Ch. A Geography Terms Flashcards
(153 cards)
1
Q
Altitude
A
the elevation of an object in relationship to a given plane, often sea level
2
Q
Archipelago
A
a body of water interspersed with many isles
3
Q
Arm
A
a long, narrow passage of water; a creek
4
Q
Atoll
A
a ring-shaped coral reef, island or set of small islands nearly or completely surrounding a lagoon.
5
Q
Basin
A
a hollow place for water; an enclosed part of water, forming a broad space within a strait or narrow entrance; a little bay
6
Q
Bank
A
a steep slope of ground rising from a lake, a river, or the sea
7
Q
Bluff
A
a high bank, almost perpendicular, projecting into the sea
8
Q
Bayou
A
a soggy, swampy, slow-moving body of water, obstructed by vegetation
9
Q
Bay
A
an arm of the sea, extending into the land, smaller than a gulf and larger than a creek
10
Q
Beach
A
a shore of the sea or of a lake, washed by the tide and waves
11
Q
Bog
A
soft, wet ground covered with grass or other plants, too soft to bear a man
12
Q
Branch
A
a smaller stream running into a larger one or proceeding from it
13
Q
Breakers
A
a rock that breaks the waves; a wave that breaks against a rock, a sand bank, or the shore, exhibiting a white foam
14
Q
Brink
A
the edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice or the bank or a river
15
Q
Canyon
A
a long, deep hollow with steep, rocky sides worn by a stream or torrent of water
16
Q
Cape
A
a head land; the head, point, or termination of a neck of land, extending some distance into the sea beyond the common shore
17
Q
Canal
A
an artificial cut or passage for water used for transportation
18
Q
Brook
A
a small natural stream of water; a current flowing from a spring
19
Q
Canal
A
an artificial cut or passage for water used for transportation
20
Q
Canyon
A
a long, deep hollow with steep, rocky sides worn by a stream or torrent of water
21
Q
Cape
A
a head land; the head, point, or termination of a neck of land, extending some distance into the sea beyond the common shore
22
Q
Cave
A
a hollow place in the earth; a subterraneous cavern; a den; may be natural or artificial
23
Q
Cavern
A
a deep, naturally hollow place in the earth, deeper than a cave
24
Q
Channel
A
an arm of the sea; a straight or narrow sea between tow continents or between a continent and an isle
25
Chasm
a cleft or fissure in a rock or the earth's surface caused by a disrupture
26
Cinder Cone
a cone-shaped hill of volcanic material surrounding an opening in the earth
27
Cliff
a high, steep almost vertical rock, usually on a coast
28
Coast
the edge or margin of the land next to the sea; the seashore
29
Continent
a great extent of land, not disjoined or interrupted by a sea
30
Continental Shelf
the edge of a continent that is submerged in water
31
Country
any tract of land or inhabited land; any region, as distinguished from other regions; a kingdom, state, or lesser district
32
Cove
a small inlet or bay; a recess in the sea shore
33
Crag
a steep, rugged rock; a rough, broken rock or point of a rock
34
Crater
the aperture or mouth of a volcano
35
Creek
a small inlet; a recess in the shore of the sea or of a river; a small stream
36
Cultivated Land
land prepared for crops
37
Current
a flowing or passing of water, a stream
38
Dale
a low place between hills, a vale or valley
39
Dam
a bank or mound of earth; any wall or a frame of wood raised to obstruct a current of water
40
Dell
a small vale with woods
41
Delta
an area of triangular shaped land located at the mouth of a main river from which distributaries flow
42
Desert
a vast sandy plain characterized by minimal precipitation and plant growth
43
Dike
a ditch; a mound of earth, stones, or other materials, intended to prevent low lands from being inundated by the sea or a river
44
Divide
a ridge that determines the direction water drains from adjacent water systems; a watershed
45
Downstream
the direction a river flows; flowing with the current
46
Drainage Basin
area drained by a river and its tributaries; a watershed
47
Dune
hill, mound, or ridge of sand formed by wind
48
Earth
the terraqueous globe that we inhabit
49
Elevation
elevated ground; a rising ground; a hill or mountain
50
Estuary
an arm of the sea; the mouth of a river or lake where the tide meets the current
51
Fall Line
the point where rivers descend rapidly due to a distinct decline in elevation
52
Field
a piece of land enclosed for tillage or pasture
53
Fjord
a long, narrow, deep valley formed by glacial erosion and flooded by ocean water
54
Forest
