The feature class terms and abbreviations used in the GNIS currently consist of nine or fewer letters and were chosen for computer search and retrieval purposes. They do not necessarily represent terminology for the identification of all kinds of cultural and natural features.  Although some of the terms may agree with dictionary definitions, they represent more generalized categories.  Use your browser's  "Find Function" (CNTL-F) to locate terms that you are looking for or click HERE for a complete list of the Feature Class Types which refers you to the "proper" category.  Use your browser's "Back Button" to return to this page. 

Below are the terms, definitions, synonyms and links to the results for each feature's existence in each of the listed counties.  Remember, some of the features do not exist in a particular county.  Your browser must be able to display tables to get the most out of these links.  If your browser does NOT support or display tables, click HERE. 

ARCHES 
definition  - natural arch-like opening in a rock mass 
also known as - bridge, natural bridge, sea arch 
 

AREAS 
definition - any one of several areally extensive natural features not included in other categories 
also known as - badlands, barren, delta, fan, garden 
 

ARROYOS 
definition - watercourse or channel through which water may occasionally flow 
also known as - coulee, draw, gully, wash 
 

BARS  
definition - natural accumulation of sand, gravel, or alluvium forming an underwater or exposed embankment 
also known as - ledge, reef, sandbar, shoal, spit 
 

BASINS  
definition - natural depression or relatively low area enclosed by higher land 
also known as - amphitheater, cirque, pit, sink 
 

BAYS 
definition - indentation of a coastline or shoreline enclosing a part of a body of water; a body of water partly surrounded by land 
also known as - arm, bight, cove, estuary, gulf, inlet, sound 
 

BEACHES 
definition - the sloping shore along a body of water that is washed by waves or tides and is usually covered by sand or gravel 
also known as - coast, shore, strand 
 

BENCHES 
definition - area of relatively level land on the flank of an elevation such as a hill, ridge, or mountain where the slope of the land rises on one side and descends on the opposite side 
also known as - level 
 

BENDS 
definition - curve in the course of a stream and (or) the land within the curve; a curve in a linear body of water 
also known as - bottom, loop, meander 
 

BRIDGES 
definition - manmade structure carrying a trail, road, or other transportation system across a body of water or depression 
also known as - causeway, overpass, trestle 
 

BUILDINGS 
definition - a manmade structure with walls and a roof for protection of people and (or) materials, but not including church, hospital, or school 
 

CANALS 
definition - manmade waterway used by water craft or for drainage, irrigation, mining, or water power 
also known as - ditch, lateral 
 

CAPES  
definition - projection of land extending into a body of water  
also known as - lea, neck, peninsula, point  
    

CAVES 
definition - natural underground passageway or chamber, or a hollowed out cavity in the side of a cliff 
also known as - cavern, grotto 
 

CEMETERIES 
definition - a place or area for burying the dead 
also known as - burial, burying ground, grave, memorial garden 
 

CHANNELS 
definition - linear deep part of a body of water through which the main volume of water flows and is frequently used as a route for water craft 
also known as - passage, reach, strait, thoroughfare, throughfare 
 

CHURCHES 
definition - building used for religious worship 
also known as - chapel, mosque, synagogue, tabernacle, temple 
 

CITIES 
see Civil Divisions and/or Populated Places 

CIVIL DIVISIONS 
definition - a political division formed for administrative purposes 
also known as - borough, county, municipio, parish, town, township 
 

CLIFFS 
definition - very steep or vertical slope 
also known as - bluff, crag, head, headland, nose, palisades, precipice, promontory, rim, rimrock 
 

CRATERS 
definition - circular-shaped depression at the summit of a volcanic cone or one on the surface of the land caused by the impact of a meteorite; a manmade depression caused by an explosion 
also known as - caldera, lua 
 

CROSSINGS 
definition - a place where two or more routes of transportation form a junction or intersection 
also known as - overpass, underpass 
 

DAMS 
definition - water barrier or embankment built across the course of a stream or into a body of water to control and (or) impound the flow of water 
also known as - breakwater, dike, jetty 
 

FALLS 
definition - perpendicular or very steep fall of water in the course of a stream 
also known as - cascade, cataract, waterfall 
 

FLATS 
definition - relative level area within a region of greater relief 
also known as - clearing, glade, playa 
 

FORESTS 
definition - bounded area of woods, forest, or grassland under the administration of a political agency (see woods) 
also known as - national forest, national grasslands, State forest 
 

GAPS 
definition - low point or opening between hills or mountains or in a ridge or mountain range 
also known as - col, notch, pass, saddle, water gap, wind gap 
 

GEYSERS 
definition - eruptive spring from which hot water and (or) steam and in some cases mud are periodically thrown 
 

GLACIERS 
definition - body or stream of ice moving outward and downslope from an area of accumulation; an area of relatively permanent snow or ice on the top or side of a mountain or mountainous area 
also known as - ice field, ice patch, snow patch 
 

