Geographical Terms

& Features
Speedy Geography by homeschool bits

2011 homeschool bits

All Rights Reserved

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

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2011 homeschool bits
All Rights Reserved

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Geographical Terms & Features

Checklist

peninsula
harbor
bay
island
coast
valley
prairie
desert
oasis
boundary
channel
delta
isthmus
plateau
reservoir
strait

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Geographical Terms & Features

A body of land surrounded by water on three sides is called a peninsula. The word
peninsula means "almost an island." If the body of land is not connected to something
and is completely surrounded by water it would be an island.
An example of a peninsula in the United states is the state of Florida. Another example
is Arabia, the world's largest peninsula..

Florida

Arabia

A harbor is a sheltered body of water which can be used as a shelter for ships. High
waves and strong currents usually do not reach harbors, so boats stay safe while
anchored there. Harbors are always part of a larger body of water, like a lake or an
ocean.
An example of a harbor is the San Francisco Bay in California.

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

A bay is a body of water that is mostly surrounded by land. Bays usually have calm
waters since the surrounding land blocks some wind and waves. A large bay may be called
a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight. A cove is a circular or oval-shaped body of water with a
narrow entrance; some coves may be referred to as bays.
An example of a bay is the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

An island is an area of land that is surrounded by water. There are two main types of
islands; oceanic islands and continental islands. Oceanic islands are tops of underwater
volcanoes. Continental islands are close to continents.
An example of oceanic islands are the Hawaiian Islands. An example of a continental
island is Long Island, located off the coast of New York State.

Hawaiian Islands

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Long Island

A coast is the edge of the land that is met by the waters edge. It is the area where the
sea and land meet.

A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream
flowing through it. Most valleys are formed by rivers that erode, or wear down, soil and
rocks. A very narrow and deep river valley is called a canyon.

Valley

Canyon

A prairie is a stretch of open, relatively flat land covered in grasses, herbs, and small
shrubs, without any trees present.

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A desert is any large region that gets very little rain each year. Very few plants or
animals live in desert areas. Deserts may be hot or cold.
An example of a hot desert is the Sahara. It is the world's largest hot desert. An
example of a cold desert is the Gobi in central Asia.

Sahara
Dessert

Gobi
Dessert

An oasis is a fertile spot in a desert where freshwater water is found and plants can
grow.

A boundary is formed on something unique in the geography of the area. It is a line that
marks the limits of an area; a dividing line.
An example of a boundary would be the Rio Grande River, which separates Texas and
Mexico.

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A channel is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.
An example of a channel is the English Channel, which separates Great Britain from
northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic.

A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into
an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. It is a triangular
deposit at the end of a river.
An example of a delta is the Nile River Delta formed in Northern Egypt. This is where
the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea.

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with
waterforms on either side.
An example of an isthmus is the Isthmus of Panama which lies between the Caribbean
Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of
Panama and the Panama Canal.

A plateau, also called a high plateau or tableland, is a large, flat area of land that is
higher than the surrounding land.

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A reservoir is a lake-like area where water is kept until it is needed. It is a large natural
or artificial lake used as a source of water supply. Reservoirs are sometimes formed by
the construction of dams across rivers.
An example of a reservoir is Lake Kariba. It is the largest artificial lake and reservoir in
the world. It is located on the Zambezi river.

A strait is a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two large areas of water.
An example of a strait is the Strait of Gibraltar, which is a narrow strait that connects
the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from
Morocco in Africa.

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Peninsula
A body of land surrounded by _____________________ on three sides is called a
peninsula. The word peninsula means "almost an island." If the body of land is not
connected to something and is completely surrounded by water it would be an
_____________________.

water
island

Harbor
A harbor is a sheltered body of _____________________ which can be used as a
shelter for ships. High waves and strong currents usually do not reach harbors, so boats
stay safe while anchored there. Harbors are always part of a ____________________
body of water, like a lake or an ocean.

larger
water

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Bay
A bay is a body of water that is mostly surrounded by _____________________. Bays
usually have calm waters since the surrounding land blocks some wind and waves. A large
bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight. A _____________________ is a
circular or oval-shaped body of water with a narrow entrance; some coves may be
referred to as bays.
cove
land

