30
bluff
a steep hill or cliff
overlooking a river
channel
the shape formed
by the banks and bed of
a river
confluence
a meeting
of two rivers
contaminate
to spoil,
damage, or poison
course
the route followed
by a river
delta
an area of marshy
land where a river flows
out to sea
discrimination
unfair
treatment
divert
to steer or channel
away from
dredger
a boat used to
scoop sediment from the
bed of a river
fertile
good for growing
floodplain
the area
affected by a river’s
floodwaters
fume
harmful gas
or vapor
glacier
a slow-moving
mass of ice
gorge
a steep, rocky
river valley
habitat
the natural home
of a plant or animal
harvest
to gather or
collect a crop
haven
a safe place
hazard
a danger
or obstacle
hurricane
a violent
tropical storm
hydroelectric
energy generated by
flowing water
immigrant
a person who
moves to another country
to start a new life
irrigating
piping or
pumping water to a field
levee
a sloping wall
or bank built to prevent
flooding
livestock
farm animals
such as cows or sheep
lumber
felled trees
mammal
an animal
that gives milk to feed
its young
migrate
to move from one
place to another
pioneer
someone who
sets out to make a
new life in unknown or
dangerous territory
prairie
flat or gently
rolling grassland found in
North America
raccoon
furry mammal
found in North America
refineries
places where oil
is processed
reservation
an area of
land that is set aside for
Native Americans
reservoir
an artificial lake
in which water is stored
saturated
full of water
sediment
broken-down
rocks and stones carried
downstream by a river
settler
a person who
builds a home in new
surroundings (see also
pioneer
)
silt
fine sediment carried
downstream by a river
slave
a person who is
owned by another
and forced to work
without pay
source
the place where
a river begins
stern wheel
the rotating
paddle attached to the
back of a boat
talon
the sharp claws of a
bird or animal
tepee
a traditional Native
American tent
trek
a long or difficult
overland journey
tributary
a stream or river
that flows into another,
larger stream or river
waterwheel
a wooden
wheel turned by a stream
or river
wharf
(
pl
.
wharves
)
a place beside a river
where goods are
unloaded
Glossary
