Unit C

Chapter Two

Forces That Shape the Land


landform a shape or feature on Earth’s surface
mountain

a place on Earth’s surface that is much higher than the land around it

valley a lowland area between higher lands, such as mountains
canyon a deep valley with very steep sides
plain a flat area on Earth’s surface
plateau
a flat area higher than the land around it
barrier island a thin island near a coast
weathering the way rocks are broken down into smaller pieces
erosion movement of weathered rocks
glacier huge sheet of ice that slowly moves downhill
earthquake shaking of Earth’s surface by moving of the crust or mantle
volcano opening in Earth’s surface from which lava flows
flood large amount of water that covers normally dry land