Most travelers probably know the difference between longitude and latitude, but do you understand the distinction between a tarn and a maar? Or how an oxbow lake forms? If you’re ready to move beyond the basics, here are nine geography terms you’ve probably never heard before — and where to find them.
Skerry
The term skerry is derived from the word sker in the old Norse language, which translates to “rock in the sea.” Skerries are uninhabited, rocky islands that are often grouped into clusters and are sometimes referred to as “low sea stacks.” Most often found in the Northern Hemisphere, skerries are particularly common in Europe’s more northern latitudes. Well-known examples include the Minina Skierries in Russia and Dubh Artach in the United Kingdom. Norway is home to the most concentrated number of skerries in the world, with more than 80,000 littering the coastline.
Tarn
A tarn is a small mountain lake that was formed by a glacier. The geographical term evolved from the old Norse term tjorn, which refers to a small mountain lake with no tributaries. Formed in hollow ground left behind by a melted glacier, tarns are often surrounded by steep slopes that create a natural amphitheater. Tarns can be found throughout the mountainous regions of the world, with North Wales being particularly famous for its glacial tarns. Visitors to this part of the world will be treated to many crystal clear tarns surrounded by stunning views.
Bocage
A bocage is a mix of woodland and pasture found in rural landscapes. A prominent feature of the French countryside, bocages became more widespread during the 1700s when land previously owned by nobility was divided amongst ordinary people. Since woodland could naturally demarcate one’s property, the term became useful in describing a “lush, enclosed landscape.” This sort of geographical feature is most common in rural parts of western France, but can also be found in England, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
Polynya
A polynya is a Russian term that refers to an open body of water that is completely surrounded by ice. Most often, polynyas are found in either the Arctic Ocean or the Southern Ocean, although they can also form in lakes and rivers. Typically rectangular or circular in shape, polynyas are classified into two different forms: a coastal polynya and an open-ocean polynya. A coastal polynya occurs when winds force the ice away from the coastline, while an open-ocean polynya occurs after a crack in the ice exposes the water below.
Oxbow
Also called an oxbow lake, an oxbow is formed when a river meanders through flat, low-lying plains. In some areas, the river finds a more direct course by creating a shortcut at a bend. The circular bend then becomes an oxbow lake, as concave banks eventually stop the flow of water. As a result, what was once a river turns into a curving, narrow lake. Oxbows are especially common in South America along the Amazon River and are known to provide an ideal habitat for wildlife, such as river otters who can find plenty of fish in the calm currents of the freshwater lake.
Calanque
Specific to the Mediterranean Sea, a calanque refers to a narrow inlet surrounded by steep limestone cliffs. Calanques are relatively young from a geological standpoint, having begun to form when the region’s coastal valleys were flooded in 11,000 BCE. (By comparison, the coastal valleys in the Mediterranean date back 5.5 million years.) One of the most popular spots to see a calanque in person is on the coast of France. The Massif des Calanques stretches from Marseille for over 20 miles to Cassis and boasts dramatic calanques with limestone cliffs that soar nearly 2,000 feet high.
Moraine
Moraine is material that has been moved and deposited by a glacier. Similar to how a river can carry rocks, sand, and silt in its current, a glacier can also transport debris as it moves. There are several different types of moraines, each of which results in different land formations. An end moraine forms when a glacier deposits all of its debris at its terminus. A lateral moraine is deposited on the sides of a glacier, forming a valley. A medial moraine sits on top of a glacier, leaving behind ridgelines. Lastly, a supraglacial moraine also forms on the surface of the glacier, but the debris is evenly distributed after the glacier melts.
Cenote
Pronounced “seh-no-tay,” a cenote is a cave that contains a sinkhole of deep water that is fed from a current of subterranean rivers and rainwater. Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is famous for its abundance of cenotes, part of the region’s vast cave system. The term comes from the ancient Mayans, who called these sinkholes dz’onot, which translates to “cavern with water.” Cenotes were traditionally used by Mayans as a water source and as a site for rituals. Archeologists have found human and animal bones at the bottom of some cenotes, in addition to treasures such as jade, gold, and pottery.
Maar
A maar is formed after hot magma comes into contact with shallow groundwater, producing a violent explosion above ground. The explosion results in a circular, hollow depression that fills with groundwater to form a shallow pond or lake. Parts of Alaska are known for their substantial maars, especially in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve on the Seward Peninsula. The preserve contains the four largest maars in the world, including North Killeak Maar, which is estimated to be over 50,000 years old, and Whitefish Maar, which is between 100,000 and 200,000 years old.