Glossary of Geographi

INLET: thin channel of water that leads inland from the sea. Inlets created by glaciation are called fjords and are usually found on mountainous coastlines.

HEADLAND: a small area of land that projects out into the sea.

PENINSULA: a large scale headland surrounded by water on three sides. A peninsula can be connected to the land by a thin stretch called an isthmus.

ISLAND: a piece of land completely surrounded by water. A group of related islands close together form an archipelago.

GULF: an area of sea surrounded by land on three sides. It forms the shape of an arc. A bay is similar but generally smaller.

OCEANIC RIDGE: an underwater mountain range that generally covers a large area and reaches high altitudes.

OCEANIC TRENCH: a long depression on the ocean floor that can be thousands of metres deep.

ABYSSAL PLAIN: a flat area of the ocean floor. They are found at depths of between 3000 and 7000 KM.

CONTINENTAL SHELF: the undersea extension of a continent that descends gradually to depths of around 400 m. the shelf might extend for only a few kilometres under the sea, or it may extend for many.

CONTINENTAL SLOPE: a steep underwater area that links the continental shelf with the ocean floor.

MOUNTAIN: a large landform that is higher than the surrounding land. A mountain range is a continuous chain of mountains.

BASIN: an area of land that is drained by a river or a lake that is lower than the surrounding area.

VALLEY: a valley is a linear depression in the land. A river valley is V-shaped due to the action of a river running through it. Glacial valleys are U-shaped because they have been formed by a moving glacier.

PLATEAU: a flat area of land which sits at a certain altitude above sea level.

PLAIN: a large, open, flat or slightly undulating area of land.

TRIBUTARY: a stream, river, or glacier that feeds another larger one.

LAGOON: a body of water cut off from the open sea by coral reefs or sand bars.

MARSH: low poorly drained land that is sometimes flooded and often lies at the edge of lakes.