Georgia Studies

1. Georgia Studies Unit 2: Geography of Georgia Lesson 2: Regions and Physical Features modified by Ms. Bray, Huntington Middle School

2. Lesson 1: Where in the World is Georgia? ESSENTIAL QUESTION What region, nation, continent, and hemispheres is Georgia located in? What impact has climate had on Georgia’s development?

3. REGION and NATION

4. Continent and Hemispheres

5. Lesson 2: Regions and Features • ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS • What are the geographic regions of GA? • What are the key physical features of Georgia? • How have they impacted Georgia’s growth and economic development?

6. GA’s Physiographic Regions • Georgia is divided into 5 Physiographic Regions: Blue Ridge, Appalachian Plateau,Valley and Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain. • KEY IDEA • Each of these regions differs from each other in location, size, population, climate, resources, and their impact on Georgia’s development and economy.

9. The Blue Ridge Region • Northeastern part of state • Contains state’s highest and largest group of mountains • Brasstown Bald, Georgia highest mountain (4,786 feet above sea level) is located here • Mountains provide much precipitation (water) for the state • Sandy loam and clay soils • Hardwood forests, vegetable farming, and apples

10. Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are noted for their bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere,thereby contributing to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their distinctive color.

11. The Valley and Ridge Region • Between Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Plateau • Low open valleys parallel to narrow ridges • Elevations ranges from 700 to 1600 feet above sea level • Forests and pastures dominate the region • Limestone and clay soils in the valley • Shale and sandstone on the ridges

12. Valley and Ridge Region These mountains are characterized by long, even ridges, with long, continuous valleys in between. The ridge and valley system presents an important obstacle to east-west land travel even with today's technology and was a nearly insurmountable barrier to railroads crossing the range .

13. The Appalachian Plateau Region • Georgia’s smallest physiographic region • Located in the Northwestern part of the state. • Many limestone caves, deep canyons, rock formations • Cumberland Plateau (Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain separated by limestone ridges) • Limestone, shale, and sandstone soils

14. The Appalachian Plateau Region The Appalachian Plateau Region has the appearance of a mountain range; however, technically it is an eroded plain of sedimentary rock, not mountains. Below is a picture of Cloudland Canyon (r) and a view from Lookout Moutian (l) , which are both part of the Appalachian Plateau.

15. The Piedmont Region • Begins in mountain foothills and goes to state’s central part • Contains many of the large cities of Georgia (Atlanta, Marietta, Athens, etc.) and most of the state’s population. • Gently sloping hills in north, flatlands in the south • Hardwood timber, pine, and agriculture • Red clay and granite base • Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Oconee rivers

16. Piedmont Region Piedmont roughly translates in French as “foot” (pied) “hills” (mont), referring to low, rolling foothills.

17. The Coastal Plain Region • Largest region, three-fifths of state (60%) • Inner Coastal Plain: Mild climate, good underground water supply, state’s major agriculture region • Outer Coastal Plain (southwest corner): rich soil for peanuts, pecans, corn, and pulp production • Low-lying freshwater wetlands (including the Okefenokee Swamp) are located in the southern portion of the state.

18. Coastal Plain Region Georgia's coastal plain is a low flat region of sandy, well drained, gently rolling hills and poorly drained flatlands.

19. Key Physical Features • Fall Line • Okefenokee Swamp • Appalachain Mountains • Blue Ridge Mountains (part of Appalachian Mountain chain) • Chattoochee River • Savannah River • Monadnock (inselberg) (Stone Mountain) • Barrier Islands (also gold Golden Islands)

20. The Fall Line • Located where the hilly or mountainous lands of the Piedmont region meet the coastal plain region. • Runs from Columbus (west) through Macon to Augusta (east) • Many waterfalls caused by water from the hills cutting channels into the softer soil of the plains • Fall Line waterfalls provide power source for several Georgia communities $

21. Fall Line The boundary between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain is the Fall Line. It's called the Fall Line because the first falls or rapids in rivers that one encounters as one comes inland from the ocean are usally found at this boundary, as the streams drop off the Piedmont and onto the Coastal Plain.

22. The Okefenokee Swamp • Named for the Seminole Indian word which means “land of the trembling Earth” • Largest swamp in North America (681 square miles) • Freshwater (not salt water) wetland • Located south of Waycross • Home to more than 400 species of animals $ • Water lies close to the surface • President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge which protected land and stopped logging companies from cutting down the large, old trees. $

23. Okefenokee Swamp The Okefenokee is the largest peat-based "blackwater" swamp in North America, and one of the largest in the world.

