Geography DictionaryGeography Dictionary

Landforms shaped by Water Landforms shaped by Water and Water processesand Water processes

Ait – a small island (England)Ait – a small island (England)

  Alluvial fanAlluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit formed where  is a fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads

typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plaintypically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain

Anabranch -Anabranch - is a section of a river or stream that diverts from  is a section of a river or stream that diverts from the main channel or stem of the watercourse and rejoins the the main channel or stem of the watercourse and rejoins the

main stem downstreammain stem downstream

Arch – A natural rock arch is formed normally from erosion Arch – A natural rock arch is formed normally from erosion from water or windfrom water or wind

Arroyo - also called a wash, is usually a dry creek bed or gulch that temporarily fills

with water after a heavy rain

Atoll Atoll - a ring (or partial ring) of coral that forms a ring - a ring (or partial ring) of coral that forms a ring around a lagoon. around a lagoon. 

Barrier Island - a long narrow sandy island (wider Barrier Island - a long narrow sandy island (wider than a reef) running parallel to the shorethan a reef) running parallel to the shore

Bay Bay - a body of water that is partly enclosed by land- a body of water that is partly enclosed by land

Beach - a nearly level stretch of pebbles and sand beside a Beach - a nearly level stretch of pebbles and sand beside a sea, lake, etc., often washed by high water; sandy shore; sea, lake, etc., often washed by high water; sandy shore;

strandstrand

Bight - a slight bend or curve in a coastBight - a slight bend or curve in a coast

Billabong - a branch of a river made by water flowing from Billabong - a branch of a river made by water flowing from

the main stream only when the water level is highthe main stream only when the water level is high

Blowhole –An opening in a sea cliff, on the upland side away Blowhole –An opening in a sea cliff, on the upland side away from shore; columns of sea spray are thrown up through the from shore; columns of sea spray are thrown up through the

openingopening

Bog Bog - an area of wet, spongy ground.- an area of wet, spongy ground.

Braided River - s one of a number of channel types and has a Braided River - s one of a number of channel types and has a channel that consists of a network of channel that consists of a network of

small channels separated by small and often small channels separated by small and often

temporary temporary islands

CanyonCanyon - a deep valley with very steep sides - often - a deep valley with very steep sides - often carved from the Earth by a river. carved from the Earth by a river. 

CapeCape - a pointed piece of land that sticks out into a sea, - a pointed piece of land that sticks out into a sea, ocean, lake, or river.ocean, lake, or river.

CaveCave - a large hole in the ground or in the side of a hill or - a large hole in the ground or in the side of a hill or mountain.mountain.

ChannelChannel - a body of water that connects two larger bodies - a body of water that connects two larger bodies of water (like the English Channel). A channel is also a part of water (like the English Channel). A channel is also a part

of a river or harbour that is deep enough to let ships sail of a river or harbour that is deep enough to let ships sail through.through.

CoveCove - a small, horseshoe-shaped body of water along the - a small, horseshoe-shaped body of water along the coast; the water is surrounded by land formed of soft rock.coast; the water is surrounded by land formed of soft rock.

Delta Delta - an area of land shaped like a triangle where a river - an area of land shaped like a triangle where a river deposits mud, sand, or pebbles as it enters the sea. A delta deposits mud, sand, or pebbles as it enters the sea. A delta

is often (but not always) shaped like a triangle.is often (but not always) shaped like a triangle.

  Drainage Basin is an extent of land where water from rain and melting snow or ice drains downhill

into a body of water

Estuary Estuary - an estuary is the wide part of a river where it - an estuary is the wide part of a river where it joins a sea.joins a sea.

FjordFjord - A fjord is a long, narrow sea inlet that is bordered - A fjord is a long, narrow sea inlet that is bordered by steep cliffsby steep cliffs

Floodplain - is flat or nearly flat land adjacent to a stream or river that experiences occasional or

periodic flooding

GeyserGeyser - A geyser is a natural hot spring that occasionally - A geyser is a natural hot spring that occasionally sprays water and steam above the ground.sprays water and steam above the ground.

Gorge Gorge - A narrow valley with steep walls. Often has a - A narrow valley with steep walls. Often has a stream or river running through it.stream or river running through it.

GulfGulf - a part of the ocean (or sea) that is partly surrounded - a part of the ocean (or sea) that is partly surrounded by land (it is usually larger than a bay).by land (it is usually larger than a bay).

