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GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS
 DEFINITIONS OF SELECTED TERMS
AIRP0RT A landing area where aircraft discharge and receive DllG 1. A bank of earth or other material constructed to prevent OUARRY An open excavation in the earth, generally for the pur-
passengers and cargo. az water from flooding an area. 83 pose of obtaining rock mater¡al. Dl
ARCHIPELAG0 A large group of islands in a sea or ocean. Al 0lVlDE The higher ground which separates two areas of drainage."' RANCH A tract of land used for the grazing and rearing of domes-
ticated animals such as cattle, horses, or sheep. c2
ARROYÍ) A stream bed in a desert region. lt carries water only tl0R0 A glaciated valley that has been partly filled by an arm
when there is rainfall. ot of the sea. 81 RAPIDS That part of a stream with swiftly rushing water caused
PIAIN by rocky obstruct¡ons or a sudden steepening of slope. 82 -ca
AT0LI A coral island or islands enclosing a lagoon. A3 Ft00D A plain, bordering a river, which is composed of
alluvium deposited by the river when it overflows its banks. 82 RAVINE An elongated depression excavated by running water.
BAI{I( l. The ground which slopes down to the water's edge of a Larger than a gully, but smaller than a valley. oe
stream or lake. 2. Any abrupt slope of ground. 3. An area of the F00ïHltts Hills which lie at the foot of higher hills or mountains.
c2
sea bottom which is closer to the surface of the water than are its GAP A narrow valley through a range of hills or mountains. c2 RESERV0IR An area of stored water, usually made by damming
surroundings. Many such banks are famous for fishing. a stream. cl
GLÀCIER A mass of ice which flows downslope ltom an area
BASII{ A sizable depression in the land surface. D3 of snow accumulation. It does not disappear in summer. gt RI0GE An elongated elevation of land. Often refers to the top
line of a range of hills or mountains. c1
BAY A body of water which fills an opening into a sea coast or G()RGE A deep, narrow valley with steep walls. cr
lake shore. Bays vary considerably in size. ¡z RIVER M0UTH The lower end of a river where it flows into
CUI.F A large arm of the sea extending into the land. ¡l another river or a body of water. A2
BAY0U A minor or secondary stream in the lower Mississippi River
basin. es ûUttY A channel worn in the land by running water, especially SALT IAKE A lake, found in arid regions, which has a high salt
during heavy rains. ot content due to excessive evaporation in relation to the inflow of
BEÂCH A wave-levelled stretch of sand or gravel bordering a body fresh water. og
of water. ¡z llARB0R A sheltered area of water used for docking or anchor¡ng
sh ips. 83 SAt{l) BAR A ridge of sand built up by currents in a river or by
BTUFF A high, steep bank. sz waves and currents along a coast. 83
HltL A limited area of land projecting well above the surround-
BREAKWÀïER A structure which protects a harbor or beach from ing surface of the earth. cz SAN0 DUNES Ridges of sand piled up by the wind. A2
the force of the waves. ag
IRRIGATED FARM LAND Land receiving water for plants or SEA i. Oneof the divisions of an ocean. 2. A large expanse of
BRI0GE A structure for supporting a road, railroad, or pathway crops in addition to the rainfall. cz inland salt water. 3. A general term meaning the water of the
over a body of water, a depression, or another roadway. cz oceans. A3
ISLAI{D An area of land surrounded by water. The large continents
BUTTE An isolated, steep-sided hill found in arid lands. Smaller are not called islands. ¡r SHfIREIINE The land edge of a body of water. aa
than a mesa. D2 ISTHMUS A narrow strip of land joining two large land masses, SN0WFIELI! An area of permanent snow found in high mountain-
CAI{AL An artificial waterway used to carry ships or barges, or or joining a peninsula to the mainland. ss ous areas or at high latitudes. st
solely to carry water. cz LAVA FIELD Area covered by lava trom volcanoes 0r openings S0UND A long water passage between an island and the mainland
CANY0I{ A deep valley with steep sides which often slope ¡rreg- in the earth's surface. c1
ularly down to the bottom. Canyons are found in the arid plateaus LEVEE lhe bank of a river which has been built up by the depo-
SIRAII A narrow stretch of water connecting two extensive areas
of western U.S. or sition of silt when the river overflows. An artificial levee is a
of the sea. ¡t
CAPE A piece of land extending into the sea beyond the rest of structure built on top of a natur¿l levee to prevent the river from SUMMIT The highest point on a hill or mountain. c1
the shoreline. ¡z overflowing. ea
SWAMP A tract of low-lying land which is saturated with moisture.
MARSH A tract of soft, wet land, usually low-lying and partly
CITY An important place of very dense settlement. Larger than
or completely under water. gg TABIELAND A broad plateau bo.unded by steep faces which lead
a town. ca abruptly down to the sea or an adjoining lowland. Al
M0UNTAIN RANGE An arrangement, usually somewhat linear, of
GtltF A high and extremely steep rock face, either inland or many mounta¡n peaks, ridges, and the¡r included valleys. cr TIMBER LINE A boundary line on a high mountain, above which
along a shoreline. 91 trees do not grow because of the cold temperatures. Toward the
0ASIS A restricted area in the desert which is made fertile by poles the timber line is found at progressively lower altitudes. et
C(IASïAI PLAIN An extensive low-lying coastal area with a rela- the presence of water. og
tively flat surface. ez T0WN 1. A center of populat¡on larger than a village and gen-
0CEAN 1. The mass of salt water that surrounds the continents. erally smaller than a city. 2. ln several states this term means
C0RAI REEF A reef composed of coral. Many coral reefs have 2. The world ocean ¡s divided into several extensive portions, the same as township. oa
evolved into true islands, but are still called "reefs" because of each known as an 0cean. The largest of these is the Pacific Ocean.
their origin. ¡3 VALtEY An elongated depression in the earth's surface, usually
PASS A high gap or defile that offers passage across , r0,f,3 caused by stream erosion. The valley bottom generally slopes
CREEK 1. A stream of water smaller than a river and larger than tain range. os toward sea level. Unless the land is rather flat the valley is
a brook. 2. An inlet, narrower and extending farther inland than
a cove. 83 PENINSUIA An area of land which projects out from a larger land bounded by hills or mountains. cz
mass and is almost surrounded by water. lz VIILAGE An inhabited place composed of a cluster of
CUTIIVAIED LAt{I} Land plowed and planted to crops. as
town. c2
houses.
PlE0M0l{T The name often applied to that region which extends Smaller than a
DAM A natural or artificial structure which impedes the flow of a along the foot of a range of hills or mountains. az
VÍ]LCÂN() l. A vent in the earth's surface from which lava or
stream, causing the water to form a lake or pond. cg-og
PLÄTEAU An extensive level, or mainly level, area of elevated rock debris issues. 2. A hill or mountain composed of the elected
DttTA A mass of mud and silt deposited by a stream in the land. or material. cl
relatively qu¡et water at its mouth. s3
PÍ)RT A place where sh¡ps may dock or anchor, and which has WATERFALI A steep or vertical fall of water, as a stream over
0ESERT A land area having very little rainfall. ol facilities for loading and unloading cargo and passengers. the top of a cliff. cr

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