LANDFORMS!

1. LANDFORMS!

2. RIVER • A natural stream of flowing water

3. STREAM • A channel of flowing water that is smaller than a river (less than 4 yards wide)

4. CREEK • A channel of flowing water that is smaller than a stream

5. TRIBUTARY • A stream that feeds or flows into larger streams , creeks or rivers

6. River Source or Headwaters • A place where a river begins by ice & snow melt, springs, etc.

7. RIVER MOUTH Place that a river enters a lake, larger river, ocean , etc.

8. MEANDER • A winding or turning of a stream or river

9. OXBOW LAKE • Lake formed from an abandoned meander

10. CUT BANK EDGE • Fastest part of a river where fast moving water cuts away the earth and often creates a new river

11. MARSH OR SWAMP • Land permanently covered with either fresh or salt water. Usually heavily vegatated

12. OCEAN • A vast body of salt water. Oceans cover 2/3rds of the earth’s surface.

13. SEA • A division of the oceans that is enclosed or partly enclosed by land

14. SHORELINE • Where the water meets the land

15. GULF • Where water penetrates into the land-vary in size, shape, depth but are always larger than bays

16. STRAIT • Narrow passage of water that connects two larger bodies of water

17. INLET • A recess in the shoreline of a sea, ocean, lake or river

18. BAY • Like a gulf but smaller (Hudson Bay should be a gulf but the Persian Gulf should be a bay!)

19. FJORD • Narrow deep inlet of the sea b/t high, rocky cliffs that is created by glaciers

20. ESTUARY • A semi-closed coastal body of water where salt and fresh water mixes—usually excellent fishing

21. SOUND • A shallow strait

22. CHANNEL • A natural or artificial course for moving water

23. HARBOR • Body of water sheltered by natural or artificial barriers that provides safe anchorage for ships

24. MOUNTAIN • Elevated land w/wide base and narrow peaks/ridges—taller than 3000 feet

25. VOLCANO An opening in the earth’s crust through which lava flows

26. DIVIDE OR RIDGE • Elevated boundary b/t areas that are drained by different water systems

27. PLATEAU • An elevated flat land

28. SCARP • A line of cliffs produced by faulting and erosion

29. HILL • Land that rises above its surroundings --- below 3000 feet

30. CANYON • A deep narrow valley with steep sides aka gorge

31. BUTTE • Tall, steep-sided towers of rock formations generally found near mesas and plateaus

32. Mesa • Broad, flat-topped landform w/steep sides – smaller than a plateau

34. ISLAND • A body of land surrounded on all sides by water

35. CAY or KEY • Low island on reef of coral

36. REEF • A chain of rocks or sand or coral near the surface of the water

37. BARRIER ISLANDS • Narrow sand islands parallel to coastlines

42. ATOLL • A small island usually in the form of a ring built up on a coral reef surrounding a shallow lagoon.

43. LAGOON • Shallow body of water w/opening to the ocean but protected by sandbar or coral reef – can be narrow or circular

44. ARCHIPELAGO • A chain of islands

45. VALLEY • Elongated natural depression bordered by higher land – can be narrow or wide

46. BASIN • A low area of land generally surrounded by mountains—was once a large body of water

47. CAPE • A point of land that extends into a river, lake or ocean – often shaped like a hook

48. ISTHMUS • A narrow neck of land that acts as a bridge to connect two larger bodies of land

49. PENINSULA • Body of land surrounded on 3 sides by water

50. Plain • Relatively flat land often covered w/grasses (more than ½ the world’s population live on plains)