Landforms vary in size and shape, as well as elevation levels. Mountains, plains, and plateaus are the main types of landforms, but there are many more.
| Landform | Definition |
|---|---|
| Canyon | A deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it |
| Cape | A point of land that extends out into the sea or a lake |
| Delta | Wetland that forms as rivers empty their water and sediment into another body of water |
| Desert | Dry land with few plants and little rainfall |
| Glacier | A large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface |
| Island | An area of land surrounded by water and smaller than a continent |
| Isthmus | A narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas |
| Mountain | A large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level; a large steep hill |
| Peninsula | A piece of land nearly surrounded by water or sticking out into the water |
| Plain | A broad area of level or rolling treeless country |
| Plateau | A broad, flat area of high land |
| Hill | Rounded height of land lower than a mountain |
| Rainforest | An often tropical woodland with a high annual rainfall and very tall evergreen trees with tops that form a continuous layer |
| Savannah | A grassland (like in eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees |
| Swamp | An area of land that is permanently saturated or filled with water |
| Valley | An area of lowland between ranges of hills or mountains |
| Volcano | A vent in the earth's crust from which melted or hot rock and steam come out |
Bodies of water are important for many reasons, including transportation of goods, travel, erosion, and vegetation.
| Body of Water | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bay | A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward |
| Gulf | A deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land, with a narrow mouth |
| Lake | A large inland body of standing water |
| Ocean | The whole body of saltwater that covers nearly three fourths of the surface of the earth |
| Pond | A body of water that is usually smaller than a lake |
| River | A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream |
| Sea | The expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses |
| Strait | A narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water |
| Stream | A small, narrow river |
| Waterfall | A fall of water usually from a great height |
