Geographical feature

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Natural geographical features[edit]


Main article: Ecosystem


Conceptual definition of the ecosystem, from Odum is: "Any unit that includes all of the organisms (the 'community') in a given area the physical environment so that a flow of energy leads to clearly defined trophic structure,[1] biotic diversity,[2] and material cycles (i.e.: exchange of materials between living and nonliving parts) within the system is an ecosystem."[3] Living organisms are continually engaged in a set of relationships with every other element constituting the environment in which they exist, and "ecosystem" describes any situation where there is relationship between organisms and their environment.

Conceptual definition of the ecosystem, from Botkin and Keller: A biome is a kind of ecosystem, such as a desert, a tropical rain forest, or a grassland.[4] They are classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment.[5] It is a geographically defined area of ecologically similar communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, often referred to as ecosystems. Biomes are defined based on factors such as plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, savanna), and climate. Unlike ecozones, biomes are not defined by genetic, taxonomic, or historical similarities. Biomes are often identified with particular patterns of ecological succession and climax vegetation.


Main article: Landform


A body of water is any significant accumulation of water, usually covering the Earth. The term body of water most often refers to large accumulations of water, such as oceans, seas, and lakes, but it may also include smaller pools of water such as ponds, puddles or wetlands. rivers, streams, canals, and other geographical features where water moves from one place to another are not always considered bodies of water, but are included here as geographical formations featuring water.

Artificial geographical features[edit]


Main article: Human settlement

A settlement [6] is a permanent or temporary community in which people live. Settlements range in size from a small number of dwellings grouped together to the largest of cities with surrounding urbanized areas. The Medieval Settlement Research Group (a British organisation)[7] includes as part of a settlement, associated features such as roads, enclosures, field systems, boundary banks and ditches, ponds, parks and woods, mills, manor houses, moats, and churches.

Engineered constructs[edit]

See also: Infrastructure


Cartographic features[edit]

Main articles: Cartography and Map

Cartographic features are types of abstract geographical feature – they appear on maps but not on the planet itself, even though they are located on the planet. For example, the Equator is shown on maps, but it does not physically exist on Earth; it is a theoretical line used for reference, navigation, and measurement.

See also[edit]


  1. ^
  2. ^
  3. ^ Odum EP (1234534971) of ecology, third edition Saunders New York
  4. ^ Botkin, D. and E. Keller. 1995. Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Canada.
  5. ^
  6. ^
  7. ^ MSRG