Natural Environment: English Vocabulary List

a steep, high slope or cliff formed by erosion

"The escarpment dropped sharply to the valley below."

"The steep escarpment rose dramatically from the flat plain creating a natural barrier for travelers."

a narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water, often linking two seas or an inlet with a larger expanse of water

"The ship passed through the narrow strait."

"The narrow strait connects two larger bodies of water and is a busy shipping route for cargo vessels."

a large mass of ice that forms over long periods of time, especially in polar regions or high mountains

"The glacier slowly moves down the mountain."

"Scientists measured how fast the glacier is melting due to rising global temperatures."

an expansive flat land covered in grass, scattered with trees, and found in tropical or subtropical areas

"Lions live on the African savannah."

"We drove across the vast savannah and saw elephants, giraffes, and lions roaming freely through the tall golden grass."

one of the imaginary lines between the North Pole and the South Pole, drawn on maps to help pinpoint a location

"The prime meridian goes through Greenwich."

"A meridian is a line of longitude circling the Earth from pole to pole"

the arrangement and physical features of a surface, including its natural and man-made elements

"The topography of the area includes steep hills"

"Before building the road, engineers studied the topography of the surrounding mountains carefully."

a circular coral reef with a lagoon in the middle

"An atoll is a ring-shaped coral island around a calm blue lagoon."

"We swam in the crystal-clear lagoon inside the atoll during our tropical vacation."

a narrow, shallow watercourse, often flowing through a confined natural channel

"The children played by the shallow creek"

"After the heavy rain, the creek behind our house overflowed and flooded the garden."

a watercourse that flows into a larger river or body of water

"This is a small tributary river."

"A tributary is a freshwater stream or river that feeds a larger river or lake"

a hill with steep, flat sides and a flat top, often found in desert areas

"The butte stood alone on the plain."

"The lone butte rose dramatically from the desert floor, its flat top standing out against the clear blue sky."

a steep, deep, and narrow sea inlet surrounded by tall cliffs, created by a glacier

"The fjord has steep cliffs on both sides."

"The cruise ship slowly entered the breathtaking fjord, surrounded by towering cliffs and crystal-clear water on both sides."

a natural hot spring that periodically erupts with a column of boiling water and steam due to underground volcanic activity

"The geyser shoots hot water into the sky."

"A geyser is a hot spring that periodically erupts"

a narrow piece of land with water on each side that connects two larger areas

"The isthmus connects two larger land areas."

"An isthmus is a narrow neck of land bordered by water on both sides"

a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water, often by a barrier island, coral reef, or sandbar

"The lagoon was calm and shallow."

"A lagoon is a shallow body of water isolated from a larger sea by a barrier"

a steep cliff or edge of a rock face, often with a significant drop

"The car stopped at the precipice edge."

"A precipice is a very steep or overhanging cliff face"

a small, rounded hill or mound, often found in a grassy or wooded area

"A small grassy knoll provided a nice view of the whole countryside."

"The old oak tree stood alone on a gentle knoll overlooking the peaceful valley below."

an area of land, particularly in reference to its physical or natural features

"The rocky terrain was difficult to cross."

"Terrain refers to the physical features and surface characteristics of a tract of land"

a large rock, usually one that has been shaped by natural forces such as water or ice

"A huge boulder blocked the road after the storm last night."

"A huge boulder fell onto the road during the storm and blocked traffic for several hours."

a large waterfall where water rushes forcefully over a height

"The cataract waterfall was very loud."

"We stood in awe before the massive cataract as thousands of gallons of water crashed down every single second."

a beach or shoreline covered with small, smooth, rounded stones or pebbles, typically found along coasts or riverbanks

"The beach was covered in shingle."

"Shingle is a beach covered with small, smooth, rounded stones."

a large, pointed piece of land that extends into a sea, ocean, or other large body of water

"The ship sailed around the cape."

"We decided to sail our boat around the rocky cape to reach the secluded cove."