Geographic Regions of Georgia - PowerPoint

							          Geographic Regions of Georgia




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.
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.
SS8E1 The student will give examples of the kinds of goods and services produced in Georgia in
different historical periods.
                  Warm-Up
Compare and Contrast these pictures. What do
  these pictures tell you about the different
  physiogeographic regions of Georgia?
Terms to Know:
•   Physiogeographic
•   Region
•   Precipitation
•   Wetland
•   Barrier Island
•   Continental Shelf
•   Fall Line
Georgia has 5 physiogeographic regions.

• Appalachian Plateau
• Ridge and Valley
• Blue Ridge
• Piedmont
• Coastal Plain
The characteristics of each region make
  unique contributions to our state.
          Appalachian Plateau
  aka: Cumberland Plateau/ TAG corner
• Our smallest physiogeographic region
• From Lookout Mt. to Sand Mt. with ridges of
  limestone & a long narrow valley in between
• Soil of limestone, shale & sandstone = hardwoods
  and pastureland
• Our only significant coal deposits.
               Ridge and Valley
• Lower elevation than Appalachian Plateau
• Low open valleys and narrow ridges
• Soil good for forests, pastures, and crops such as
  grain and apples (Ellijay)
• Industry includes textiles and carpet (Dalton is the
  carpet capital of the world)
                  Blue Ridge
• Highest mts. in the state including Brasstown
  Bald- Georgia’s highest point.
• 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
• Beginning of Appalachian Trail, home to Amicalola
  Falls, Tallulah Gorge, and Helen
• See it while you can. Erosion continues to wear
  down the height of the mountains.
                     Blue Ridge Images



Brasstown Bald: You can
see 3 states from this point.                         Amicalola Falls
Can you name them?




                       Helen, Georgia has a strong
                       German influence. Why do
                       you think that is? How does
                       the town of Helen contribute
   Ga. Fruits &        to our state?
   Vegetables
  Piedmont: “Foot of the mountain”
• Begins in the mountain foothills of N. Georgia and
  goes to the central part of the state.
• You live in the Piedmont region.
• Granite based foundation (What’s our largest granite
  outcropping?)
• Soil is sandy loam and red clay suitable for growing
  hardwoods, pine, and agriculture.
• Cotton belt before the Civil War, now wheat,
  soybeans, corn, poultry, and cattle.
• Some of the most densely populated cities are
  crossed by Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and
  Oconee rivers.
                       Piedmont Images


Georgia’s Flint River
starts in Clayton County.                           Why do you think most of
                                                    Georgia’s major cities are
                                                    located in the Piedmont
                                                    region?




                                Sandy loam and
Why do you think most of        red clay are make
Georgia’s rivers start in the   good soil for
Piedmont region?                agriculture.
Coastal Plain
        There are two parts to
        Georgia’s coastal plain:
        •The Inner Coastal Plain
        •The Outer Coastal Plain

        Which color do you
        think represents the
        Inner Coastal Plain and
        which color represents
        the Outer Coastal Plain?
        Why?
        The Inner Coastal Plain
• Good supply of underground water
• Major agricultural region: Vidalia Onions,
  peanuts, pecans, and corn
• Why do you think President Jimmy Carter was
  known as “The Peanut Farmer from Georgia”
  during his campaign?
          The Outer Coastal Plain
• Soil not good for agriculture but trees provide
  naval stores and pulp production
• Deep harbors and 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



                                            Why do you think a British
Trees are used to                           flag flies over Fort Frederica?
produce pulp and naval
stores. The processed goods
are then shipped from our
shores.



                              Our shores continue to
                              bring visitors to our
                              state.                    Early map of Savannah
 Other Important Coastal Plain Features
• 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)
          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.
  Other Georgia Geographic Features
• Continental Shelf:
  – Where the land meets the sea


• The Fall Line:
  – Where hilly land meets the coastal plain
  – Runs from Columbus through Macon to Augusta
  – Prevented exploration but provided for settlements