24. The Appalachian Mountains • Very large mountain range which runs over 1,500 miles from eastern Canada to central Alabama. Located in top west corner of Georgia • The southernmost part of the Appalachian Mountain chain is called the Blue Ridge Mountains located in northeastern corner of GA. • Close to 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains extend into north Georgia. • These mountains form the first barrier to warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. The cool mountain air causes the moisture in the air to condense and fall to the earth as precipitation (rain, snow, etc.). This precipitation forms the basis of many of Georgia’s rivers. $

25. Appalachian Mountains • The Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America.

26. Blue Ridge Mountains • BRM are a part of the Appalachian Mountain Range. • The southernmost part of the Appalachian Mountain chain is called the Blue Ridge Mountains. • Are located in northeastern corner of Georgia. • Highest point in Georgia (Brasstown Bald) is located in Blue Ridge Mountains.

27. Blue Ridge Mountains • Throughout North Georgia, many Blue Ridge Mountains exceed 4,000 ft. in height and Brasstown Bald has the highest elevation in Georgia at 4,784 ft. $

28. Chattahoochee River • Begins in the Blue Ridge Region and flows southwest toward Alabama and into the Gulf of Mexico. • The river is a fast moving creek north of the Fall Line and can not be used for boat travel most of the year. The river flattens out and slows down south of the Fall Line and can be used for transportation. $ • After World War I the Chattahoochee’s fast moving water was used to create hydroelectric power through dams. $ • Provides most of the drinking and recreational water for the metropolitan Atlanta area. $

29. Chattahoochee River • Flows through or along the borders of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. • Dams at different points along the Chattahoochee River help maintain river water levels and provide hydroelectric power. • Has been in legal debate between these three states over water use because it impacts the economies of all 3 states. • The Chattahoochee River is in dark blue below.

30. Savannah River • Natural boundary between Georgia and South Carolina. • Begins at Lake Hartwell and flows southwest toward the city of Savannah before emptying in the Atlantic Ocean. • Also used as a source for hydroelectric power. $ • Provides most of the drinking water for Augusta and Savannah. $

31. Savannah River • The Savannah River was influential in the economic development of Georgia, and two major cities, Savannah and Augusta. were founded on the river in the 18th century. • Its seaport to the Atlantic Ocean still plays a major role in Georgia’s economic development. $

32. Monadnock (inselberg)Stone Mountain • The granite that composes Stone Moutain extends underground 9 miles. • Stone Mountain, located in DeKalb County about ten miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, is the largest exposed mass of granite in the world but is NOT the world’s largest “rock monadnock.” • Quarrying was another business that benefited from railroads in the nineteenth century. Stone Mountain granite was desirable for use as building stone because of its pinkish color. $ • The granitic batholiths (masses of igneous rock below the earth's surface) of Elberton, Stone Mountain, Ben Hill, and Palmetto occur within the Piedmont. • Large granite deposits of Georgia makes quarrying a major industry that attracts customers world-wide. $

33. Monadnock (inselberg) (Stone Mountain) • A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. • It means “smooth mountain” or “isolated mountain”. • The Piedmont and Coastal regions are rich in raw (natural) resources that help build Georgia’s economical development.

34. Barrier Islands • Also known as the Golden Isles (Spanish explorers called the islands “Islands of Gold). • Form a barrier between Georgia’s mainland coast and the Atlantic Ocean. • Helps to protect Georgia’s mainland coast form strong winds, waves and ocean currents. • Important to the state’s tourism. $ Many people visit the beaches and resorts • Jekyll, Sea Island, St. Simons, and Tybee Islands are all connected to the mainland by bridges but others can be reached by boats. • Other industries on the barrier islands include paper production and fishing. $

35. Barrier Isands The islands provide a natural protective layer for Georgia’s main land from the harsh winds, tides, and storms that come from the Atlantic Ocean.

36. Georgia’s Climate • Georgia’s climate has a huge impact on GA’s development (economy). • Milder temperaturesmean longer growing seasons for agriculture. GA grows peaches, peanuts, watermelon, pecans, tobacco and many more crops. • Mountain regionsattract hikers, skiers, & campers. • Coastal regionattracts toursim, provides seaport for exporting and importing goods, provides fishing, and water transportation. • Textile industry: Georgia’ cotton crops and pine trees support the textile industry in producing: carpet, paper, and building lumber. • Outside corporations have moved their headquarters to GA because their employees prefer GA’s milder winters.