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Earth is made up of many different features that
make it unique. In the following slides you will
see many of Earth’s unique Physical Features. Each
of earth’s physical features are created by one of three
processes: internal forces, build up of eroded materials,
or erosion of existing features.
Archipelago
A group of islands.
Atoll
A ringlike coral island and reef that nearly or entirely encloses a lagoon.
Basin
An artificially enclosed area of a river or harbor designed so that
the water level remains unaffected by tidal changes.
Bay
A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a
wide mouth, affording access to the sea.
Beach
The shore of a body of water, especially when sandy or pebbly.
Canyon
A narrow chasm with steep cliff walls, cut into the earth by
running water; a gorge.
Cape
A point or head of land projecting into a body of water.
Cave
Cave
A hollow or natural passage under or into the earth, especially one
with an opening to the surface.
Cliff
A high, steep, or overhanging face of rock.
Coast
Land next to the sea; the seashore.
Coastal Plain
A plain adjacent to a coast.
Continent
One of the principal land masses of the earth, usually regarded as including
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Continental Divide
An extensive stretch of high ground from each side of which
the river systems of a continent flow in opposite directions.
Continental Shelf
A submerged border of a continent that slopes gradually and
extends to a point of steeper descent to the ocean bottom.
Coral Reef
An erosion-resistant marine ridge or mound consisting chiefly of
compacted coral together with algal material and biochemically
deposited magnesium and calcium carbonates.
Delta
A similar deposit at the mouth of a tidal inlet, caused
by tidal currents.
Dune
A hill or ridge of wind-blown sand.
Escarpment
A steep slope or long cliff that results from erosion or faulting and
separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.
Fault
A fracture in the continuity of a rock formation caused by a shifting or dislodging
of the earth's crust, in which adjacent surfaces are displaced relative to one another
and parallel to the plane of fracture.
Fjord
A long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between steep slopes.
Floodplain
A plain bordering a river and subject to flooding.
Gorge
A deep narrow passage with steep rocky sides; a ravine.
Gulf
A large area of a sea or ocean partially enclosed by land, especially
a long landlocked portion of sea opening through a strait.
Hill
A well-defined natural elevation smaller than a mountain.
Ice Sheet
Layer of ice covering extensive regions of the world, notably
Antarctica and Greenland.
Island
A land mass, especially one smaller than a continent, entirely
surrounded by water.
Isthmus
A narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land.
Key (Cay)
A small, low island composed largely of coral or sand.
Mesa
A broad, flat-topped elevation with one or more clifflike sides,
common in the southwest United States.
Moraine
An accumulation of boulders, stones, or other debris carried and
deposited by a glacier.
Mountain Range
A series of mountain ridges alike in form, direction, and origin.
Pass
A break in a mountain range or other high obstruction, used for
transportation from one side to the other.
Piedmont
An area of land formed or lying at the foot of a mountain or
mountain range.
Peninsula
A piece of land that projects into a body of water and is
connected with the mainland by an isthmus.
Plain
An extensive, level, usually treeless area of land.
Plateau
An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.
Sinkhole
A natural depression in a land surface communicating with a subterranean passage,
generally occurring in limestone regions and formed by solution or by collapse of a
cavern roof.
Valley
An elongated lowland between ranges of mountains, hills, or other
uplands, often having a river or stream running along the bottom.
Volcano
An opening in the earth's crust through which molten lava, ash,
and gases are ejected.
Canal
An artificial waterway or artificially improved river used for travel,
shipping, or irrigation.
Estuary
The part of the wide lower course of a river where its current is
met by the tides.
Glacier
A huge mass of ice slowly flowing over a land mass, formed from compacted snow
in an area where snow accumulation exceeds melting and sublimation.
Ice Berg
A massive floating body of ice broken away from a glacier. Only
about 10 percent of its mass is above the surface of the water.
Lagoon
A shallow body of water, especially one separated from a sea by
sandbars or coral reefs.
Lake
A large inland body of fresh water or salt water.
Mouth
A natural opening, as the part of a stream or river that empties into a
larger body of water or the entrance to a harbor, canyon, valley, or cave.
Oasis
A fertile or green spot in a desert or wasteland, made so by the
presence of water.
Ocean
The entire body of salt water that covers more than 70 percent of the
earth's surface.
Rapids
An extremely fast-moving part of a river, caused by a steep descent
in the riverbed.
River
River
A large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other
body of water and usually fed along its course by converging tributaries.
Sea
The continuous body of salt water covering most of the earth's surface.
Strait
A narrow channel joining two larger bodies of water.
Swamp
A lowland region saturated with water.
Trench
A long, steep-sided valley on the ocean floor.
Tributary
A stream that flows into a larger stream or other body of water.
Waterfall
A steep descent of water from a height; a cascade.
Wetlands
A lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, that is saturated with
moisture, especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife.
Dictionary. 2005. March 10. <http://www.dictionary.com>
Geography Class of 2009 Section B1 and E. Email Interview.
23 February 2004.
Image Search. 2005. March 10. <http://www.google.com>
Loewen, Jerry. Personal Interview. 20 January 2005.