an extensive wood; a large tract of land covered with trees
55
Glacier
a field or an immense mass of ice formed in deep but elevated valleys, remaining frozen throughout the heat of summer
56
Glen
a valley; a dale; a depression or space between hills
57
Gorge
a narrow hollow with steep, rocky sides worn by a stream or torrent of water
58
Grove
a wood of small extent
59
Gulch
a small, narrow hollow with steep walls worn by a stream or torrent of water
60
Gulf
a recess in the ocean from the general line of the shore in to the land; a tract of water extending from the ocean or a sea into the land between two points or promontories; a large bay
61
Harbor
a port or haven for ships; a large inlet of the sea where ships can moor
62
Headland
a cape; a promontory; a point of land projecting from the shore into the sea or other expanse of water
63
Hill
a natural elevation of land; a mass of earth rising above the common level of the surrounding land
64
Horizon
the line that terminates the view when extended on the surface of the earth
65
Iceberg
a hill or mountain of ice; a vast body of ice accumulated in valleys in high northern latitudes
66
Inlet
a bay or recess in the shore of the sea, a lake, or a large river; a narrow body of water between isles
67
Irrigated Land
land watered by causing a stream to flow upon it and spread over it
68
Island
a tract of land surrounded by water
69
Isthmus
a neck or narrow slip of land by which two continents are connected or by which a peninsula is united to the mainland
70
Junction
the place or point of union
71
Keys
a chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water; a cay
72
Knob
a round hill or mount
73
Knoll
the top or crown of a hill; a little round hill or mount; a small elevation of earth
74
Lagoon
an enclosed or partially enclosed shallow body of salt water divided from the ocean by low sandy dunes or a coral reef
75
Lake
a large and extensive collection of water contained in a cavity or hollow of the earth
76
Land
earth; the solid matter that constitutes the fixed part of the surface of the globe
77
Latitude
the distance of any place on the globe, north or south of the equator
78
Ledge
a ridge; a prominent row
79
Left Bank
the slope of ground on the left-hand side of the river when facing downstream
80
Levee
a bank or a causeway, particularly along a river to prevent inundation
81
Locks
the barrier of a canal that confines the water and can be opened or shut at pleasure
82
Longitude
the distance of any place on the globe from another place, eastward or westward, the distance of any place from a given meridian
83
Marsh
a tract of low land, very wet and miry and overgrown with coarse grass
84
Meadow
pasture or grassland annually mown for hay
85
Mesa
a flat-topped mountain with steep walls
86
Mine
a pit or excavation in the earth from which metallic ores, mineral substances, and other fossil bodies are taken by digging
87
Moor
a tract of land overrun with heath; a marsh; a fen; ground covered with stagnant water
88
Mountain
a large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land, but of no definite altitude
89
Mountain Chain
a line of connected mountain ranges
90
Mountain Range
a row of mountains
91
Mouth
the opening or entrance of a cave, pit, well, or den
92
Natural Resource
materials found in nature, such as land, forests, and minerals, that have economic value
93
Oasis
small fertile area in a desert, irrigated by natural springs or other source of fresh water
94
Ocean
the vast body of water that covers more than three-fifths of the surface of the globe, also called the sea
95
Pass
a gap in a mountainous area suitable for passing through; a means of passage through a rugged terrain
96
Pasture
ground covered with grass appropriated for the food of cattle
97
Peak
the top of a hill or mountain, ending in a point
98
Peninsula
a portion of land connected with a continent by a narrow neck or isthmus but nearly surrounded with water
99
Piedmont
the bottom of a mountain
100
Pier
a structure constructed perpendicular to the harbor for securing vessels and receiving goods unladen or to be shipped on board
101
Plain
large area of flat land
102
Plateau
flat section of land higher than the surrounding area
103
Point
a small cape, headland, or promontory; a tract of land extending into the sea
104
Pond
a body of stagnant water usually without an outlet, larger than a puddle and smaller than a lake
105
Pool
a small collection of water in a hollow place, supplied by a spring and discharging its surplus water by an outlet, smaller than a lake
