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Georgia Geography
Unit 2
Do Now
Read this question silently and thing about the
answer in your head: In which region of the
United States is Georgia located?
a.Central
b.northeastern
c. southeastern
d. western
Answer to Today’s Question
• C. Southeastern
• Today in Georgia history
• http://www.todayingeorgiahistory.org/conten
t/ty-cobb-gets-3000th-hit
Our unit’s Georgia Performance
Standards
SS8G1 The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical
features and location.
a. Locate Georgia in relation to region, nation, continent, and
hemispheres.
b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the
Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, Appalachian
Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
c. Locate and evaluate the importance of key physical features
on the development of Georgia; include the Fall Line,
Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian Mountains,
Chattahoochee and Savannah Rivers, and barrier islands.
d. Evaluate the impact of climate on Georgia’s development.
Essential Question
• Where is Georgia in terms of hemisphere,
continent, nation, and region?
Georgia Performance Standards
SS8G1 The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical
features and location.
a. Locate Georgia in relation to region, nation, continent, and
hemispheres.
LET’S LOCATE GEORGIA IN
RELATION TO REGION, NATION,
CONTINENT, AND
HEMISPHERE.
Earth is a sphere.
A sphere can be divided into two
halves called “hemispheres.”
Equator
• Divides the northern and southern
hemispheres
Prime Meridian
• Divides the eastern and western hemispheres
Continents
• There are 7 continents: Europe, Asia,
Australia, Africa, Antarctica, North America,
and South America
Georgia is on the
Northern AND Western hemispheres
Northern Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
Georgia is on the North American
continent.
Georgia is one of the 50 states in the
United States of America
Georgia is in the southeastern
region of the US.
Do Now
Read this question silently and think about the
answer in your head: What is the highest peak
in Georgia?
a. Amicalola Falls
b. Brasstown Bald
c. Cloudland Canyon
d. Tallulah Gorge
Answer to today’s question
• B – Brasstown Bald
• Today in Georgia history:
http://www.todayingeorgiahistory.org/conten
t/beatles-play-atlanta
Essential Questions
• Which North American physiographic regions
are found in Georgia and what are some
distinguishing characteristics of each?
• What is the relative location of these
physiographic regions within the boundaries
of the State?
Georgia Performance Standards
SS8G1 The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical
features and location.
b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the
Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, Appalachian Plateau,
Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
The Regions of Georgia
© 2010 Clairmont Press
Geographic Regions of Georgia
What is Physical Geography?
• Physical geography focuses on
understanding the processes and
pattern of natural environment
• http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/sto
ry/land_and_fossils
Time for “Max News”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh0B_GbZT8M
Georgia has 5 geographic regions.
• Appalachian Plateau
• Valley and Ridge
• Blue Ridge
• Piedmont
• Coastal Plain
The characteristics of each region make
unique contributions to our state.
Appalachian Plateau Region
• Also called the TAG corner
bc Tennessee, Alabama,
and Georgia connect
• Smallest region in GA
• Mining was an important
economic activity in the
region.
• Coal was the most
important product.
25
Appalachian Plateau
• the location of Cloudland State Park.
• Northwest corner of Georgia
• Ellison’s Cave is 12th largest cave
http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/geology
_of_georgia
Valley and Ridge Region
• long ridges of mountains,
separated by long valleys.
• Chickamauga – (Civil War
battle)
• Valleys have fertile land good
for farming.
• Roads and streams follow the
valleys. A few roads cross the
ridges to connect roads in the
valleys.
• traditionally a mining region,
with the valleys being used
for agriculture.
• Natural resources – farmland,
rock, and timber
27
Valley and Ridge
• Lower elevation than Appalachian Plateau
• Soil good for forests, pastures, and crops
such as grain and apples
• Industry includes textiles and carpet (Dalton is the
carpet capital of the world)
Blue Ridge Mountains Region
• The Blue Ridge range is a part of the
larger Appalachian Mountains.
