Unit 2: Relief

Geography Unit 2: Key Words and Definitions

1. Crust is the outer layer of the Earth and consists of the continents, the sea and the ocean floors.

2. Mantle is the middle layer of the Earth and consists of rocks in semi-solid state called magma.

3. Core is the innermost part of the Earth and is composed of two parts, inner core and outer core.

4. Relief refers to the horizontal and vertical dimensions of land surface, also known as terrain. 

5. Glacier is a large body of ice formed from snow falling, accumulating over the years and moving very slowly.

6.  Plain is a flat area of land with few landforms.

7. Plateau is a flat terrain that is elevated above the surrounding area.

8. Valley is a low area between two high areas, smaller than a depression, usually with a river running through it.

9. Cape is a large area of the coast that extends into the sea.

10. Cliff is a vertical wall at the edge of the land.

11. Beach is an accumulation of sand and gravel on low areas of the coast.

12. Volcano is a landform created by an eruption of materials from the deepest parts of the Earth’s crust and the mantle.

13. Earthquake is a sudden movement of the Earth’s crust produced by a release of energy from the Earth’s interior in the form of seismic waves.