Geographic Features of Geographic Features of the Worldthe World

A Historical look into how A Historical look into how Geography influences life and Geography influences life and

exploration.exploration.

Bay Bay • An area of water An area of water

bordered on three bordered on three sides by land.sides by land.

• Ancient Explorers Ancient Explorers used bays as used bays as loading and loading and unloading places unloading places because of their because of their calm waters.calm waters.

DeltaDelta• A landform where A landform where

the mouth of a the mouth of a river flows into an river flows into an ocean, sea, desert, ocean, sea, desert, or lake.or lake.

• Great tool for Great tool for navigating an navigating an unknown land.unknown land.

IslandIsland• Any piece of land Any piece of land

that is completely that is completely surrounded by surrounded by water, above high water, above high tide. tide.

• Places of rest on a Places of rest on a journey and journey and provided calmer provided calmer seas around them.seas around them.

LakeLake• A body of water on A body of water on

a body of land.a body of land.• Source of fresh Source of fresh

water and water and habitation.habitation.

MountainsMountains• A A mountainmountain is a is a

landform that landform that extends above the extends above the surrounding terrain surrounding terrain in a limited area. in a limited area.

• Barrier of Barrier of exploration.exploration.– Hard to cross Hard to cross

SavannahSavannah• Savannas are Savannas are

characterized by characterized by grasslands grasslands surrounded by surrounded by trees,trees,

• Grazing animals Grazing animals provide a source of provide a source of food for travelers.food for travelers.

MesaMesa• is an elevated area is an elevated area

of land with a flat of land with a flat top and sides that top and sides that are usually steep are usually steep cliffs.cliffs.

• Good for surveying Good for surveying the land. the land.

StraitStrait• A strait is a narrow A strait is a narrow

channel of water channel of water that connects two that connects two larger bodies of larger bodies of water, and thus lies water, and thus lies between two land between two land masses. masses.

• Calm waters for Calm waters for explorers.explorers.

SwampSwamp• A swamp is a A swamp is a

wetland that wetland that features temporary features temporary or permanent pools or permanent pools of rain waterof rain water

• Can be dangerous.Can be dangerous.

ValleyValley• In geology, a In geology, a

valleyvalley is a land is a land between two between two mountains.mountains.

• Cut by a river or Cut by a river or glacier.glacier.

• River valleys River valleys provided avenues provided avenues of travel.of travel.

CapesCapes• Land that is Land that is

surrounded by surrounded by water on three water on three sides. sides.

• Rough watersRough waters

RiversRivers• A A riverriver is a natural is a natural

waterway, which waterway, which moves water across moves water across the landscape from the landscape from higher to lower higher to lower elevations.elevations.

• Provided travelers Provided travelers and traders with a and traders with a highway. for travel.highway. for travel.