College and Career Readiness Basic Geography Vocabulary Terms

Archipelago- island chain

Arctic Circle- most northern area; opposite Antarctic Circle

Atoll- coral island that partially or completely encircles a lagoon

Basin- low area; geological depression where water drains

Bay- large body of water connected to an ocean formed by an inlet of land

Canyon-gorge; deep ravine between cliffs usually formed by a river or glacier

Cape- headland or promontory of large size extending into water

Climate- temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, and precipitation over a long period in an area

Continent- large landmasses

Country- region that is legally identified as a district

Delta- landform at the mouth of a river usually formed by sedimentation

Desert- area with a low amount of precipitation usually less than 16 inches

Equator- imaginary line dividing the Earth into northern and southern hemispheres

Geography- study of land, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth

Glacier- large persistent body of ice

Gulf- large bay that is an arm of an ocean or sea

Hemisphere- half the globe; northern/southern and eastern/western

Hill- landform that extends above surrounding terrain; usually lower and less steep than a mountain

Island- sub-continental land surrounded by water

Isthmus- narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas

Lake- relatively still water of considerable size surrounded by land; inland not part of an ocean

Mountain- large landform that stretches above surrounding land; usually in the form of a peak

Mouth- where a river meets another water form (ocean, river, etc.)

Ocean- large body of saline water

Peninsula- land bordered on three sides by water but connected to the mainland

Plain- low relief that is flat or has gently rolling hills

Plateau- high plain or tableland

Poles- the northernmost and southernmost point on Earth

Prairie- grassland; savanna; moderate rainfall with grasses & shrubs

Precipitation- forms of water falling from the sky; rain, sleet, hail, snow, ect.

River- water flowing towards and ocean, lake, or sea

Savanna- grassland with moderate rainfall characterized by grasses and shrubs

Sea- body of saline water partially or fully enclosed by land

Steppe- temperate grasslands

Strait- narrow channel of water connecting two larger bodies of water

Summit- highest point of a mountain or hill

Swamp- forested wetland

Tributary- stream or river that flows into a main stem of a river or lake NOT an ocean or sea

Tundra- biome in which growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons (northern areas)

Valley- depression in the land; U or V shaped

Volcano- opening in a planets surface which allows hot magma, ash, and gases to escape from below the surface