Island
An island is an area of land that is surrounded by _____________________. There
are two main types of islands; oceanic islands and continental islands.
_____________________islands are tops of underwater volcanoes.
_____________________ islands are close to continents.

water
continental
oceanic

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Coast
A coast is the edge of the land that is met by the waters _____________________.
It is the area where the sea and _____________________ meet.

land
edge

Valley
A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or
_____________________ flowing through it. Most valleys are formed by rivers that
erode, or wear down, soil and rocks. A very narrow and deep river valley is called a
_____________________.

stream
canyon

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Prairie
A prairie is a stretch of open, relatively _____________________ land covered in
grasses, herbs, and small shrubs, without any _____________________ present.
trees
flat

Desert
A desert is any large region that gets very little _____________________ each year.
Very few plants or animals live in desert areas. Deserts may be hot or
_____________________.

cold
rain

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Oasis
An oasis is a fertile spot in a desert where _____________________ is found and
_____________________ can grow.
freshwater
plants

Boundary
A boundary is formed on something unique in the geography of the area. It is a line that
marks the _____________________ of an area; a dividing
_____________________.

line
limits

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Channel
A channel is a narrow body of _____________________ that connects
_____________________ larger bodies of water.
water
two

Delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the _____________________ of a river where
that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another
river. It is a _____________________ deposit at the end of a river.

triangular
mouth

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of _____________________ connecting two larger land
areas usually with waterforms on either _____________________.

side
land

Plateau
A plateau, also called a high plateau or tableland, is a large, _____________________
area of land that is _____________________ than the surrounding land.

flat
higher

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Reservoir
A reservoir is a lake-like area where water is kept until it is needed. It is a large natural
or _____________________ lake used as a source of water supply. Reservoirs are
sometimes formed by the construction of _____________________ across rivers.
dams
artificial

Strait
A strait is a narrow passage of _____________________ connecting
_____________________ seas or two large areas of water.

water
two

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Geographical Terms & Features

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Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Geographical Terms & Features

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Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Geographical Terms & Features Cards

Peninsula

Harbor

Bay

Island

Coast

Valley

Prairie

Desert

Oasis

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Geographical Terms & Features Cards

Boundary

Channel

Delta

Isthmus

Plateau

Reservoir

Peninsula

Oasis

Harbor

Boundary

Bay

Channel

Island

Delta

Coast

Isthmus

Valley

Plateau

Prairie

Reservoir

Desert

Strait

Strait

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Geographical Terms & Features Cards

a body of land
surrounded by water on
three sides

a sheltered body of
water which can be used
as a shelter for ships

a body of water that is

mostly surrounded by
land

an area of land that is

surrounded by water

the edge of the land

that is met by the
waters edge

a low area of land

between hills or
mountains, typically with
a river or stream flowing
through it

a stretch of open,
relatively flat land
covered in grasses,
herbs, and small shrubs,
without any trees
present

any large region that

gets very little rain each
year

a fertile spot in a desert

where freshwater water
is found and plants can
grow

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Geographical Terms & Features Cards

a line that marks the

limits of an area; a
dividing line

a narrow body of water

that connects two larger
bodies of water

a triangular deposit at
the end of a river

a narrow strip of land

connecting two larger
land areas usually with
waterforms on either
side

a large, flat area of land

that is higher than the
surrounding land

a lake-like area where

water is kept until it is
needed

Peninsula

Oasis

Harbor

Boundary

Bay

Channel

Island

Delta

Coast

Isthmus

Valley

Plateau

Prairie

Reservoir

Desert

Strait

a narrow passage of
water connecting two
seas or two large areas
of water

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)

Websites
Facts, Information, Activities, & Videos:
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/landforms.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/landforms/glossary.shtml
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/wlandforms.htm
http://www.mcwdn.org/MAPS&GLOBES/Islands.html
http://www.mcwdn.org/MAPS&GLOBES/OtherLands.html
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/types_of_land_2/
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/united_states/LANDFORMS3.swf
http://mrhardy.wikispaces.com/Desert.swf

2011 homeschool bits

All Rights Reserved

Miriam Cartagena (order #2312165)