This document provides definitions and descriptions of various geographic landforms and features. It instructs students to write the name and definition of each landform in their booklet, and sketch what each landform looks like. Landforms defined and described include archipelagos, basins, bays, canyons, capes, deltas, deserts, glaciers, gulfs, isthmuses, mesas, mountains, mountain ranges, oases, peninsulas, plateaus, river sources and mouths, seas, straits, tributaries, and volcanoes.

1. Archipelago
This is Hawaii. It is an archipelago.
Write “Hawaii” down in the space
that says “Place(s) we visited on
Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box under
the word archipelago, write down
what you see. What does an
archipelago look like?

2. Archipelago
Here is the official definition of
archipelago. Write it down in your
booklet where it says “Archipelago”
A GROUP OF ISLANDS
In the large space under archipelago,
make a quick sketch of what an
archipelago looks like.
You will be able to add color later.

3. Basin
This is the Amazon. It is a basin.
Write “Amazon” down in the space
that says “Place(s) we visited on
Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box under
the word basin, write down what
you see. What does a basin look
like?

4. Basin
Here is the official definition of basin.
Write it down in your booklet where
it says “basin”
An area of land drained by a river
and its branches.
In the large space under basin, make
a quick sketch of what a basin looks
like.
You will be able to add color later.

5. Bay
This is the Bay of Biscay
Write “Bay of Biscay” down in the
space that says “Place(s) we visited
on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box under
the word bay, write down what
you see. What does a bay look
like?

6. Bay
Here is the official definition of bay.
Write it down in your booklet where
it says “bay”
Part of a large body of water that
extends into a shoreline, smaller
than a gulf.
In the large space under bay, make a
quick sketch of what a bay looks like.
You will be able to add color later.

7. Canyon
This is the Grand Canyon
Write “Grand Canyon” down in
the space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word canyon, write
down what you see. What does
a bay look like?

8. Canyon
Here is the official definition
of canyon. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“canyon”
Deep and narrow valley with
steep walls
In the large space under
canyon, make a quick sketch
of what a canyon looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

9. Cape
This is the Cape of Good Hope
Write “Cape of Good Hope” in
the space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word cape, write
down what you see. What does
a cape look like?

10. Cape
Here is the official definition
of cape. Write it down in your
booklet where it says “cape”
Point of land that extends
into a river, lake or ocean
In the large space under
cape, make a quick sketch of
what a cape looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

11. Delta
This is the Nile River delta
Write “Nile River” in the space
that says “Place(s) we visited on
Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word delta, write
down what you see. What does
a delta look like?

12. Delta
Here is the official definition
of delta. Write it down in your
booklet where it says “delta”
Flat, low-lying land built up
from soil carried
downstream by a river and
deposited at its mouth
In the large space under
delta, make a quick sketch of
what a delta looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

13. Desert
This is the Sahara Desert
Write “Sahara Desert” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word desert, write
down what you see. What does
a desert look like?

14. Desert
Here is the official definition
of desert. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“desert”
A dry, often sandy region of
little rainfall, extreme
temperatures, and sparse
vegetation
In the large space under
desert, make a quick sketch of
what a desert looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

15. Glacier
This is the Elephant Foot Glacier
in Greenland.
Write “Elephant Foot Glacier,
Greenland” in the space that
says “Place(s) we visited on
Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word glacier, write
down what you see. What does
a glacier look like?

16. Glacier
Here is the official definition
of glacier. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“glacier”
A large, thick body of slowly
moving ice.
In the large space under
glacier, make a quick sketch of
what a glacier looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

17. Gulf
This is the Persian Gulf.
Write “Persian Gulf” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word gulf, write
down what you see. What does
a gulf look like?

18. Gulf
Here is the official definition
of gulf. Write it down in your
booklet where it says “gulf”
Part of a large body of water
that extends into a shoreline,
generally larger and more
deeply indented than a bay.
In the large space under gulf,
make a quick sketch of what a
gulf looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

19. Isthmus
This is the isthmus in
Madison, Wisconsin.
Write “Madison, Wisconsin” in
the space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word isthmus write
down what you see. What does
an isthmus look like?

20. Isthmus
Here is the official definition
of isthmus. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“isthmus”
Narrow stretch of land
connecting two larger land
areas.
In the large space under
isthmus, make a quick sketch
of what an isthmus looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

21. Mesa
This is the Black Mesa in
Arizona.
Write “Black Mesa, Arizona” in
the space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word mesa write
down what you see. What does
a mesa look like?

