Vocab 1 World Studies

absolute location

exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates

relative location

A relative location refers to a particular place in reference to another point, place, or landmark

river

large natural stream of water that runs through the land

gulf 

part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, generally larger and more deeply indented than a bay

sea 

large body of water completely or partly surrounded by land

channel 

wide strait or waterway between two landmasses that lie close to each other; deep part of a river or other waterway

lake 

a sizable inland body of water

bay

part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, generally smaller than a gulf

harbor 

a sheltered place along a shoreline where ships can anchor safely

tributary 

small river or stream that flows into a larger river or stream; a branch of the river

strait 

narrow stretch of water joining two larger bodies of water

island 

land area, smaller than a continent, completely surrounded by water

ocean 

one of the four major bodies of salt water that surround the continents

mesa 

broad, flat-topped landform with steep sides; smaller than a plateau

basin 

area of land drained by a given river and its branches; area of land surrounded by lands of higher elevation

mountain 

land with steep sides that rises sharply (1,000 feet \[305 m\] or more) from surrounding land; generally larger and more rugged than a hill

cape 

point of land that extends into a river, lake, or ocean

plateau 

area of flat or rolling land at a high elevation, about 300–3,000 feet (91–914 m) high

map

drawing of the earth shown on a flat surface

volcano 

mountain created as liquid rock or ash erupts from inside the earth

isthmus 

narrow stretch of land connecting two larger land areas

divide 

stretch of high land that separates river systems

valley 

area of low land between hills or mountains

glacier 

large, thick body of slowly moving ice

canyon 

deep and narrow valley with steep walls

continent

one of the seven large landmasses on the earth

physical feature

characteristic of a place occurring naturally, such as a landform, body of water, climate pattern, or resource

peninsula

body of land jutting into a lake or ocean, surrounded on three sides by water

relief 

changes in elevation over a given area of land