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Countries & Governments

Country Basics

Country: A nation with its own government and borders
Nation: A large group of people with shared history, culture, or language
Border: The line that separates one country from another
Capital: The city where a country's government is located
Flag: The official symbol of a country, usually a colored cloth with a design
Anthem: The official song of a country
Independence: When a country governs itself without control from others
Official language: The language used by the government and for official purposes

Geography Words

Continent: A large land mass (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, Antarctica)
Island: Land completely surrounded by water
Peninsula: Land mostly surrounded by water but connected to a larger land mass
Coast: The land next to the sea or ocean
Mountain: Very high land that rises steeply
Valley: Low land between mountains or hills
Desert: A very dry area with little rain and few plants
Forest: A large area covered with trees and plants
River: A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel
Lake: A large area of water surrounded by land