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Geography Bee
Key Terms
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Altitude | Height of an object in the atmosphere above sea level |
Atlas | A bound collection of maps |
Basin | Area surrounded by higher land |
Boundary | Shared border between two places |
Bay | A body of water partly surrounded by land and partly open to a larger body of water |
Canal | Narrow waterway built for irrigation or navigation |
Canyon | Deep valley with steep sides carved by a river |
Capital | City where the government of a country or state is located |
Coastline | Edge where a continent meets an ocean, gulf or sea |
Continent | One of the seven largest land areas on earth |
Country | Land with one government |
Delta | Body of land at the mouth of a river, often shaped like a triangle |
Desert | Dry natural region with little rain and few plants |
Equator | Imaginary line at 0 degrees latitude that divides the earth into Northern and Southern Hemisphere |
Glacier | Large, slow-moving mass of ice |
Globe | A model of the earth that correctly represents areas, relative size and shape of physical features, distances, and directions |
Gulf | Large area of ocean or sea partly surrounded by land |
Hemisphere | Any half of the earth |
Hill | Landform that is higher than the land around it but not as high as a mountain |
Island | Body of land that is completely surrounded by water |
Lake | Body of water that is completely surrounded by land |
Latitiude | Distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees |
Longitude | Distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees |
Map | A picture of a place that is usually drawn to scale |
Meridian | Line of longitude |
Mountain | High landform, larger and taller than a hill, with either a sharp peak or a rounded top |
North Pole | Imaginary point that is farther north than any other place on earth |
Ocean | One of the five largest bodies of water on earth |
Parallel | A line of latitude |
Peninsula | Body of land that is almost surrounded by water |
Plain | Broad area of land that is gently rolling or almost flat |
Plateau | Vast, high area of land that is mostly level |
Region | Large area that is different from the areas around it |
Reservoir | Artificial lake that forms behind a dam on a river |
River | Long, narrow body of water that flows downhill |
Sea | Part of an ocean, or any large inland body of salt water |
State | Part of a country with laws and leaders of its own |
Strait | Narrow body of water connecting two larger bodies of water |
Territory | Part of a country that does not have the full rights of a state |
Valley | Low area between mountains |
Weather | Temperature, rain, wind and other conditions of the air outside |
Arctic Circle | An imaginary circle at latitude 66 degrees 30'N, around the North Pole |
Antarctic Circle | An imaginary circle at latitude 66 degrees 30'S, around the South Pole |
Butte | A flat-topped rock or hill formation with steep sides |
Cape | A pointed piece of land that sticks out into a sea, ocean, lake, or river |
Cartography | The study and construction of maps |
Channel | A narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water (like the English Channel). A channel is also a part of a river or harbor that is deep enough to let ships sail through. |
Cave | A large hole in the ground or in the side of a hill or mountain |
Cliff | A steep face of rock and soil |
Compass Rose | A design on a map that shows direction. It points which way is north, south, east, west, and some intermediate directions on the map. |
Cove | A small, horseshoe-shaped body of water along the coast; the water is surrounded by land formed of soft rock. |
Dune | A hill or ridge made of sand. Dunes are shaped by the wind and change all the time. |
Estuary | Where a river meets the sea or ocean |
Geyser | A natural hot spring that occasionally sprays water and steam above the ground |
Landmark | A monument or some prominent object (like a mountain or lake) that is used to designate a place and determine one's location |
Marsh | A type of freshwater, brackish water or saltwater wetland that is found along rivers, ponds, lakes and coasts |
Oasis | A place in the desert that has water and is fertile |
Pond | A small body of water surrounded by land and smaller than a lake |
Prairie | A wide, relatively flat area of land that has grasses and only a few trees |
Range | A chain of mountains and/or high elevations |
Reef | An undersea growth of coral near the surface of the water |
Swamp | A type of freshwater wetland that has spongy, muddy land and a lot of water. Many trees and shrubs grow here. |
Tributary | A stream or river that flows into a larger river |
Volcano | A mountainous vent in the Earth's crust. When it erupts, it spews out lava, ashes, and hot gases from deep inside the Earth. |
Waterfall | When a river falls off steeply |
Wetland | An area of land that is often wet; the soil is often low in oxygen. There are many types including swamps and marshes. |