Glossary

Simple explanations of geography and history words that appear on our Postal History and Stamp Safari pages. Click a term to see a related stamp image when available.

Geography and History Terms: A – D
Term Definition
Altitude How high a place is above sea level. Example: Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is 5,895 metres high.
Archipelago A group of islands close together. Example: The Comoros Islands.
Arid Very dry, with little or no rainfall. Example: The Sahara Desert.
Basin A low area where rivers or rainwater collect. Example: The Congo Basin.
Bay A curved part of coast where the sea meets the land. Example: False Bay in South Africa.
Border An invisible line separating one country or region from another. Example: The border between Kenya and Tanzania.
Cape A high point of land that extends into a body of water. Example: The Cape of Good Hope.
Cliff A steep rock face, often along coasts or mountains. Example: The Wild Coast cliffs in South Africa.
Climate The typical weather of a place over many years. Example: The Sahel has a hot, dry climate.
Coastline The land along the edge of the sea or ocean. Example: Mozambique has a very long coastline.
Colony A country or area ruled by another country. Example: Kenya was once a British colony.
Commonwealth A group of countries that were once part of the British Empire and now cooperate as friends and equals.
Coral Reef A ridge in the sea made of coral skeletons, home to many sea creatures. Example: Reefs near Mauritius and the Seychelles.
Delta Flat land at a river’s mouth where it meets the sea. It forms from sand and silt. Example: The Nile Delta.
Depression A low area of land below the surrounding terrain, sometimes a dried lake bed. Example: The Bodélé Depression.
Desert A dry, sandy or rocky region with little rainfall. Example: The Sahara Desert.
Dominion A largely self-governing nation within the former British Empire. Example: Australia and Canada.
Dune A hill of sand shaped by the wind. Example: The Namib Desert dunes.
Geography and History Terms: E – M
Term Definition
Empire A large group of countries or territories ruled by one power. Example: The British Empire.
Estuary Where a river meets the sea and saltwater mixes with freshwater. Example: The Rufiji River estuary.
Federation A union of states or regions under one national government. Example: Nigeria became a federation in 1954.
Forest A large area covered mainly by trees. Example: The Miombo woodlands of Zambia.
Gorge A deep, narrow valley with steep sides, often formed by a river. Example: Batoka Gorge below Victoria Falls.
Grassland A large open area covered mainly by grasses, with very few trees. Example: Ethiopia’s highlands support many grazing animals.
Highlands Raised land such as hills, mountains, or plateaus. Example: The Ethiopian Highlands.
Inland An area away from the sea or coast. Example: Zambia is inland.
Island A piece of land completely surrounded by water. Example: Madagascar.
Kingdom A country ruled by a king or queen. Example: The Kingdom of Eswatini.
Lagoon A shallow body of water separated from the sea by sand or coral. Example: Blue Lagoon near Mauritius.
Landlocked A country surrounded by land with no direct access to the sea. Example: Chad.
Mandate A territory governed by another country after World War I under the League of Nations. Example: Tanganyika.
Mangrove Swamp Coastal wetlands filled with mangrove trees that grow in salty water. Example: Senegal’s mangrove forests.
Mountain Range A chain of connected mountains. Example: The Drakensberg and the Tibesti (volcanic).
Geography and History Terms: N – S
Term Definition
Oasis A fertile area in a desert where water and plants are found. Example: The Siwa Oasis.
Peninsula Land almost surrounded by water but still attached to the mainland. Example: The Somali Peninsula.
Plateau A large, flat area of high ground. Example: The Jos Plateau.
Protectorate A region that keeps local rulers but is controlled and protected by a stronger country. Example: Zanzibar.
Rainforest A dense forest with high rainfall and many species. Example: Gabon and the Congo Basin.
Republic A country where people choose their leaders instead of having a king or queen. Example: Ghana since 1960.
Rift Valley A long, deep valley formed by movement of the Earth’s crust. Example: The Great Rift Valley.
River Natural flowing water that runs from high ground to the sea or a lake. Example: The Nile River.
Rock Plateau A flat, elevated area made mostly of rock, often in deserts. Example: The Ennedi Plateau.
Savanna A tropical grassland with scattered trees and wet and dry seasons. Example: The Serengeti.
Soda Lake A lake that contains high levels of sodium carbonate and other alkaline salts. These lakes form in closed basins where water evaporates, leaving behind mineral deposits. They are often home to algae, brine shrimp, and flamingos. Because the water is very alkaline and salty, people do not swim in soda lakes, as it can irritate the skin and eyes and the crust around the edges can be unsafe to walk on. Example: the Soda Lake in the Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya.
Geography and History Terms: T – Z
Term Definition
Territory A region that belongs to a country but is not fully independent. Example: The Northern Territory on Australian stamps.
Valley A low area between hills or mountains, often with a river. Example: The Zambezi Valley.
Volcano A mountain that can erupt with lava and ash. Example: Mount Nyiragongo in the DRC.
Wetlands Land that is often covered with shallow water, such as marshes or swamps. Example: The Okavango Delta.