Transcript Physical Features

Physical Features Vocabulary
Map & Globe Skills 4 & 6
Physical Features Vocabulary
Archipelago
• A chain of islands or set of
islands grouped together.
Basin
• A long low lying area that is
usually surrounded by hills
or mountains; usually
around a river
• Example: Philippines
• Example: Congo River Basin
Physical Features Vocabulary
Bay
• An area of an ocean, sea, or
lake that extends into the
land that is smaller than a
gulf.
Canal
• An man-made waterway
with a purpose
• Example: San Francisco Bay
• Example: Suez Canal
Physical Features Vocabulary
Canyon
• A deep and narrow valley
often with a river on its
floor.
Channel
• A wide strait between a
continent and an island
• Example: Grand Canyon
• Example: English Channel
Physical Features Vocabulary
Coast
• Area of land that meets a
large body of water
Coral Reef
• Underwater limestone and
coral deposits
• Example: Gold Coast
• Example: Great Barrier Reef
Physical Features Vocabulary
Delta
• The often triangular-shaped
alluvial deposition area at
the mouth of a river.
Desert
• A dry area that receives so
little rain that few plants or
animals can survive there
• Example: Yellow River Delta
• Example: Sahara Desert
Physical Features Vocabulary
Gulf
• A large part of the ocean
that extends into the land
and is larger than a bay.
Island
• A body of land surrounded
on all sides by water.
• Example: Gulf of Guinea
• Example: Australia
Physical Features Vocabulary
Isthmus
• Narrow strip of land with
water on both sides
• Example: Isthmus of
Panama
Lake
• A body of freshwater that is
completely surrounded by
land
• Example: Lake Victoria
Physical Features Vocabulary
Mountain
• Land that rises many feet
into the air and is higher
than a hill or surrounding
area.
Ocean
• A large area of saltwater
• Example: Mt. Kilimanjaro
• Example: Atlantic Ocean
Physical Features Vocabulary
Peninsula
• A piece of land that extends
out into the water and is
almost completely
surrounded by water.
• Example: Arabian Peninsula
Plain
• Large area of flat or gently
rolling land.
• Example: Great European
Plain
Physical Features Vocabulary
Plateau
• Large area of level land that
is higher than the land
surrounding it.
Range
• A chain of mountains
forming a single system
• Example: Deccan Plateau
• Example: Himalayan Range
Physical Features Vocabulary
River
• A large amount of flowing
fresh water to a lake or
ocean.
Sea
• Part of an ocean that has
been identified as a
individual body of water; or
a saltwater lake
• Example: Amazon River
• Example: Mediterranean
Sea, Dead Sea
Physical Features Vocabulary
Strait
• A narrow body of water that
connects two larger bodies
of water.
Valley
• An area of land that is lower
than the surrounding land.
• Example: Strait of Gibraltar
• Example: Great Rift Valley
Physical Features Vocabulary
Volcano
• Mountains with gas &
magma trapped inside that
often erupts
• Example: Eyjafjallajokull in
Iceland