Geographical Terms Flashcards

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Archipelago

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A group of scattered islands in a large body of water. Example: Indonesia

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Atoll

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A ring-shaped island that includes a coral rim surrounding a lagoon. Example: Reed Bank in the South China Sea

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Lagoon

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An area of sea water separated from the ocean by a reef or sandbar. Example: Lake Chilika on the east coast of India

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Cape

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A high point of land that juts into a river, lake, or ocean (similar to a peninsula). Example: Cape of Good Hope in South Africa

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Headwaters

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The source of a river where many smaller streams and tributaries join together. Example: the Atbarah, Blue Nile, and White Nile combine to make the headwaters for the Nile River

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Oasis

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A fertile or green area in an arid (dry) region like a desert. Example: Seba Oasis in the Sahara Desert near Libya

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Mountain Pass

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A gap or break in high, rugged mountain ridge that provides a route through a mountain range or a ridge. Example: Khyber Pass in the mountains of Pakistan

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Peninsula

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A part of land nearly surrounded by water and connected to a larger body of land. Example: Korea is a peninsula that extends into the Pacific Ocean from East Asia

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Canal

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An artificial waterway for navigation, for draining or irrigating land. Example: Suez Canal in Egypt

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Canyon

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A deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream running through it. Example: Indus River Gorge in Pakistan