GEOGRAPHY TERMS REVIEW

Archipelago A group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean.

Arid A region with extreme/severe lack of water resulting in hindering growth and development of plants and animals.

Aquifer An area underground that holds water in the gaps between rock, sand or gravel, sort of like an underground lake or stream.

Basin A sunken area in a plateau found between mountain ranges.

Butte A flat-topped rock or hill formation with steep sides.

Canyon A deep valley with very steep sides - often carved from the Earth by a river.

Desert A very dry terrain.

Escarpment A long, steep cliff that was cased by an earthquake millions of years ago.

Fault (line) A break in the earth caused by the shifting of tectonic plates beneath the earth’s surface millions of years ago.

Fjord A long, narrow sea inlet that is bordered by steep cliffs.

Plain(s) Plains are flat lands that have only small changes in elevation

Plateau A large, flat area of land that is higher than the surrounding land.

Glacier A long-lasting, slowly-moving river of ice on land.

Gulf A part of a large body if water that feeds into the ocean; it extends into a shoreline.

Island A piece of land that is surrounded by water.

Isthmus A narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses. An isthmus has water on two sides.

Lagoon A body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral.

Lake A lake is a small body of water that is completely surrounded by land. Lakes are usually found in the bottom of a basin, and they are fed by a river.

Mountain Range A group of mountains bordered by lowlands.

Mesa A broad, flat-topped elevation with one or more cliff like sides. Geographers use the rule that a mesa has a top wider than its height, while a butte's top is narrower.

Oasis An area made fertile by a source of freshwater in an otherwise dry and arid region.

Peninsula A body of land surrounded by water on three sides is called a peninsula.

Reef A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water.

Sea A division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land.

Swamp An area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects; a bog or marsh.

Timber Line A line marking the upper limit of tree growth in mountains or northern latitudes.

Tributary A river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.

Volcano An opening in the earth's crust through which molten lava, ash, and gases are ejected.