Social Studies Geography Vocabulary

Globe a 3D image of the Earth and all of the land and water

Geographic terms Words that describe bodies of water and landforms like bay and mountain range. Physical features Names of bodies of water and landforms such as Rocky Mountains.

Latitude Lines on a map that circle Earth from east to west and NEVER touch. Laaaaatitude Longitude Lines on a map that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Loooooongitude

Geography The study of our natural surroundings and how humans interact with them.

Equator The 0 degree latitude line around the middle of the Earth. Prime Meridian The 0 degree longitude line that runs through the center of the Earth from North Pole to South Pole.

Compass rose A symbol on a map that shows cardinal directions. Cardinal Directions North, South, East, West

Hemispheres

Tributary A river or stream running into a larger river.

valley An area of generally flat land extending many miles inland and drained or watered by a large river and its tributaries (smaller rivers that connect to larger river)

sea A body of salt water that is smaller than an ocean.

river source/river mouth The source is the place the river begins, usually in the highlands. The mouth is the part of a river where its waters empty into a larger body of water.

plain Large area of level or nearly level land. Sometimes called: tundra, prairies, savannahs, coastal plains, llanos, etc.

peninsula A portion of land nearly surrounded by water and connected with a larger body of land.

mountain range A row of connected mountains.

island A body of land smaller than a continent, surrounded by water.

gulf A large area of sea or ocean that is partially enclosed; larger than a bay.

cape A point of land jutting into the water that is usually smaller or thinner than a peninsula.

delta Soil deposited at the mouth of a river where the stream loses velocity (speed) and leaves behind part of its load of sediment (soil).

bay An inlet of the sea or other body of water, usually smaller than a gulf but of the same general character; part of a body of water that extends into land.