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Glossary of Geographic Terms
archipelago
an expanse of water with many scattered islands
bay
an inlet of the sea or other body of water that is
usually smaller than a gulf
continent
a mass of land; one of the seven great divisions of
land on the globe
delta
a low plain of soil and other sediments deposited at
the mouth of a river
desert
an arid, barren tract of land with less than
10 inches (25 cm) of rainfall a year
equator
an imaginary line drawn around the earth that is
equidistant from the two poles; the equator divides
the earth into the northern and southern
hemispheres
gulf
a part of an ocean or sea that extends into the land
island
a tract of land surrounded by water and smaller
than a continent
isthmus
a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land
areas
lake
an inland body of standing water
mountain range
a landmass that projects above its surroundings
range and is higher than a hill
ocean
one of the large bodies of water into which the
whole body of salt water covering nearly 3⁄4 of the
surface of the globe is divided
river
a natural stream of water that empties into an
ocean, lake, or other body of water
Tropic of Cancer
an imaginary parallel line that is approximately
23
1
⁄
2
degrees north of the equator, the northern-
most latitude reached by the overhead sun
Tropic of Capricorn
imaginary parallel line that is approximately
23
1
⁄
2
degrees south of the equator, the southern-
most latitude reached by the overhead sun
Notes on the Music
Your GeoSafari Talking Globe includes many different types of questions,
including musical ones. Here is information about some of the music you
will hear:
Argentina
Tango
The tango is a music and dance form that originated in Latin America.
Although it is based on the dances of a number of countries, the
Argentine people regard the tango as their national dance. This ballroom
dance has a basic pattern of step-step-pause-step-step-close. It is
characterized by long pauses and stylized body positions.
Australia
“Waltzing Matilda”
“Waltzing Matilda,” the title of Australia’s most famous song, is about a
blanket roll, not a dance or a girl. The phrase “waltzing Matilda” refers
to tramping the roads.
Canada
“O Canada!”
In 1980 this song officially replaced “God Save the Queen” as Canada’s
national anthem. It is often sung in both English and French before
national events. The music was written by C. Lavelle, the French lyrics by
A. B. Routhier, and the English lyrics by R. S. Weir.
Cuba
“Guantanamera”
The lyrics of this song were written by Jose Marti. Its title translates as
“The Lady of Guantanamo.”
United Kingdom
“London Bridge Is Falling Down”
Associated with a traditional children’s game, the song refers to a bridge
that was built across London’s Thames River. In the Great Fire of 1666
many of the bridge’s houses and shops burned down. Today there are no
houses or shops on London Bridge. Between 1968 and 1971 the bridge,
which was sold to a U.S. businessman, was reconstructed in Arizona.
London Bridge was the only link between the north and south bank of
the Thames until the completion of Westminster Bridge in 1750.
France
“La Marseillaise”
This stirring melody was written in 1792 by Rouget de Lisle, a young
royalist officer in the French army. The revolutionary forces soon took this
song for their own. After the revolution “La Marseillaise” became the
national anthem of France.
Germany
“Ach, Du Lieber Augustin”
This charming German ditty is known to children as “Did You Ever
See a Lassie?”
