What encompasses the surface of the earth and all permanently attached natural features?

The surface of the earth and all permanently attached natural features are encompassed by the term "land." This definition refers specifically to the physical land itself, which includes not only the ground but also any natural formations attached to it, such as trees, rivers, and mountains.

This distinguishes land from real estate and other terms. While real estate includes land and any buildings or structures on it, land strictly pertains to the natural or raw earth without any human-made improvements. Legal title refers to the ownership rights associated with the land and real estate, while an asset is a broader financial term that can refer to any valuable resource owned by an individual or entity, not necessarily tied to land or property. In the context of the question, "land" is the most precise and accurate choice to describe the surface of the earth and its natural features.