Physical Geography Vocabulary w/ pictures – Flashcards
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landforms
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shapes and types of land
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plate tectonics
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theory which explains how the continents move, and how new land is formed
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weathering
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process of wind, rain, and ice which breaks down rocks and changes landforms
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erosion
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carries away the weathered rocks and creates new landforms
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mountains
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landforms which rise over 2,000 feet above sea level, usually steep
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valleys
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is lowland between ranges of mountains, or hiss, often having a river or stream running along the bottom draining the land; valleys have gently sloping sides.
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hill
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smaller and less steep than mountains
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volcano
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a mountain formed by volcanic material
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plateau
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a large, flat area that rises above the surrounding land; at least one side has a steep slope.
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plain
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a large area of flat or gently rolling land
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canyons
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a narrow chasm in a plateau or plain with steep cliff walls, cut into the earth by running water/a river
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peninsula or cape
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area of land that is surrounded on 3 sides by water
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isthmus
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a narrow stretch of land which connect 2 landmasses
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island
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land which is surrounded by water
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archipelago
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a group, or chain, or islands
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ocean
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largest bodies of salt water on Earth
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sea
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smaller than, and parts of Oceans, which are defined by land boundaries
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bay/gulf
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a body of water forming an indentation of the shoreline, larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
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glacier
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a mass or river of snow and ice which slowly moves and changes the landscape
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lake
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a body of fresh or salt water of considerable size surrounded by water
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river
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a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course; it drains the excess water from the land; always runs downhill
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river delta
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area where a large river empties into a body of water
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tributary
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smaller rivers or streams that flow into a larger river
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estuary
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the wide part of a river where it nears the sea
