Landforms Geographical Features Alluvial Fan Fanshaped pile of

Landforms & Geographical Features

Alluvial Fan • Fan-shaped pile of sediment forming at the base of narrow canyons onto a flat plain

Archipelago • A group or a chain of islands

Basin • Natural depression in the surface of the land

Bay • Part of an ocean/lake partially enclosed by land

Beach

Canal • A man-made waterway for navigation or for irrigating land

Canyon • A narrow, deep valley with steep sides

Delta • Deposit of sand soil formed at the mouth of some rivers

Fjord • Narrow inlet with steep sides, created in a valley carved by glacial activity

Glacier • Large ice mass that moves slowly down a mountain or over land

Gulf • Part of an ocean/lake partially enclosed by land

Harbor • Sheltered area of water deep enough for docking ships

Hills

Island • Landmass entirely surrounded by water

Lake • Inland body of water, usually fresh water, larger than a pond

Marsh • Soft, wet, low-lying, grassy land that serves as a transitition

Mesa

Mountain • Large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak

Mountain Range

Peninsula • Land mass surronded by water on three sides

Plateau

Plain • Broad and flat or gently rolling area where there are few changes in the landscape

Prairie • Large, level area of grassland with few or no trees

River • Natural stream of water of considerable volume

Strait • Narrow channel connecting two larger bodies of water

Swamp • Lowland area that is saturated by water

Tundra • Flat treeless lands that makes a ring around the arctic circle

Valley • Stretch of low land lying between hills or mountains and usually having a river or stream flowing through it

Volcanoes • Opening in the earth, usually raised, through which gases and lava escape from the earth’s interior