LandForms

Landforms are the features that make up earth’s surface. They can be as big as Oceans, or as small as ponds! A formation of dirt and rock on the Earth’s surface is called a Landform.

Archipelago: A group of islands together is called an Archipelago. It can range from a few to thousands of Islands. As volcanoes erupt under water, they start to form land above the water which is what we call an island. As the volcanoes shift or a group of volcanoes erupt over years, they start to form a group of islands that we can call an archipelago.

Bay : A Bay landform is a body of water that is partially surrounded by land. You may think of it as a large lake opened to a bigger body of water such as an ocean. A bay has a much smaller opening than a gulf. Oceans have created many bays through erosion of land and deposits to the land. The Ice Age formed a lot of the bays we have today too.

Cove: A cove is small, horseshoe-shaped body of water along the coast; the water is surrounded by land formed of soft rock. E.g. Fisherman’s Cove.

Gulf: A gulf landform is the sea or ocean that reaches into land. When looking from outer space, it looks like the arm of ocean has extended into the land.

A gulf is formed naturally throughout time, either by erosion of land or through crustal movements of Earth.

Strait: Strait is a a narrow waterway connecting two larger bodies of water. There is land on two sides of a strait.

Isthmus: isthmus is a narrow strip of land with water on both sides connecting two larger pieces of land. An isthmus will have water on two sides.

Peninsula: is a part of land surrounded by water on 3 sides.

Channel: A channel is a body of water that connects two larger bodies of water (like the English Channel). A channel is also a part of a river or harbor that is deep enough to let ships sail through.

Geyser: Geysers are natural springs of water and steam, that occasionally come out of earth’s surface. Some Geysers erupt with amazing regularity.

Swamp: an area of land that is always soaked with water; low, wet land that supports grass and trees. A Marsh can not support trees, but a swamp can.

Fjord: Fjord is a narrow inlet of the sea between high banks or cliffs. Fjords are created by glaciers.

Cape: Cape is a curved or a hooked piece of land that extends into a body of water.

Lagoon: laggon is a shallow body of water. It is located near a sea or an ocean.

Valley: valleys are low lands located between high hills or mountains.

Prairie: A prairie is a wide, relatively flat area of land that has grasses and only a few trees. Prairies consist of large plain areas and tall grasses.

Waterfall: When a river water makes a sharp drop, usually over a cliff, it is called as a waterfall. A cascade of waterfalls is called a Cataract.

Cliff: Cliffs are almost vertical formations made of rock and soil. It is rather high and has a very steep slope.

Butte/Mesa: A mesa is a land formation with a flat area on top and steep walls - usually occurring in dry areas. A butte is a flat-topped rock or hill formation with steep sides. Mesa are bigger than Buttes.

Plateau :Plateau is a flat highland area with one steep face. It also boasts of elevated plain.

Canyon: Two steep cliffs with a valley running between them. There is often a river that runs through the two. A canyon has to be formed through erosion.