Geographic Landforms

archipelagoAn archipelago is a group or chain of islands

clustered together in a sea or ocean.

Bay : a small area of sea or lake partly enclosed by dry land

Canal: a man-made channel of water joining lakes or rivers, or connecting them with the sea

Canyon: a deep, steep-sided narrow valley

Coral Reef: an ocean reef made up of coral and other organisms

Crater: a circular-shaped hollow at the top of a volcano or on the surface of the land

Desert: a barren land area containing little or no vegetation

gulfA gulf is a part of the ocean (or sea) that is

partly surrounded by land (it is usually larger than a bay).

Harbor: an area of water where ships, boats and other watercraft can anchor or dock

Island: a piece of land completely surrounded by water

Isthmus: a narrow strip of land that connects two larger areas of land and narrowly separates two large bodies of water

Lagoon: a shallow body of water separated from the ocean by reefs or low strips of land

Lake: a large inland body of water which is larger than a pond

Marsh: a low, spongy wetland covered with thick, healthy growths of tall grasses and reeds

A mountain is a very tall high, natural place on Earth – higher than a hill. The

tallest mountain on Earth is Mt. Everest.

Peninsula: a piece of land almost completely surrounded by water

Plain: a large, flat or level area of land

Plateau: an elevated, mostly level area of land

Point: a high, prominent point on a rocky coastline which is an ideal site for a lighthouse

Strait: a narrow body of water connecting two larger bodies of water

Swamp: a marsh with trees...contains more water and deeper water than a marsh

Valley: a long, narrow hollow in the Earth's surface lying between two higher areas

Volcano: an opening in the Earth from which hot gases, smoke and molten lava are emitted