GLOSSARY(GEOGRAPHY)

INLET: a thin channel of water that leads inland from the sea. Inlets created by glaciation are called fjords and are usually found on mountains coastlines

HEADLAND: a small area of land that projects out into the sea

PENINSULA: a large scale headland surrounded by water on three sides. A peninsula can be connected to the land by a thin stretch of land called isthmus

ISLAND: a piece of land completely surrounded by water

GULF: an area of sea surrounded by land on three sides. A bay is similar but smaller

OCEANIC RIDGE: an underwater mountain range that generally covers a large area and reaches high altitudes

OCEANIC TRENCH: a long depression on the ocean floor that can be deep

ABYSSAL PLAIN: a flat area on the ocean floor, they are found at depths of between 3000 metres and 7000 metres

CONTINENTAL SHELF: the under sea extension of a continent that descends gradually to depths of around 400 metres. The shelf can be extended by few or many kilometres

CONTINENTAL SLOPE: a steep underwater area that links the continental shelf with the oceanic floor

MOUNTAIN: a large land form that is higher than the surrounded land. A mountain is a continuous chain of mountains

BASIN: an area of land that is drained by a river or a lake and that is lower than the surrounding area

VALLEY:  is a linear depression in the land

PLATEAU: a flat area of land which sits a certain altitude above the sea level

PLAIN: a larger, open, flat or slightly undulating area of land

CLIFF: a high, steep or overhanging face of rock

MASSIF:  a large mass or compact group of connected mountains forming an independent portion of a range