Social Studies

Social Studies

Geography Vocabulary

Globea 3D image of the Earth and all of

the land and water

Geographic termsWords that describe bodies of water and

landforms like bay and mountain range.

Physical featuresNames of bodies of water and landforms such

as Rocky Mountains.

Latitude• Lines on a map that circle Earth from east to

west and NEVER touch.• Laaaaatitude

Longitude• Lines on a map that run from the North Pole

to the South Pole.• Loooooongitude

Geography

The study of our natural surroundings and how humans interact with them.

EquatorThe 0 degree latitude line around the middle of

the Earth.

Prime Meridian The 0 degree longitude line that runs through

the center of the Earth from North Pole to South Pole.

Compass rose

A symbol on a map that shows cardinal directions.

Cardinal DirectionsNorth, South, East, West

Hemispheres

Tributary

A river or stream running into a larger river.

valley

An area of generally flat land extending many miles inland and drained or watered by a large river and its tributaries (smaller rivers that connect to larger river)

sea

A body of salt water that is smaller than an ocean.

river source/river mouthThe source is the place

the river begins, usually in the highlands.

The mouth is the part of a river where its waters empty into a larger body of water.

plain

Large area of level or nearly level land. Sometimes called: tundra, prairies, savannahs, coastal plains, llanos, etc.

peninsula

A portion of land nearly surrounded by water and connected with a larger body of land.

mountain range

A row of connected mountains.

island

A body of land smaller than a continent, surrounded by water.

gulf

A large area of sea or ocean that is partially enclosed; larger than a bay.

cape

A point of land jutting into the water that is usually smaller or thinner than a peninsula.

delta

Soil deposited at the mouth of a river where the stream loses velocity (speed) and leaves behind part of its load of sediment (soil).

bayAn inlet of the sea or

other body of water, usually smaller than a gulf but of the same general character; part of a body of water that extends into land.