Geographic Features of the Earth!

Social Studies 3C

Continental Relief

• Relief refers to all the different forms on Earth´s surface. The different types of continental (surface) relief are plains, plateaus, mountains, and depressions.

Peninsula

• Area of land surrounded by water on all sides but one (the isthmus) which joins it to the mainland.

The Florida Peninsula

• Situated between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of Florida

Mountain

• Elevation of the terrain with steep slopes and an altitude of greater than 600 m.

The Himalaya Mountains

• Crosses several countries in Asia:– India, Nepal, Tibet,

Bhutan, Pakistan

• World’s highest mountain system

Plain

• Flat or gently rolling extension of land at an altitude of less than 200 m.

The Great Plains

• Located in the United States and covers 10 American States and part of Canada

Plateau

• A raised plain at an altitude of over 200 m.

The Tibetan Plateau

• Located in Asia• The largest and highest

plateau in the world• Nicknamed the “roof of

the world”

Depression

• Sunken area of the Earth´s crust

Coastal Relief

• Capes, gulfs, peninsulas, estuaries, fjords, and deltas.

Cape

• Part of the coast which juts out into the sea.

Cape of Good Hope

• Located in Cape Peninsula, South Africa

• 1488: Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape

Gulf

• Entry of the sea into the coast.

Gulf of Mexico

• Connected to the Atlantic Ocean

• 10th largest body of water in the world

Delta

• Coastal area formed by the accumulation of sediments of a river at its mouth.

Mississippi River Delta

• Mississippi River is the 4th longest and 10th largest river in the world

• Delta enters the Gulf of Mexico

Island

• Mass of land surrounded by water.

The Canaries!

• Located in front of the northwest coast of Africa

Estuary

• Flooded valley formed by the entry of the sea into the final section of a river valley.

Gulf of St. Lawrence Estuary

• World’s largest estuary• Rivers that flow into it:

– St. Lawrence, Miramichi, Natashquan, Restigouche, Margaree, Humber

• Flows into the Atlantic Ocean

Submarine Relief

• AKA underwater relief. Continental platforms, continental shelves, and abyssal plains, across which mid-ocean ridges and marine trenches can be found.

Mid-Ocean Ridge

• Underwater mountain range

Abyssal Plain

• Extensive, flat sea bottom at a depth of 4,000 to 5,000 m.

Marine Trench

• Long, narrow underwater depression.

Continental Trench

• Long, narrow surface depression above water.

Continental Platform

• AKA continental slope. Gentle slope at the edge of the continent with a depth of 200 m.