GSE SS8G1 : Georgia History : Geographic Understanding : Study Notes

REGION IN U.S.
● South
● East
o Southeast

NATION (Country)
● U.S.

CONTINENT
● North America

HEMISPHERES
● 2 hemispheres
o Northern
o Western

BORDERED BY 5 STATES
● Florida (FL)
● South Carolina (SC)
● Tennessee (TN)
● North Carolina (NC)
● Alabama (AL)

5 REGIONS OF GA
● Blue Ridge
● Valley and Ridge
● Appalachian Plateau
● Piedmont
● Coastal Plain

BLUE RIDGE
● Located in Northeast GA
● Appalachian Mountains – Largest in GA
● Highest Point – Brasstown Bald
● Starting point for most of GA rivers
● Most precipitation
● Dahlonega – first gold rush
● Past primary industry – mining
● Today – tourism
● Recreational opportunities
● Amicalola Falls and Tallulah Gorge

RIDGE AND VALLEY

 GSE SS8G1 : Georgia History : Geographic Understanding : Study Notes

● Dalton – carpet capital of world

● Major transportation b/t GA and TN

APPALACHIAN PLATEAU
● Location: Smallest region; Northwest Georgia bordering Alabama and Tennessee
● Industry: Limited agriculture due to poor soil; Coal mining was
● Poor soil
● Agriculture is limited
● Coal mining was important economic activity
● Lookout Mountain
● Sand Mountain

PIEDMONT
● “foot of the mountains”
● Red clay hills
● Most populated
● Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macon
● Manufacturing, Agriculture, Poultry
● Large amounts of granite
● Mining granite is important
● Elbert is “granite capital of world”

COASTAL PLAIN
● Largest region
● Peaches, peanuts, cotton, Vidalia onions are important
● Ga oldest city – Savannah
● Largest Physiographic region
● Best place for agriculture
● Mild climate
● Good water supply
● Many pine trees (Pine Barrens)
● Tourism, shipping, seafood

FALL LINE
● Natural boundary b/t piedmont and coastal plain
● Waterfalls create water power (HYDROELECTRIC)
● Many mills on the fall line
● Major cities on fall line
o Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Milledgeville

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP
 GSE SS8G1 : Georgia History : Geographic Understanding : Study Notes

● Largest freshwater swamp in N.A.

● In the Southeastern region of GA
● Shared with FL
● Means “land of the trembling earth”
● Home to Seminole’s
● Major source of timber
● Protected by federal government

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER
● Begins in Blue Ridge region
● Forms border b/t GA and AL
● Used as food and water source
● Used for industry and recreation
● Primary water source for Atlanta

SAVANNAH RIVER
● Forms border b/t GA and SC
● Source of water, food, and transportation
● Port for shipping
● Generates HYDROELECTRIC power

BARRIER ISLANDS
● Chain of sandy islands off GA coastline
● Protects the mainland from wind and water erosion
● 14 Barrier Islands
● Tybee, St. Simons, Jekyll, Cumberland
● Mainly tourist and recreation destinations
● Fishing and paper industries are important

GEORGIA’S CLIMATE
● Humid Subtropical
● Hot summers & Mild winters
● 45 to 75 inches of rain per year
● Warm, wet climate – right for agriculture
● Agriculture is still GA’s #1 industry
● Mild climate – more people in GA