TERMINOLOGY 125 



Palisade A picturesque, extended rock cliff rising steeply from the mar- 

 gin of a stream or lake; a line of bold cliffs, especially one 

 showing basaltic columns. (Usually pi.) 



Pass A gap, defile, or other relatively low break in a mountain range 



through which a road or trail may pass; an opening in a 

 ridge forming a passageway. A narrow, connecting channel 

 between two bodies of water. 



Peak (D-S) A pointed mountain summit; the topmost point; summit; a 



seamount rising more than 500 fathoms from the sea floor 

 and having a pointed or rounded top. 



Peninsula A body of land jutting into and nearly surrounded by water, 



frequently (but not necessarily) connected to a larger body 

 of land by a neck or isthmus. 



Pier {6-9) A structure built out into the water, usually with its greatest 



dimension at right angles to the shore, forming a landing 

 place or a place alongside which vessels can lie. 



Pinnacle A tall, slender, spire-topped tower, hence any formation sug- 

 gesting such shape, as a pinnacle rock projecting from a level 

 or more gently sloping sea floor. 



Plain A region of uniform general slope, comparatively level, of con- 

 siderable extent, and not broken by marked elevations and 

 depressions (it may be an extensive valley floor or a plateau 

 summit) ; an extent of level or nearly level land ; a flat, gently 

 sloping or nearly level region of the sea floor. 



Plateau "An elevated plain, tableland, or flat-topped region of consider- 

 able extent; a comparatively flat-topped elevation of the sea 

 floor greater than 60 nautical mUes across the summit and 

 normally rising more than 100 fathoms on all sides. 



Pocosin A swamp; a dismal. (Southern U.S.) 



Point The extreme end of a cape, or the outer end of any land area 



protruding into the water (less prominent than a cape). 



Pond A small fresh-water lake. 



Pool A water hole or small pond; a small body of standing water 



a small and rather deep body of (usually) fresh water, as 

 one in a stream. 



Prairie A treeless and grassy plain; an extensive tract of grassland; a 



low, sandy, grassy tract in the Florida pine woods. 



Precipice The brink or edge of a high and very steep cliff; an abrupt 



declivity. 



Promontory A high cape with bold termination ; a headland. 



Prong A fork of a drain. Local in southern Appalachian Mountains. 



Province A region composed of a group of similar bathymetric features 



whose characteristics are markedly in contrast with surround- 

 ing areas. 



Race A swift current; a constricted channel through which such 



current flows. 



Rapid {C-19) A part in a stream where an increase in its gradient accelerates 



the velocity of the current over that in its adjoining parts. 

 (UsuaUy pi.) 



