<P> Biomes represent large areas of ecologically similar communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms . Biomes are defined based on factors such as plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, savanna), and climate . Unlike ecozones, biomes are not defined by genetic, taxonomic, or historical similarities . Biomes are often identified with particular patterns of ecological succession and climax vegetation . </P> <P> A landform comprises a geomorphological unit and is largely defined by its surface form and location in the landscape, as part of the terrain, and as such is typically an element of topography . Landforms are categorized by features such as elevation, slope, orientation, stratification, rock exposure, and soil type . They include berms, mounds, hills, cliffs, valleys, rivers, and numerous other elements . Oceans and continents are the highest - order landforms . </P> <P> A body of water is any significant accumulation of water, usually covering the Earth . The term "body of water" most often refers to oceans, seas, and lakes, but it may also include smaller pools of water such as ponds, creeks or wetlands . Rivers, streams, canals, and other geographical features where water moves from one place to another are not always considered bodies of water, but they are included as geographical formations featuring water . </P> <P> A settlement is a permanent or temporary community in which people live . Settlements range in size from a small number of dwellings grouped together to the largest of cities with surrounding urbanized areas . Other landscape features such as roads, enclosures, field systems, boundary banks and ditches, ponds, parks and woods, mills, manor houses, moats, and churches may be considered part of a settlement . </P>

What describes physical features on earth that form political divisions