What is it you want to know about geography--how the seacoasts were formed? What makes up a "region"? The meaning of a "hanging valley"? From "aa," the Hawaiian name for a type of solidified lava, to "zonal soil," this practical dictionary contains over 15,000 entries, more than 50 line drawings and maps, and extensive surveys of physical, environmental, and human geography. It takes into account all the latest developments in the field, so you may be surprised at the range of information that's covered. Not only does it include numerous facts about land masses, bodies of water, and the atmosphere, but also definitions of "gentrification," "nomads," "privatization," and "zero population growth," A simple, cross-referencing system carefully guides readers from one related entry to another and the language is just right for young students who want to understand more about the world around them.