106
Prairie
an extensive tract of land, mostly level, destitute of trees, and covered with tall, coarse grass
107
Precipice
a steep fall or descent of land, perpendicular or nearly so
108
Rapids
a fast-moving river current, caused by a moderate descent
109
Reef
a chain or range of rocks, lying at or near the surface of the water
110
Reservoir
a place where water is collected and kept for use when wanted
111
Ridge
a long or continued range of hills or mountains; the upper part of such a range
112
Right Bank
the slope of ground on the right-hand side of the river when facing downstream
113
River
a large stream of water flowing in a channel on land toward the ocean, a lake, or another river, larger than a brook
114
River Mouth
the part or channel of a river by which its waters are discharged into the ocean or into a lake
115
River Source
the beginning of a river; the headwaters
116
Sandbar
narrow ridge of fine particles of stone created by the current or tide
117
Savanna
an extensive open plain or meadow; a plain destitute of trees
118
Sea
a large body of water nearly enclosed by land
119
Sea Level
ocean surface level used as base for measuring elevation and sea depth; the average tide level
120
Seaport
a harbor of the sea, accommodating seafaring vessels
121
Shoal
a place where the water is shallow or of little depths; a sand bank or bar; a shallow
122
Shore
the coast or land adjacent to the sea, a large lake, or a river
123
Shoreline
the place where a body of water meets the land
124
Slope
any ground whose surface forms an angle with the plane of the horizon
125
Snowline
the altitudinal border above which a mountain is always covered in show
126
Soil
the upper stratum of the earth; the compound substance that furnishes nutriment to plants or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them
127
Sound
a narrow passage of water; a strait between the mainland and an isle; a strait connecting two seas or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean
128
Spit
a small point of land running into the sea; a long narrow shoal extending from the shore in to the sea
129
Steppe
a prairie; a grassy plain characterized by a lack of trees and a shortage of rain
130
Strait
a narrow pass or passage, either in a mountain or in the ocean, between continents or other portions of land
131
Stream
a current of water like a river, brook, or rivulet; a current of water in the ocean
132
Summit
the highest point of a mountain
133
Swamp
spongy land; low ground filled with water; soft, wet ground
134
Tableland
a large, flat section of land higher than the surrounding area
135
Terrace
a raised bank of earth with sloping lines
136
Tide
the cyclical rise and fall of sea water, resulting from the gravitational attractive force between the earth and the moon
137
Timber
wood that is proper for building or for the tools, utensils, furniture, ships, and the like
138
Timberline
the altitudinal border above which trees do not grow
139
Topography
the detailed description of a particular place, city, town, manor, parish, or tract of land
140
Tributary
smaller streams or rivers flowing into a larger body of water
141
Tundra
a vast treeless plain in the arctic region in which the ground is perpetually frozen
142
Tunnel
a large subterraneous arch through a hill
143
Upstream
against the current
144
Vale
a tract of low ground or of land between hills, a valley
145
Valley
a hollow or low tract of land between hills or mountains
146
Vegetation
the process of growing plants by means of nourishment derived from the earth or from water and air received through roots and leaves; vegetables or plants in general
147
Volcano
an opening in the surface of the earth or in a mountain from which smoke, flames, stones, lava, or other substances are ejected
148
Waterfall
a fall or perpendicular descent of the water of a river or stream; a cascade, a cataract
149
Watershed
an area that drains in to a river; the divide that leads streams of water in two opposite directions
150
Waves
a moving swell or volume of water; usually, a swell raised and driven by wind
151
Wharf
a perpendicular bank, mound, timber, or stone and earth, raised on the shore of a harbor or extending some distance in to the water, for the convenience of lading and unlading ships and other vessels
152
Whirlpool
an eddy of water; a vortex or gulf where the water moves round in a circle
153
Woods
a large, thick collection of trees, a forest
