Feb 182010
 

The Spanish language is at least as rich as English when describing landscapes. Common Spanish geographical terms relating to landscape include:

  • cerro = hill
  • montaña = mountain
  • sierra = elongated mountain range
  • mesa = flat-topped (table) hill
  • cumbre = summit or peak
  • pico = sharp peak
  • valle = valley
  • barranca = canyon
  • cenote = limestone sinkhole
  • cabo = point or cape
  • punta = point or headland
  • arroyo = brook
  • río = river
  • lago = lake
  • salto, cascada = waterfall
  • ojo (de agua) = spring
  • presa = reservoir (and dam)
  • mar = sea
  • salinas = salt flats or salt works
  • golfo = gulf
  • bahía = bay
  • puerto = port (inland, puerto = pass)

[Extract from chapter 1 of Geo-Mexico: the geography and dynamics of modern Mexico]

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