Georgia Geography

Unit 2
 Essential Question
• Where is Georgia in terms of hemisphere,
continent, nation, and region?
 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.
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.
 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?
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/story/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.

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 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_ge
orgia
 Valley and Ridge Region
• long ridges of mountains,
separated by long valleys.
• Chickamauga – an important
valley
• 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
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 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
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 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. 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 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).
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 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 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 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 28
lumber.
 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.

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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
My trips to western GA in the
Coastal Plains

Jimmy Carter’s boyhood

Farm is located in Plains, GA
My trips to western GA in the
Coastal Plains
Flint River, Albany, GA
My trips to western GA in the
Coastal Plains

Andersonville, a Civil War prison

My trips to western GA in the
Coastal Plains
My trips to western GA in the
Coastal Plains
Providence Canyon