of islands

Atoll

an island consisting of a circular coral reef surrounding a lagoon

Bay

A body of water that penetrates a coastline (smaller than a gulf)

Canyon

a deep, narrow valley with steep sides; usually with a river running through it; also called a gorge

Cape

point of land that extends into a river, lake, or ocean; usually smaller than a peninsula

Continental Divide

Highest point of a continent from which the direction of river flow is determined

Delta

Triangular-shaped land found at the mouth of some larger rivers; usually creates fertile land

Estuary

Where the mouth of a river meets an ocean

Fjord

A long narrow inlet from the sea between steep cliffs or hills

Glacier

A large mass of moving ice and snow on land

Gulf

a deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land, with a narrow mouth.

Island

A body of land completely surrounded by water

Isthmus

A narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas

Lagoon

Small body of water separated from the larger sea by a barrier of sand or coral reefs

Mesa

A tall, flat-topped mountain with steep vertical sides

Oasis

A fertile place in a desert where there is water and vegetation

Peninsula

A piece of land that is surrounded by water on three sides.

Plateau

A large area of flat land elevated high above sea level

Reef

a ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea.

Strait

A narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water

Tributary

A stream or river that flows into a larger river

Tundra

A vast, flat area of land where the soil is permanently frozen