Archived: Early Childhood: Where Learning Begins Geography

peak

The highest point of a mountain.  It is difficult to climb to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado

because it is so high.

peninsula

A piece of land extending into the sea almost surrounded by water.  Florida and Italy are

peninsulas.

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physical feature

A land shape formed by nature.  Deserts, mountains, and plateaus are physical features of

Arizona.

plain

A large area of land, either level or gently rolling, usually at low elevation with very few trees.

plateau (or tableland)

An elevated area of mostly level land, sometimes containing deep canyons. From the top of the

plateau you can see for miles around.

population

The number of people who live in a place.  The population of China is over two billion.

prime meridian

An imaginary line running from north to south through Greenwich, England, used to measure

longitude. The prime meridian is at zero degrees longitude.