What forces shape the

Earth?

Internal forces• Internal forces

– Core-center of the earth– Mantle-surrounds the

core and has several layers

– Magma-molten rock which forms in the mantle

– Crust-thin layer of rock at the earth’s surface.

Bodies of Water • Oceans and Seas

–One large ocean but geographers divide it into four main parts: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean (Largest), the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean

Bodies of Water (cont)• Lakes, rivers, and

streams• Ground water

–Water that is held by the soil, and some flows into the pores of rock below soil

Landforms• Landforms are naturally

formed features on the surface of the earth.

• Oceanic landforms– The floor of the ocean has

ridges, valleys, canyons, and plains just like the earth’s surface.

Types of Maps• Physical maps-help you see the

types of landforms and bodies of water found in a specific area. On a physical map color, shading, or contour lines are used to indicate elevation or altitude.

• Political maps-show features on the earth’s surface that humans created. Cities, states, territories, or countries are examples of a political map.

• Topography maps-shows the landforms with their vertical dimensions and their relationship to other landforms.

Vocabulary • Plateau-a large flatland

with one steep side and little relief

• Mesa-land formation less extensive than a plateau but has steep walls and a relatively flat top.

• Plateau and Mesa mean almost the same thing

Vocabulary continued • Isthmus-a narrow piece

of land that connects two landmasses

• Island-a tract of land completely surrounded by water, and not large enough to be called a continent

Vocabulary• Volcano-An opening in

the earth's crust through which molten lava, ash, and gases are ejected.

• Flood plain-the flat area bordering a river, composed of sediment deposited during flooding

Vocabulary• River mouth• Peninsula-a narrow strip

of land projecting into a sea or lake from the mainland

• Steppe-an extensive grassy plain usually without trees

Vocabulary • Butte-A steep-sided hill

with a flat top, often standing alone in an otherwise flat area. A butte is smaller than a mesa.

• Prairie-a treeless grassy plain of the central US and S Canada

Vocabulary• Delta-the flat alluvial

area at the mouth of some rivers where the mainstream splits up into several distributaries ex. Mississippi Delta

• Plateau-a wide mainly level area of elevated land

Vocabulary• Cliff-a high, steep, or

overhanging face of rock• Oasis-a fertile patch in a

desert occurring where the water table approaches or reaches the ground surface

• Cataract-a large waterfall or rapids

Vocabulary• Marsh-An area of soft,

wet, low-lying land, characterized by grassy vegetation and often forming a transition zone between water and land.

Vocabulary• Harbor-A sheltered part

of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships. Protects from wind, waves, and currents

Vocabulary• Sea Level-the level of

the surface of the sea with respect to the land, taken to be the mean level between high and low tide, and used as a standard base for measuring heights and depths