Landforms and Definitions

altitude (elevation): the height above sea level

archipelago: a group of many islands

basin: an area of land largely enclosed by higher land.

bay: part of a body of salt water that reaches into the land; usually smaller than a gulf

branch (tributary): a river or stream that flows into a larger river or stream

canal: a man-made waterway connecting two bodies of water and is designed to shorten travel time or irrigate

canyon: narrow valley with steep sides; usually created by erosion

cape: a curved or hooked piece of land extending into a body of water

channel: a narrow deep waterway connecting two larger bodies of water; the deepest part of the waterway.

climate: the pattern of weather conditions (temperature, precipitation) over a long period of time

cliff: a high, steep slope of rock or soil

coast: land along the sea or ocean

continent: one of the seven largest bodies of land on earth

continental shelf: plateau of land surface into the ocean but underwater

current: the flow of a stream of water

dam: a wall built across a stream or river to hold back water

delta: land built up by deposits of sand and silt at the mouth of some rivers

desert: dry, barren region usually sandy and without trees, little rainfall or practical use of land unless irrigated

divide: the highest ridge of land separating river basins

downstream: the direction of a river's flow; toward the mouth of the river

fault: a fracture in the rocks along which there has been movement

fjord: a narrow inlet of the sea between high banks or cliffs created by glaciers

forest: a large tract of land covered with trees and underbrush; extensive wooded area

fork: the place where a stream or tributary joins a river

glacier: a large body of slow moving ice which alters the land around it through displacement

gulf: part of a sea or ocean that reaches into land; usually larger than a bay

harbour: a sheltered area of water where ships may anchor safely

hemisphere: half of the earth usually referred to as eastern or western; northern or southern

highland: an area of hills, plateaus, and mountains

hill: a raised part of the earth's surface with sloping sides; old mountain which because of erosion has become rounder and shorter

iceberg: a large mass of floating ice that has broken off from a glacier, most of this is underwater

inlet: a small part of a body of water that reaches into a coast

island: an area of land completely surrounded by water

isthmus: narrow strip of land with water on both sides connecting two larger pieces of land

lake: a large body of water surrounded by land

latitude: imaginary lines on a globe or map used to measure distance from the equator; parallel lines running east and west

longitude: imaginary lines on a globe or map used to measure distance from the Prime Meridian; lines running from pole to pole

lowland: an area of low and usually level land

mesa: a land formation having a relatively flat top and steep rock walls

mountain: high, rocky land, usually with steep sides and a pointed or rounded top, higher than a hill

mountain range: a long chain of mountains; a row of connected mountains

mouth (of a river): place where a river empties into a larger body of water; the end of a river

oasis: a fertile place in the desert where there is water and some vegetation

ocean: largest body of salt water; these cover 3/4 of the earth's surface

peninsula: piece of land that extends into a body of water and is surrounded on three sides by water

plain: a broad, flat or gently rolling area; usually low in elevation

plateau: flat highland area with one steep face; elevated plain

port: man-made place along the coastline where ships can load and unload cargo; not a natural harbor

prairie: a large plains region with tall grass

rapids: a part of a river, generally shallow, where the currents move swiftly over rocks

reef: a ridge of rock or sand at or near the surface of the water

reservoir: a lake where water is collected and stored for future use

river: a large stream of water flowing through the land into a lake, ocean, or other body of water

sea: a large body of water, usually salt water, partly or completely surrounded by land

sound: a wide channel connecting two bodies of water or an inlet between the mainland and islands

source (of a river): the place where a river or stream begins

strait: a narrow waterway connecting two larger bodies of water

swamp: an area of land that is always soaked with water; low, wet land that supports grass and trees

tide: the regular rising and falling of the water of the oceans and waters connected to the ocean

upstream: the direction toward a river's source; opposite to the rivers' flow

valley: low land between hills or mountains

volcano: a cone shaped mountain formed out of rock or ash thrown up from inside the earth, frequently with an opening or depression at the top

waterfall: place where running water makes a sheer drop, usually over a cliff