• The mountains are more rugged and
the valleys randomly arranged as
compared to the Ridge and Valley
region.
• Most roads follow the winding valleys.
• Elevations of 1,600 to 4,700 feet above
sea level give the region a cooler
climate.
• Brasstown Bald (4,784 feet) is tallest
mountain.
• Appalachian Trail begins here.
• Gold has been found in the region, and
marble is an important natural
resource.
• Tourists come to hike, view wildlife,
canoe, raft, and enjoy trees in their fall
colors.
• Highest rainfall amounts in GA
29
Blue Ridge
• Highest mts. in the state.
• Provides water for the entire state through
precipitation from trapping warm moist Gulf air
• Sandy loam and clay soil good for hardwoods,
vegetable farming and apples
• home to Amicalola Falls, Tallulah Gorge, and
Helen
• 1800’s gold was found – first goldrush in US
• Cherokee Indians lived here until forced off their
land
Blue Ridge Images
Brasstown Bald: You can
see 3 states from this point.
Can you name them?
Ga. Fruits &
Vegetables
Helen, Georgia has a strong
German influence. Why do
you think that is? How does
the town of Helen contribute
to our state?
Amicalola Falls
Essential Questions
• What are the significant physical features of
Georgia that have impacted its development?
• How is the impact of these features
manifested?
Piedmont Region
• The Piedmont is known for its rolling
hills between the mountains and
Coastal Plain.
• Plentiful granite and clay soil with
fertile farms.
• Many Georgians live in the region.
• Rivers flow through the Piedmont,
including the Chattahoochee and
Savannah.
• Pine trees as well as hardwood forests
(oak, elm, maple, hickory, etc.).
• Southern boundary is the Fall Line.
• Changes in rock type cause the ground
to fall away, creating waterfalls at the
“fall” line across the state.
• Cities grew along the Fall Line since
ships could navigate from the Atlantic
to this point (Augusta: Savannah River;
Milledgeville: Oconee River; Macon:
Ocmulgee River; Columbus:
Chattahoochee River).
33
Piedmont
• Piedmont means “foot of the mountain”
• Begins in the mountain foothills of N. Georgia and
goes to the central part of the state.
• Rolling farmland
• Soil is sandy loam and red clay suitable for growing
hardwoods, pine, and agriculture.
• Granite mining and cotton production important in
region
• Cotton belt before the Civil War, now wheat,
soybeans, corn, poultry, and cattle.
• Some of the most densely populated cities and
crossed by Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and
Oconee rivers.
Piedmont
•
•
•
•
•
Largest populated region
Rolling Hills
Chattahoochee River flows through this region
Stone Mountain is located in this region
Atlanta is located in this region
Piedmont Images
Georgia’s Flint River
starts in Clayton County.
Why do you think most of
Georgia’s rivers start in the
Piedmont region?
Why do you think most of
Georgia’s major cities are
located in the Piedmont
region?
Sandy loam and
red clay are make
good soil for
agriculture.
Coastal Plain Region
• the southern half of state and is
the largest region.
• Lower coastal plain has Georgia’s
barrier islands, 100 miles of
coastline, marshes, and the
Okefenokee Swamp.
• Flatland makes for highways that
are straight and level.
• Home to many types of wildlife.
• Farming is important to the
region’s economy.
• Longleaf pines grew above acres
of wiregrass before the 1800s;
railroads made it possible to
transport large trees for lumber.
There are few of these areas left.
• Loblolly and slash pines are
grown in the region today for
lumber.
37
Coastal Plain Region
• Once covered by the Atlantic
• Aquifers are the largest
source of fresh water
• Low, flat, marshland
• Okefenokee Swamp located
in region
• Rivers in this region are used
for shipping and recreation
• You live in this region.
