Comprehensive Geography Glossary: Terms and Definitions
Geography Glossary
A
Altitude
The vertical distance of a point on the ground to sea level.
Archipelago
A group of nearby islands that have emerged from similar causes, such as tectonic or volcanic activity.
C
Caldera
The top of a volcano, often a large, basin-shaped depression formed after an eruption.
Canyon
A deep, narrow valley with steep sides, often carved by a river over millions of years.
Cape
A narrow piece of land that extends from the mainland or an island into the sea.
Cartography
The science and art of creating maps.
Contours
Lines on a map connecting points of equal elevation above sea level.
D
Delta
A triangular-shaped landform at the mouth of a river where it enters a larger body of water, formed by the deposition of sediment.
Dune
A hill of sand shaped by the wind, commonly found in deserts and coastal areas.
E
Endorheic Basin
A closed drainage basin where water does not flow to the sea but instead evaporates or collects in lakes or wetlands.
Estuary
The lower course of a river where it meets the sea, characterized by a mix of freshwater and saltwater.
Equator
An imaginary circle around the Earth that is equidistant from the North and South Poles, dividing the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Equinox
The two days of the year when day and night are approximately equal in length, occurring around March 20th (vernal equinox) and September 22nd (autumnal equinox).
Erosion
The process of wearing away and transporting rock and soil by natural agents such as water, wind, or ice.
F
Fault
A fracture or zone of fractures in the Earth’s crust where rocks have moved past each other.
G
Geomorphology
The scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them.
Gulf
A large inlet of the sea that extends into the landmass, typically larger than a bay.
H
Hemisphere
Half of the Earth, usually divided into Northern/Southern or Eastern/Western Hemispheres.
Hydrography
The study and description of water bodies, including oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers.
I
Ibón
A small mountain lake of glacial origin, typically found in the Pyrenees.
K
Karst
A type of landscape formed over soluble rocks, such as limestone, characterized by sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage systems.
L
Latitude
The angular distance, measured in degrees, north or south of the Equator.
Lithology
The study of the physical characteristics of rocks, including their mineral composition, texture, and structure.
Longitude
The angular distance, measured in degrees, east or west of the Prime Meridian (Greenwich Meridian).
M
Meridian
An imaginary line on the Earth’s surface that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, connecting points of equal longitude.
Mountain
A large, elevated landform that rises steeply from the surrounding area, typically higher than a hill.
O
Orogeny
The process of mountain building, typically caused by the collision of tectonic plates.
P
Parallel
An imaginary circle on the Earth’s surface that runs parallel to the Equator, connecting points of equal latitude.
Plateau
A large, elevated area of flat land.
Projection
A systematic method of transferring the curved surface of the Earth onto a flat map.
R
Region
An area of land that shares common characteristics, such as physical geography, climate, culture, or history.
Ría
A drowned river valley that has been flooded by the sea, often forming a long, narrow inlet.
Rotation
The spinning of the Earth on its axis, which takes approximately 24 hours to complete one full rotation.
S
Scale
The ratio between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground.
Sedimentary Basin
A large depression in the Earth’s crust where sediments accumulate over time.
Solstice
The two days of the year when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marking the longest and shortest days of the year. The summer solstice occurs around June 21st, and the winter solstice occurs around December 21st.
T
Terraces
Flat or gently sloping platforms that step up a slope, often formed by erosion or deposition along rivers.
Tombolo
A sandbar or spit that connects an island to the mainland or to another island.
Tropic of Cancer
The circle of latitude located at 23.5 degrees north of the Equator.
Tropic of Capricorn
The circle of latitude located at 23.5 degrees south of the Equator.
Translation
The movement of the Earth in orbit around the Sun, which takes approximately 365.25 days to complete one full orbit.
U
Ultramar
: the other side of the sea. Window: the place where it empties waters.