LANDFORMS

Bay A bay is a part of the ocean where the shore goes in toward the land. Bays usually have calmer water than the surrounding sea.

Plateau A plateau is a large, flat area of land on top of a mountain.

Valley A valley is a low area between mountains or hills.

Cliff A cliff is a very sharp wall of rock. Many cliffs formed because water or glaciers pushed material from the sides of hills or mountains. This change can take thousands of years.

Coast and Ocean Ocean is all the salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface. Coast is a place where the land meets the ocean.

Glacier A glacier is a huge area of moving ice. Glaciers form in high mountains and in other cold places. Glaciers move slowly.

Lake A lake is a large amount of water surrounded by land almost completly.

River Moving water that usually flows toward a lake or the ocean.

Mountains A mountain is a very high place on the earth’s surface. Mountains usually have pointed tops.

Plain Large mostly flat area of land.

Hills A high place in the surface of the Earth, but not as tall as a mountain. Hills have rounded tops.