Basic Terms
One of the seven great divisions of land on Earth
continent
A body of land entirely surrounded by water
island
a natural elevation of the earth's surface, rising high above the surround level
mountain
a trembling of the earth's surface, caused by changes beneath the surface
earthquake
the shallow portion of the seabed bordering most continents and terminating in a slope, which descends steeply into deeper water
continental shelf
The level of the ocean, which is the same all over the world
sea level
a narrow portion of land nearly surrounded by water
a raised part of the earth's surface, smaller than a mountain
hill
a mountain or hill having an opening through which molten rock, steam, and ashes are expelled from within
volcano
a mountain ridge across a continent, which separates streams flowing in opposite directions
divide
The elevation of a place above sea level
altitude
a point of land jutting out into the water
cape
a long depression or hollow lying between hills and mountains
valley
a break in the earth's crust, where the land on either side has moved up, down, or sideways along the break
fault
the points at which the land drops sharply and rivers usually become unnavigable
fall line
Land adjoining a sea or an ocean
coast
A narrow strip of land connecting two larger portions of land
isthmus
an area of mostly high, generally level land
plateau
a long dry period caused by the absence of rain
drought
a hollow or depression in the earth's surface, almost entirely surrounded by highlands
basin
A large part of a continent that forms a section of its own
subcontinent
a group of many islands
archipelago
a broad area of flat or gently rolling land
plain
the act of making lands suitable for human use
reclaiming
a chain of mountains
range