y Geography

Terms

Glacier

A huge mass of ice slowly flowing

over a land mass, formed from

compacted snow in an area where

snow accumulation exceeds

melting and sublimation.

Waterfall

A steep descent

of water from a

height; a

cascade.

Tributary

a stream or river

that flows into a

larger one

GulfA large area of a sea or ocean partially enclosed by land, especially a long landlocked portion of sea opening through a strait.

OasisA fertile or green spot in a desert or wasteland, made so by the presence of water.

CanyonA long, deep, narrow valley with

steep cliff walls, cut into the

Earth by running water and

often having a stream at the

bottom.

FjordA long, narrow,

deep inlet of the

sea between

steep slopes.

LagoonA shallow body of salt

water close to the sea

but separated from it

by a narrow strip of

land, such as a barrier

island, or by a coral

reef.

SeaThe continuous

body of salt water

covering most of

the earth's surface,

especially this body

regarded as a

geophysical entity

distinct from earth

and sky.

SoundA sound is a wide inlet of the sea or ocean that is parallel to the coastline; it often separates a coastline from a nearby island.

GeyserA natural hot spring that

intermittently ejects a

column of water and

steam into the air.

Aquifer

a deposit of rock, such

as sandstone,

containing water that

can be used to supply

wells

Channel

The bed of a stream or

river.

SuburbanOf, relating to, or characteristic of a

suburb.

Archipelago

A large group of

islands.

TaigaA subarctic,

evergreen

coniferous forest

of northern

Eurasia located

just south of the

tundra and

dominated by firs

and spruces.

PeakThe pointed

summit of a

mountain.

Plateau

An elevated,

comparatively level

expanse of land; a

tableland.

StraitA narrow channel

joining two larger

bodies of water.

MARSH

An area of soft, wet,

low-lying land,

characterized by

grassy vegetation and

often forming a

transition zone

between water and

land.

Chaparral

A dense thicket of

shrubs and small trees.