38
Coastal Plain
There are two parts to
Georgia’s coastal plain:
•The Inner Coastal Plain
•The Outer Coastal Plain
The Inner Coastal Plain
• Good supply of underground water
• Major agricultural region: Vidalia Onions,
peanuts, pecans, and corn
The Outer Coastal Plain
• Soil not good for agriculture but trees provide
naval stores and pulp production
• Deep harbors & barrier islands also provide for
tourism/recreation, fishing industry, and ports
for importing/exporting goods.
• Location of the earliest visits by explorers, first
forts for protection, and Georgia’s first
settlements.
Outer Coastal Plain Images
Trees are used to
produce pulp and naval
stores. The processed goods
are then shipped from our
shores.
Why do you think a British
flag flies over Fort Frederica?
Our shores continue to
bring visitors to our
state.
Early map of Savannah
western GA in the Coastal Plains
Jimmy Carter’s boyhood
Farm is located in Plains, GA
western GA in the Coastal Plains
Andersonville, a Civil War prison
western GA in the Coastal Plains
Providence Canyon
Time for “Max News”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh0B_GbZT8M
Essential Questions
• What are the significant physical features of
Georgia that have impacted its development?
• How is the impact of these features
manifested?
Georgia Performance Standards
SS8G1 The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical
features and location.
c. Locate and evaluate the importance of key physical features
on the development of Georgia; include the Fall Line,
Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian Mountains,
Chattahoochee and Savannah Rivers, and barrier islands.
Okefenokee Swamp
– Covers 681 square miles making it the largest swamp
in North America
– Freshwater wetland (wetland: low-lying land area
where water lies close to the surface)
– Native Americans from the Archaic period lived here
– Area is protected by the federal government
Okefenokee Swamp
http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/okefenokee_swamp
Another type of wetland
• Salt Marshes:
– A wetland that is influenced by tides
– Georgia ranks 4th in the nation in wetland acres
A marsh at low tide.
The same marsh at high tide.
Georgia’s Barrier Islands
“Islands of Gold”
• Barrier islands protect the mainland from wind,
sand, and water that cause erosion.
• Georgia has 18 barrier islands.
• These islands are tourist destinations but 2/3 of the
land remains wilderness sanctuaries.
Barrier Islands
• Continental Shelf:
– Where the land meets the sea
• The Fall Line:
– Natural boundary between Piedmont and Coastal
Plain
– Where hilly land meets the coastal plain
– Runs from Columbus through Macon to Augusta
– Prevented exploration but provided for settlements
Fall Line
natural boundary between the Piedmont and
Coastal Plain regions
Appalachian Mountains
• The southernmost point of the Appalachian
Mountains is located in Georgia.
• Georgia’s highest peaks are in here.
• In the southern states these mountains are
often called the Blue Ridge due to the blue
haze that appears around their peaks.
• The highest peak in Georgia is Brasstown Bald,
w/ an elevation over 4700 ft. above sea level.
Appalachian Mountains
Chattahoochee River
• begins in Blue Ridge region of GA and ends at
the Gulf of Mexico
• forms part of the border b/t Alabama and
Georgia
• Native Americans & European settlers long
used the river as a food and water source.
• Today, river is used as water source, for
industry, and for recreation
Chattahoochee River
Savannah River
• forms the border between Georgia and South
Carolina
• One of Georgia’s longest waterways
• The river has been a source of water, food,
and transportation for thousands of years.
• Historically, it was used for three reasons:
– Transportation – cultures could move to other
places easier
– Settlement – allowed cultures to settle near a
steady source of food
– Economic – allowed cultures to trade with others
• Today, the river is navigable for over 200 miles
between the city of Savannah and Augusta
• In addition to shipping, the river, today, is
used as a major source of drinking water for
Savannah and Augusta, to cool two nuclear
power plants in South Carolina, and to
generate hydroelectric power.
Savannah River
Do Now
1. What river is the primary source of water for
Atlanta?
a. Altamaha
b. Chattahoochee
c. Flint
d. Savannah
Answer to Today’s Question
• B – Chattahoochee River