Geographic Terms and Definitions

Archipelago

A group or chain of small islands

Atoll

A ring of coral that encloses a pool or seawater

Lagoon

A shallow body of water that is partly cut off from the sea

Cape

A point of land that extends into a river

Headwaters

the source of a stream

Oasis

An isolated are of vegetation often surrounded by a water source

Mountain Pass

A navigable route through mountains

Peninsula

A piece of land that is sorounded by water on three sides

canal

A man made water way to alow safe passage of ships and boats

canyon

A deep vally with steep sides and a river running through it

Mesa

A raised area with steep sides and a flat top

Basin

A large or small depression of the surface of the land or on the ocean floor.

Reservoir

A natural or man made lake used as a water scource

Isthmus

A narrow strip of land that connects two larger pieces of land.

Plateau

A flat area of land raised up higher than the scrounging land.

Gulf

A large body of salt water the is partially exposed to land

Delta

A fan shaped deposit of sand of and mud at the mouth of a river

Fjord

A a long narrow inlet between clifs or slopes

Butte

A isolated hill with slopeing sides and a flat top

Tributary

A stream that flows into a larger river

Island

A body of land surrounded by water on all sides

Steppe

A grassy plain, usually without trees

Volcano

A hole in the earth’s crust that emits lava, gasses, and ash

Lake

An body of water; could be fresh or salt water

Bay

A part of a body of water that extends into the shoreline

Reef

A chain of rocks, coral, or sand at or near the surface of the water

Port

A harbor where ships load and unload goods or passengers

Strait

A narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water

Waterfall

A stream of water that falls from a high place

Harbor

An area of water where ships, boats, and other watercraft dock

Glacier

A large mass of ice that slowly moves down a mountain or valley