Lesson 2 (Characteristics of Earth)

• Continents

  Large land masses which are risen from the ocean
• Continental Shelf 


  A narrow sea strip which stretches towards the continental boundry
• Continental Slope


  The edge of the continental shelf which slopes towards the Ocean
• Island


  Small land masses which are covered by water/ sea water
• Oceans


  Large water bodies with slaty water
• Sea


  Salty water bodies which are enclosed by land
• Seas completely surrounded by land: 


  Caspian sea

  Aral sea
• Seas partly enclosed by land: 


  Red Sea

  Black sea

  Japan sea
• Seas with oceans:


  Arabian sea

  China sea
• Mountain Ranges


  Landform features with high elevations and a variety of slopes and peaks
• Example for mountain ranges

  Himalayas

  Rockies

  Andes
• Platues


  High flat lands located in mountain areas
• Plateaus 


  Tibetian Plateaus

  Pamir Plateaus

  Deccan Plateaus
• Plateaus in sri lanka

  Welimada

  Koslanda

  Mahaweletenna
• Plains


  Flat land areas in low elevation
• Examples for plains


  Australian Nullbar plain

  North American plain
• Rivers 


  Natural water bodies flowing throught a year along a clear cut valley into an ocean, sea
• Lakes


  A depression or a crater located on land which is filled with fresh water
• Largest lake in world?


  Lake superior
• Lake located in a higher elevation?


  Lake Titicaca
• Climate


  The average condition of the atmosphere that prevails for a long period of time
• How to determine climate?


  Temperature

  Means of rainfall

  Rainfall duration
• Main climatic zones 


  Temperate zone

  Frigid zone

  Tropical zone