Natural Landscapes Vocabulary

Terrain-related

• grassland

  An area of land where the main plants are grasses rather than trees.

• savanna

  A hot, open grassland with only a few scattered trees. It is found in tropical regions (like Africa or South America).

• steppe

  A large, dry, flat area of land covered in short grass. It does not have enough rain for trees to grow, and it is usually found in cold regions.

• tundra

  A flat, frozen land with no trees. It is located in the far North, around the Arctic Circle.

• prairie

  A large, flat area of land covered in tall grasses and wildflowers. It has very few trees and is usually found in the middle of a continent where the climate has hot summers and cold winters.

• meadow

  An open field of grass and wildflowers. Unlike a massive prairie, a meadow is usually found near a forest or a stream.

• plateau

  A large area of high land that is flat on top. It is like a mountain with the top cut off.

• peninsula

  A piece of land that is almost completely surrounded by water, but it is still connected to the main land by a narrow strip.

• riverbank

  The land along the edge of a river.

• archipelago

  A group or a chain of many islands clustered together in a body of water, usually the ocean.

Natural Features

• mountain range

  A long row or a group of mountains that are connected together.

• foothills

  The low, rolling hills located at the bottom (the "foot") of a mountain range.

• peak

  The very top or the highest point of a mountain. Also called the “summit.”

• summit

  The very top or the highest point of a mountain. Also called the “peak.”

• alpine

  Used to describe high mountains.

• ridge

  A long area of land that is on top of a mountain.

• canyon

  A deep, narrow valley with very steep, rocky sides. It is created by the flow of water over millions of years.

• ravine

  A small, deep valley with steep sides. It is usually created by a stream or running water.

• crater

  A large, deep hole in the ground. It is usually found at the top of a volcano or in the ground where a meteorite crashed.

• dune

  A large hill of sand that has been piled up by the wind.

• glacier

  A massive, thick body of ice that moves very slowly over the land.

• iceberg

  A massive piece of ice that has broken off from a glacier that floats in the sea or ocean.

• cavern

  A large type of cave, sometimes connected into a series of rooms.

• stalagmite

  A rock formation that grows upward from the floor of a cave.

• stalactite

  A rock formation that grows downward from the ceiling of a cave.

Forest-related

• rainforest

  A dense, green forest that stays warm and wet all year long.

• tropical forest

  A forest that grows near the Equator.

• conifer

  Trees with needles instead of leaves that produce cones. Like pine, spruce and fir.

• coniferous forest

  A type of forest dominated by conifers, like pines, spruce or fir.

• taiga

  A cold forest dominated by conifers, situated in the Arctic regions.

• canopy

  The upper layer of a forest formed by interlocking branches.

• undergrowth

  The mix of small plants, bushes, and young trees that grow on the forest floor, underneath the tall trees.

Coastal & water landscapes

• coastline

  The line where the land meets the ocean or a sea.

• bay

  A body of water that is partly surrounded by land. It is shaped like the letter “C.” It is smaller than a gulf.

• gulf

  A very large area of the ocean that is almost completely surrounded by land. It is larger than a bay.

• fjord

  A long, narrow arm of the sea that reaches deep into the land. It is surrounded by high cliffs.

• estuary

  A partially enclosed body of water, where a freshwater river meets the salty ocean.

• delta

  A low, flat area of land shaped like a triangle that forms at the mouth of a river.

• inlet

  Small arm of the sea or lake extending into the land.

• lagoon

  A shallow body of saltwater that is separated from the deeper, open ocean by a narrow landform, such as a coral reef, a sandbar or a barrier island.

• reef

  A ridge or a "wall" of rock, coral or sand that sits just below or right at the surface of the water.

• coral reef

  An underwater structure built by millions of tiny living animals called "coral polyps."

• mangrove

  A type of tree or shrub that grows in saltwater along tropical coasts.

• trench

  A deep, narrow, and long depression (like a giant "crack") on the floor of the ocean.

Freshwater & wetlands

• underground river

  A body of flowing water that runs completely beneath the Earth's surface, usually through a network of caverns or caves.

• spring

  A natural source of water flowing from the ground or out of a rock.

