WI/ CA GEOGRAPHY VOCAB

Feb 2026

Archipelago

A group of islands.

Buccaneer

A pirate.

Canal

A human made waterway ships use to cross land barriers.

Coup

A violent overthrow of the government.

Current

A continuous flow of ocean water in a specific direction, like a river in the ocean, caused by wind, temperature, or the earth’s rotation.

Dictatorship

A form of government in which all power is concentrated in a single person.

Economy

What, where, why, how work is done, wealth is created, resources are distributed, and money is handled in a society.

Embargo

To forbid trade with a country.

Illiterate

Can not read or write.

Imperialism

Having control (or in some cases just influence) over people and territory outside your own country. Having colonies. Having an empire.

Isthmus

A narrow strip of land between two water areas.

Lock (for a canal)

A way to elevate ships so they may pass through a

Parliamentary Democracy

A type of government where people vote for representatives to make laws, and those representatives choose a leader (usually called a prime minister) to run the country.

Poverty

A person or family that is in the position where they can not afford the basics of life (food, clothing, shelter).

Poverty Cycle

The idea that once impoverished (in poverty) a person is doomed to remain impoverished and so are their descendents.

Poverty Line

The income level at which if you earn more than that amount you are not impoverished, earn less and you are impoverished.

Rain Shadow

When warm moist air (rain clouds) encounter a tall mountain the air is blocked causing the area on the other side of the mountain to be dry.

Referendum

A vote on an issue or question (not a person)

Republic

A democratic form of government in which the leader (president) is directly elected by the people.

Reservoir

A place that stores water.

Rugged

Something rough, uneven, or tough, like a rocky mountain or bumpy ground.

Seismic Zone

Areas where earthquakes are more likely to happen because the earth’s crust moves a lot there.

Tierra Caliente

“Hot land” The temperature zone from sea level is about 3000 feet.

Tierra Fria

“Cold land” The temperature zone above 6000 feet.

Tierra Templada

“Temperate land” The temperature zone from 3000 to 6000 feet. Most people in Central America live here.