Monday, August 27, 2012

definitions geography



1. geography  n.   the study of the physical features of the earth/land and its atmosphere,

2. continent  n.   Any of the world's main landmasses (Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America).

3. equator n.     An imaginary line drawn around the earth (horizontally) dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres.  (At zero latitude)

4. prime meridian n.    An imaginary line drawn around the earth (vertically) divid the earth into western and eastern hemispheres.  (At zero longitude)

5. map legend  n.  - (also called a map key) is a table that explains the symbols used on a map

6. island n.   a piece of land completely surrounded by water (not large enough to be called a continent)

7. plateau   n.   An area of fairly level/flat high ground   (often cut by deep canyons)

8. reef  n.      A ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea.

9. canyon  n.   A deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it

10. glacier  n.    A slowly moving mass or river of ice made by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles.

11. savanna   n.   a grassy plain, with few trees on the edge of tropical climates

12. oasis   n.     A fertile spot in a desert where water is found.

13. volcano  n.   a vent in the earth's crust through which lava, steam, ashes, etc., are expelled, either continuously or at irregular intervals.   Often this vent is inside a mountain or hill

14. timberline   n. The line or altitude above which no trees grow.

15. map scale  n. the ratio of a distance on the map to the actual distance on the ground.

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