Vocabulary Words Lesson 14 Geography

Apex Noun The summit or highest point The apex of the range is the 14, 309-foot Uncompahgre Peak.

Blighted Adjective Ruined or destroyed Acid rain has left many forests in a blighted condition.

Bog Noun A marshland or area of wet, poorly drained ground In Ireland we watched peat being cut from a bog.

Cascade Noun Waterfall; rapids We hiked on a mountain trail that crossed a beautiful cascade.

Contour Noun An outline or form The new road was built to follow the contour of the land.

Crags Noun Steep, rugged rock formations forming part of a cliff The landscape of the Scottish highlands is one of mountains and crags.

Embankment Noun A mound of earth or stone built to hold back water or to support a roadway During the spring flood, the river spilled over the embankment.

Fauna Noun Animals, especially those associated with a particular region Charles Darwin studied the fauna of the Galapagos islands.

Flora Noun Plants, especially those associated with a particular region Tourists are bedazzled by the flora of Hawaii.

Infest Verb To overrun in large numbers Mosquitoes infest the swamp near our house and make our lives miserable during the summer.

Knoll Noun Small rounded hill or mound We picnicked on a grassy knoll.

Obelisk Noun A slender, four-sided, tapering monument that ends in a point The Washington Monument is best known obelisk in the United States.

Quarry Noun An open pit from which stone is obtained by digging, cutting, or blasting Heavy trucks loaded with rock pulled out of the quarry.

Pinnacle Noun A tall, pointed formation or spire The distinctive pinnacle of Switzerland’s Matterhorn is easily recognized.

Sedimentary Adjective Of or related to material which settles to the bottom of a liquid from the ocean floor Scientists can learn a lot about climatic changes by studying sedimentary material from the ocean floor.

Silt Noun Fine mineral particles whose size is comparable to sand Silt is formed by the weathering and decomposition of rock.

Tremor Noun A shaking or vibrating movement An earth tremor can cause serious property damage.

Unearth Verb To dig up Archeologists try to unearth treasures of ancient civilizations.

Vegetate Verb To grow or sprout The algae has suddenly begun to vegetate at a rapid rate.

Verdant Adjective Covered with green plants England is famous for its verdant, rolling landscape.