GUTS 
definition - relatively small coastal waterway connecting larger bodies of water or other waterways 
also known as - creek, inlet, slough 
 

HARBORS 
definition - sheltered area of water where ships or other water craft can anchor or dock 
also known as - hono, port, roads, roadstead 
 

HOSPITALS 
definition - building where the sick or injured may receive medical or surgical attention 
also known as - infirmary 
 

ISLANDS 
definition - area of dry or relatively dry land surrounded by water or low wetland 
also known as - archipelago, atoll, cay, hammock, hummock, isla, isle, key, moku, rock 
 

ISTHMUSES 
definition - narrow section of land in a body of water connecting two larger land areas 
 

LAKES 
definition - natural body of inland water 
also known as - backwater, lac, lagoon, laguna, pond, pool, resaca, waterhole 
 

LAVA 
definition - formations resulting from the consolidation of molten rock on the surface of the Earth 
also known as - kepula, lava flow 
 

LEVEES 
definition - natural or manmade embankment flanking a stream 
also known as - bank, berm 
 

LOCALES 
definition - place at which there is or was human activity; it does not include populated places, mines, and dams 
also known as - battlefield, crossroad, camp, farm, ghost town, landing, railroad siding, ranch, ruins, site, station, windmill 
 

MILITARY (Historical) 
definition - self explanatory 
 

MINES 
definition - place or area from which commercial minerals are or were removed from the Earth; not including oilfields 
also known as - pit, quarry, shaft 
 

OILFIELDS 
definition - area where petroleum is or was removed from the Earth  
 

OTHER 
definition - category for miscellaneous named manmade entities that cannot readily be placed in the other feature classes 
 

PARKS 
definition - place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or natural resource and under some form of government administration; not including National or State forests or Reserves 
also known as - national historical landmark, national park, State park, wilderness area 
 

PILLARS 
definition - vertical, standing, often spire-shaped, natural rock formation 
also known as - chimney, monument, pinnacle, pohaku, rock tower 
 

PLAINS 
definition - a region of general uniform slope, comparatively level and of considerable extent 
also known as - grassland, highland, kula, plateau, upland 
 

POPULATED PLACES 
definition - place or area with clustered or scattered buildings and a permanent human population 
also known as - city, settlement, town, village 
 

POST OFFICES 
(Some Current, but Mostly Historical) 
definition - self explanatory 
 

RANGES 
definition - chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area 
also known as - cordillera, sierra 
 

RAPIDS 
definition - fast-flowing section of a stream, often shallow and with exposed rock or boulders 
also known as - eddy, riffle, ripple 
 

RESERVES 
definition - a tract of land set aside for a specific use; does not include forests, civil divisions nor parks 
 

RESERVOIRS 
definition - artificially impounded body of water 
also known as - lake, pond, tank 
 

RIDGES 
definition - elevation with a narrow, elongated crest which can be part of a hill or mountain 
also known as - crest, cuesta, escarpment, hogback, lae, rim, spur 
 

SCHOOLS 
definition - building or group of buildings used as an institution for study, teaching, and learning 
also known as - academy, college, high school, university 
 

SEAS 
definition - large body of salt water 
also known as - gulf, ocean 
 

SLOPES 
definition - a gently inclined part of the Earth's surface 
also known as - grade, pitch 
 

SPRINGS 
definition - place where underground water flows naturally to the surface of the Earth 
also known as - seep 
 

STREAMS 
definition - linear body of water flowing on the Earth's surface 
also known as - anabranch, awawa, bayou, branch, brook, creek, distributary, fork, kill, pup, rio, river, run, slough 
 

SUMMITS 
definition - prominent elevation rising above the surrounding level of the Earth's surface; does not include pillars, ridges, or ranges 
also known as - ahu, berg, bald, butte, cerro, colina, cone, cumbre, dome, head, hill, horn, knob, knoll, mauna, mesa, mesita, mound, mount, mountain, peak, puu, rock, sugarloaf, table, volcano 
 

SWAMPS 
definition - poorly drained wetland, fresh or saltwater, wooded or grassy, possibly covered with open water 
also known as - bog, cienega, marais, marsh, pocosin 
 

TRAILS 
definition - route for passage from one point to another; does not include roads or highways 
also known as - jeep trail, path, ski trail 
 

TOWERS 
definition - a manmade structure, higher than its diameter, generally used for observation, storage, or electronic transmission 
 

TUNNELS 
definition - linear underground passageway open at both ends  
 

VALLEYS 
definition - linear depression in the Earth's surface that generally slopes from one end to the other 
also known as - barranca, canyon, chasm, cove, draw, glen, gorge, gulch, gulf, gully, hollow, ravine 
 

WELLS 
definition - manmade shaft or hole in the Earth's surface used to obtain fluid or gaseous materials  
 

WOODS 
definition - small area covered with a dense growth of trees; does not include an area of trees under the administration of a political agency (see forests)