GEOGRAPHIC TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW! Objective: To examine the major forms of land masses and bodies of water.

Peninsula – piece of land that is surrounded by water on three sides.

Delta– area where a river empties out into a larger body of water (ocean, sea, lake).

Gulf – arm of an ocean or sea that is partly enclosed by land, usually larger than a bay.

Continent – any of seven large land masses on the Earth’s surface.

Isthmus – narrow strip of land joining two large land areas or joining a peninsula to a mainland.

Lake – body of fresh water surrounded by land.

Desert – area that has little or no moisture or vegetation.

Strait – narrow channel that connects two larger bodies of water

Plateau: An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land.

Ocean – any of the large bodies of salt water on the Earth’s surface.

Archipelago – chain of islands

Island – land area that is surrounded by water.

Valley An extended lowland between ranges of mountains, hills, or other uplands, often having a river or stream running along the bottom.

Mountain – high, steep, rugged land that rises sharply above the surrounding land.

Sub-continent – an area of land that is part of a continent but is separated by something (landform, etc.)

River – large stream of water that empties into an ocean, lake, or another river.

Sea – large body of salt water that is smaller than an ocean and partially enclosed by land.