22. Mesa
Here is the official definition
of mesa. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“mesa”
Broad, flat-topped landform
with steep side; smaller than
a plateau.
In the large space under
mesa, make a quick sketch of
what a mesa looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

23. Mountain
This is Mount Everest.
Write “Mount Everest” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word mountain write
down what you see. What does
a mountain look like?

24. Mountain
Here is the official definition
of mountain. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“mountain”
Land with steep sides that
rises sharply from
surrounding land; generally
larger and more rugged than
a hill.
In the large space under
mountain, make a quick
sketch of what a mountain
looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

25. Mountain Range
These are the Teton Mountains
in Wyoming.
Write “Teton Mountains” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word mountain
range write down what you see.
What does a mountain range
look like?

26. Mountain Range
Here is the official definition
of mountain range. Write it
down in your booklet where
it says “mountain rage”
A series of connected
mountains
In the large space under
mountain range, make a quick
sketch of what a mountain
range looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

27. Oasis
This is the Ubari Lake Oasis in
Libya
Write “Ubari Lake, Libya” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word oasis write
down what you see. What does
an oasis look like?

28. Oasis
Here is the official definition
of oasis. Write it down in your
booklet where it says “oasis”
A fertile or green spot in a
desert or wasteland, made so
by the presence of water.
In the large space under
oasis, make a quick sketch of
what an oasis looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

29. Peninsula
This is Florida
Write “Florida” in the space
that says “Place(s) we visited on
Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word peninsula write
down what you see. What does
an peninsula look like?

30. Peninsula
Here is the official definition
of peninsula. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“peninsula”
Body of land jutting into a
lake or ocean, surrounded on
three sides by water.
In the large space under
peninsula, make a quick
sketch of what a peninsula
looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

31. Plateau
This is the Columbia Plateau
Write “Columbia Plateau” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word plateau write
down what you see. What does
a plateau look like?

32. Plateau
Here is the official definition
of plateau. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“plateau”
Area of flat or rolling land at
a high elevation
In the large space under
plateau, make a quick sketch
of what a plateau looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

33. River Source
This is the Mississippi River in
northern Minnesota.
Write “Mississippi River” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word river source
write down what you see. What
does a river source look like?

34. River Source
Here is the official definition
of a river source. Write it
down in your booklet where
it says “river source”
Point where a river begins
In the large space under river
source, make a quick sketch
of what a river source looks
like.
You will be able to add color
later.

35. River Mouth
This is the Mississippi River in
Venice, Louisiana.
Write “Mississippi River” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word river mouth
write down what you see. What
does a river mouth look like?

36. River Mouth
Here is the official definition
of a river mouth. Write it
down in your booklet where
it says “river mouth”
Point where a river flows into
another river, lake, or ocean.
In the large space under river
mouth, make a quick sketch
of what a river mouth looks
like.
You will be able to add color
later.

37. Sea
This is the Mediterranean Sea.
Write “Mediterranean Sea” in
the space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word sea write down
what you see. What does a sea
look like?

38. Sea
Here is the official definition
of a sea. Write it down in your
booklet where it says “sea”
Large body of water
completely or partly
surrounded by land.
In the large space under sea,
make a quick sketch of what a
sea looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

39. Strait
This is the Strait of Gibraltar.
Write “Strait of Gibraltar” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word strait write
down what you see. What does
a strait look like?

40. Strait
Here is the official definition
of a strait. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“strait”
Narrow stretch of water
joining two larger bodies of
water
In the large space under
strait, make a quick sketch of
what a strait looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

41. Tributary
This is the Pucon river in Chile
with one of its tributaries in the
foreground.
Write “Pucon River” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word tributary write
down what you see. What does
a tributary look like?

42. Tributary
Here is the official definition
of a tributary. Write it down
in your booklet where it says
“tributary”
A small river or stream that
flows into a larger river or
stream
In the large space under
tributary, make a quick sketch
of what a tributary looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.

43. Volcano
This is the Arenal volcano in
Costa Rica
Write “Arenal volcano” in the
space that says “Place(s) we
visited on Google Earth.”
In the Visual Description box
under the word volcano write
down what you see. What does
a volcano look like?

44. Volcano
Here is the official definition
of a volcano. Write it down in
your booklet where it says
“volcano”
A mountain created as liquid
rock and ash erupt from
inside the earth
In the large space under
volcano, make a quick sketch
of what a volcano looks like.
You will be able to add color
later.