GEOGRAPHIC DICTIONARY

absolute location–exact location of a place on

the earth described by global coordinates

basin–area of land drained by a given river and

its branches; area of land surrounded by lands

of higher elevations

bay–part of a large body of water that extends

into a shoreline

canyon–deep and narrow valley with steep walls

cape–point of land surrounded by a body of

water

channel–deep, narrow body of water that connects

two larger bodies of water; deep part of

a river or other waterway

cliff–steep, high wall of rock, earth, or ice

continent–one of the seven large landmasses on

the earth

cultural feature–characteristic that humans have

created in a place, such as language, religion,

and history

delta–land built up from soil carried downstream

by a river and deposited at its mouth

divide–stretch of high land that separates river

basins

downstream–direction in which a river or stream

flows from its source to its mouth

elevation–height of land above sea level

Equator–imaginary line that runs around the

earth halfway between the North and South

Poles; used as the starting point to measure

degrees of north and south latitude

glacier–large, thick body of slowly moving ice,

found in mountains and polar regions

globe–sphere-shaped model of the earth

gulf–part of a large body of water that extends

into a shoreline, larger than a bay

harbor–a sheltered place along a shoreline where

ships can anchor safely

highland–elevated land area with sloping sides

such as a hill, mountain, or plateau, smaller

than a mountain

island–land area, smaller than a continent, completely

surrounded by water

isthmus–narrow stretch of land connecting two

larger land areas

lake–a sizable inland body of water

latitude–distance north or south of the Equator,

measured in degrees

longitude–distance east or west of the Prime

Meridian, measured in degrees

lowland–land, usually level, at a low elevation

map–drawing of all or part of the earth shown

on a flat surface

meridian–one of many lines on the global grid

running from the North Pole to the South

Pole, used to measure degrees of

longitude

mesa–area of raised land with steep sides; smaller

than a plateau

mountain–land with steep sides that rises

sharply from surrounding land; larger and

more rugged than a hill

mountain peak–pointed top of a mountain

mountain range–a series of connected

mountains

mouth–(of a river) place where a stream or river

flows into a larger body of water

ocean–one of the four major bodies of salt water

that surrounds a continent

ocean current–stream of either cold or warm

water that moves in a definite direction

through an ocean

parallel–one of many lines on the global grid

that circle the earth north or south of the

Equator; used to measure degrees of latitude

peninsula–body of land almost surrounded by

water

physical feature–characteristic of a place occurring

naturally, such as a landform, body of

water, climate pattern, or resource

plain–area of level land, usually at a low

elevation

plateau–area of flat or rolling land at a high

elevation

Prime Meridian–line of the global grid running

from the North Pole to the South Pole at

Greenwich, England; used as the starting

point for measuring degrees of east and west

longitude

relative location–position of a place on the earth

in relation to other places

relief–changes in elevation, either few or many,

that occur over a given area of land

river–large stream of water that runs through the

land

sea–large body of water completely or partly

surrounded by land

seacoast–land lying next to a sea or ocean

sea level–average level of an ocean’s surface

sound–body of water between a shoreline and

one or more islands off the coast

source–(of a river) place where a river or stream

begins, often in high lands

strait–narrow stretch of water joining two larger

bodies of water

tributary–small river or stream that flows

into a large river or stream; a branch of the

river

upstream–direction opposite the flow of a river;

toward the source of a river or stream

valley–area of low land between hills or

mountains

volcano–mountain created as liquid rock or ash

are thrown up from inside the earth