Glossary O

Oasis
A fertile place in the desert where there is water and some vegetation.

Ocean
A large body of salt water that surrounds a continent. Oceans cover more than two-thirds of the Earth's surface.

Orienteering
Using a map and compass in the field to determine your route of travel.

Oxbow Lake
An oxbow lake is a stagnant lake that is formed alongside a winding river when the river changes path because of soil erosion, leaving an abandoned stream channel, cut off from the rest of the river.