GullyGully - is a landform created by running water eroding sharply  - is a landform created by running water eroding sharply

into soil, typically on a hillsideinto soil, typically on a hillside

  inletinlet - is a narrow body of water between islands  - is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of wateror leading inland from a larger body of water

IslandIsland - a piece of land that is surrounded by water. - a piece of land that is surrounded by water.

Isthmus - is a narrow strip of land connecting two Isthmus - is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areaslarger land areas

LagoonLagoon - a shallow body of water that is located alongside - a shallow body of water that is located alongside a coast.a coast.

Lake -  body of liquid on the surface of a world that Lake -  body of liquid on the surface of a world that is localised to the bottom of is localised to the bottom of basin

leveelevee, , embankmentembankment or  or floodbankfloodbank is a natural or  is a natural or artificial slope or wall to regulate water levelsartificial slope or wall to regulate water levels

MarshMarsh - a type of freshwater, brackish water or saltwater - a type of freshwater, brackish water or saltwater wetland that is found along rivers, pond, lakes and coasts. wetland that is found along rivers, pond, lakes and coasts.

Marsh plants grow up out of the water.Marsh plants grow up out of the water.

A A meandermeander in general is a bend in a river flow in general is a bend in a river flow

Oasis - is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, Oasis - is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water typically surrounding a spring or similar water

sourcesource

Oxbow Lake (billabong) - is a U-shaped body of water formed Oxbow Lake (billabong) - is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off

to create a laketo create a lake

PeninsulaPeninsula - a body of land that is surrounded by water on - a body of land that is surrounded by water on three sides.three sides.

PondPond - a small body of water surrounded by land. A pond is - a small body of water surrounded by land. A pond is smaller than a lake.smaller than a lake.

Rapid -  is a section of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient causing an increase in

water velocity and turbulence

Riffs – small rippled waves in a stream or riverRiffs – small rippled waves in a stream or river

  Ria -  is a landform often referred to as a drowned Ria -  is a landform often referred to as a drowned river valleyriver valley

RiverRiver - a large, flowing body of water that usually empties - a large, flowing body of water that usually empties into a sea or ocean.into a sea or ocean.

Spit Spit - is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, - is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, while at the far end they exist in open spits connect to land, while at the far end they exist in open

waterwater

Spring - is any natural occurrence where water flows on to the Spring - is any natural occurrence where water flows on to the surface of the earth from below the surface. Thus it is where surface of the earth from below the surface. Thus it is where

the aquifer surface meets the ground surface.the aquifer surface meets the ground surface.

StackStack - is a geological landform consisting of a steep and  - is a geological landform consisting of a steep and

often vertical columnoften vertical column

StraitStrait - a narrow body of water that connects two larger - a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.bodies of water.

Stream - a flowing body of water with a current, confined Stream - a flowing body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. A stream may be referred to within a bed and stream banks. A stream may be referred to

as as a a branchbranch, , brookbrook, , beckbeck, , burnburn, , creekcreek, , killkill, , licklick, , rillrill, , riverriver  syksyk

ee, , bayoubayou, , rivuletrivulet, or , or runrun

Swamp Swamp - a type of freshwater wetland that has spongy, - a type of freshwater wetland that has spongy, muddly land and a lot of water. Many trees and shrubs muddly land and a lot of water. Many trees and shrubs

grow in swamps.grow in swamps.

Tombolo - an island is attached to the mainland by Tombolo - an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bara narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar

Tributary Tributary - a stream or river that flows into a larger river.- a stream or river that flows into a larger river.

Wadi - is the Arabic term traditionally referring to Wadi - is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. Sometimes called a dry riverbeda valley. Sometimes called a dry riverbed

WaterfallWaterfall -  is a place where flowing water rapidly -  is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or

a cliffa cliff

Watershed - A ridge of high land dividing two areas Watershed - A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different river systemsthat are drained by different river systems

WetlandWetland - A wetland is an area of land that is often wet; the soil - A wetland is an area of land that is often wet; the soil in wetlands are often low in oxygen. Wetland plants are adapted in wetlands are often low in oxygen. Wetland plants are adapted to life in wet soil. There are many types of wetlands, including: to life in wet soil. There are many types of wetlands, including:

swamp, slough, fen, bog, marsh, moor, muskeg, peatland, swamp, slough, fen, bog, marsh, moor, muskeg, peatland,

bottomland, delmarva, mire, wet meadow, riparian, etc.bottomland, delmarva, mire, wet meadow, riparian, etc.