• hot spring

  A natural source of hot water.

• cascade

  A type of waterfall where the water flows down a series of rocky "steps" or stages.

• rapids

  The sections of a river where the water moves very fast and becomes turbulent.

• creek

  Small, narrow stream of fresh water. It is larger than a tiny "brook" but smaller and shallower than a river.

• brook

  A very small, natural stream of fresh water. It is the smallest type of "river.”

• oasis

  A fertile, green area in the middle of a desert where there is a source of fresh water.

• wetland

  An area of land where the soil is covered by shallow water or is completely soaked with water.

• bog

  A type of wetland characterized by vegetation, like living and decaying moss.

• marsh

  A type of wetland characterized by vegetation, like grasses, reeds and sedges, rather than trees.

• mirage

  A trick of light creating an optical illusion.

• photosynthesis

  The process plants use to convert sunlight into food energy.

• aurora borealis

  Colourful light display in the Earth's sky. Also called “Northern Lights.”

• Northern Lights

  Colourful light display in the Earth's sky. Also called “aurora borealis.”

• halo

  A ring of light that forms around the Sun or the Moon.

• growth

  The natural process where a living thing increases in size or develops more complex structures over time.

• decomposition

  The natural process of dead plants and animals breaking down into much smaller pieces of organic matter.

• weathering

  The natural process that breaks rocks down into smaller and smaller pieces (like pebbles, sand, and mud).

• water cycle

  The process of water going through precipitation, collection, condensation and evaporation in a continuous cycle.

• precipitation

  Water cycle step where water falls from the sky in the form of rain, snow hail or sleet.

• collection

  Water cycle step where water is collected in bodies of water on the ground or soaked into the ground after precipitation.

• evaporation

  Water cycle step where liquid water heated by the sun turns into water vapour and rises up into the sky.

• condensation

  Water cycle step where water vapour cools down and changes back into liquid water droplets and forms clouds.

• landslide

  The movement of a large mass of earth, rocks or other material.

• to shine

  To give off or reflect light; to be bright.

• to form

  To be created or developed over time through natural processes.

• to spread

  To cover a surface gradually.

• to stretch

  To extend over a larger area.

• to surround

  To encircle.

• to bloom

  To produce flowers or to open into a flower.

• to wither

  To become dry and shrivelled; to lose freshness or vitality.

• to drain

  To cause water or another liquid to run off or flow away from an area.

• to overflow

  To flow over the edge of a body of water, leading to flooding.

• to erode

  To gradually wear away through the action of wind, water or ice.

• to carve

  To cut into or shape natural formations through erosion.

• wild

  Refers to an area that is rugged, unmanaged and governed by the laws of nature.

• green

  A very rich, thick and healthy landscape.

• rural

  Relating to the countryside rather than the town or city.

• vast

  Very great in size.

• scenic

  Impressive or beautiful natural views.

• panoramic

  A wide-reaching view of an entire surrounding area.

• breathtaking

  So magnificent, beautiful or astonishing that it takes your breath away.

• picturesque

  Visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way; resembling a picture or a painting.

• pristine

  That has no pollution, no trash, no buildings, and no signs of human interference.

• peaceful

  Free from disturbance; quiet; like still water, a slow breeze or the soft lighting at dusk or dawn.

• calm

  Pleasant and free from large waves or high winds.

• turbulent

  Water or air moving in a chaotic way, like rapids, stormy skies or crashing waves.

• harsh

  With extreme physical conditions; difficult to live in.

• remote

  Distant and difficult to access.

• fresh

  It has a crisp quality that can be felt, tasted or smelled. Like fresh mountain air, freshwater or freshly grown plant life.

• lush

  Abundant, thick vegetation growing richly.

• rugged

  Ground with a rocky, broken and uneven surface.

• fertile

  Capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops. The opposite of “barren.”

• barren

  Producing little to no vegetation due to poor conditions. The opposite of “fertile.”

• arid

  Having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support much vegetation.

• dense

  Thick, compact (vegetation, forest, undergrowth) or difficult to see through (fog, smoke, mist).

• towering

  Extremely tall, especially in comparison to the surroundings.