| absolute location | exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates. |
| basin | area of land drained by a given river and its branches; area of land surrounded |
| bay | part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, generally smaller than a gulf. |
| canyon | deep and narrow valley with steep walls. |
| cape | point of land that extends into a river, lake, or ocean. |
| channel | wide strait or waterway between two landmasses that lie close to another; deep part of a river or other waterway. |
| cliff | steep, high wall or rock, earth, or ice. |
| continent | one of the seven large landmasses on the earth. |
| delta | flat, low-lying land built up from soil carried downstream by a river and deposited its mouth. |
| divide | stretch of high land that separates river systems. |
| downstream | direction in which a river or stream flows from its source to its mouth. |
| elevation | height of land that separates river systems. |
| equator | imaginary line that runs around the earth halfway between the North and South Poles; used as the starting point to measure degrees of north and south latitude. |
| glacier | large, thick body of slowly moving ice. |
| gulf | part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, generally larger and more deeply intended than a bay. |
| harbor | a sheltered place along a shoreline where ships can anchor safely. |
| highland | elevated land such as a hill, mountain or plateau. |
| hill | elevated land with sloping side and rounded summit; generally smaller than a mountain. |
| island | land area, smaller than a continent, completely surrounded by water. |
| isthmus | narrow stretch of land connecting two larger land areas. |
| lake | a sizable inland body of water |
| latitude | distance east or west of the Equator, measured in degrees. |
| longitude | distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees. |
| lowland | land, usually level, at a low elevation. |
| map | drawing of the earth shown on a flat surface |