Landforms and Bodies of Water

Bay Bay-A large body of water connected to an ocean or sea. Example: The Bay of Bengal

Canyon Canyon-A deep ravine between cliffs. Example: The Grand Canyon

Channel Channel-A wide body of water between two pieces of land. Example: The English Channel

Desert Desert-An area of land where little precipitation occurs. Example: The Sahara Desert

Forest Forests-Communities of trees and other lifeforms. Example: The Black Forest

Elevation Elevation-Height above sea level. Example: West Chester is about 446 feet above sea level.

Gulf Gulf-Larger than a bay, an arm of an ocean or sea Example: The Gulf of Mexico

Island Island-A body of land, smaller than a continent, surrounded by water on all sides. Example: Madagascar

Isthmus Isthmus-A narrow piece of land that connects two larger pieces of land. Example: Panama

Lake Lake-Body of fresh water disconnected from the ocean, larger than a pond. Example: Lake Erie

Mountain Mountain-A large rock landform stretching above the surrounding land Example: Mount Everest

Peninsula Peninsula: A piece of land with water on three sides. Example: Florida

Plains Plains-Low lying stretches of flat land. Example: The Great Plains

Plateau Plateau-Flat area with high elevation Example: Plateau of Tibet

Pond Pond-A body of freshwater, smaller than a lake. Example: Hershey Mill Pond

Ocean Ocean-A huge body of salt water. Example: The Atlantic Ocean

River River-A natural waterway, usually freshwater, that flows into a larger body of water. Example: The Mississippi River

Sea Sea: Large body of saltwater, smaller than an ocean. Example: The Caribbean Sea

Strait Strait-Narrow body of water between two pieces of land. Example: Strait of Gibralter

Trench Trench-Valleys on the ocean floor. Example: The Mariana Trench

Valley Valley-A low area between hills. Example: The Delaware Valley