Transcript Unit 1: Geographic Understandings

Unit 1: Geographic
Understandings
Tuesday August 6, 2013
 Notes
geographic regions of Georgia
 Handout pg. 1
 Map 1, 2, 3 pgs 6-8
 Warm-up:
After the first day of
Georgia History, what are you
looking most forward to this year
(2-3 sentences)
 Warm-ups
are due next Friday (9 total)
Locate Georgia in relation to region,
nation, continent, and hemispheres
 Region – An area of land that shares
common characteristics with itself but
whose characteristics are different
than other surrounding areas.
 Nation – Political division of land; also
known as a country.
– One of the seven large
areas of land that cover the surface of
the Earth. The seven continents are:
North America, South America,
Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and
Antarctica.
 Hemispheres – Half of the earth.
Refers to the halves of the earth
formed by the Equator (northern and
southern) and the Prime Meridian
(eastern and western).
 Continent

Georgia is located in the following areas:
-Region: South, Southeast, etc.
-Nation (Country): U.S.A.
-Continent: North America
-Hemispheres: Northern and Western
Latitude and Longitude
 Latitude:
the angular distance north or
south from the equator of a point on
the earth’s surface, measured on the
meridian of the point

Longitude: angular distance east or west
on the earth’s surface measured by the
angle contained between the meridian of
a particular place and some prime
meridian, as that of Greenwich, England,
and expressed either in degrees or by
some corresponding difference in time
Wednesday August 7, 2013
 Notes: The Five Geographic
regions of Georgia
 Warm-up: Based on your travel in
the state, describe the different
regions of the state. (2-3
sentences)
Standard:
 Describe
the five geographic
regions of Georgia’ include the
Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and
Ridge, Appalachian Plateau,
Piedmont, and Coastal Plain
GA’s Physiographic Regions
 Georgia
is divided into 5 Physiographic
Regions: Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Blue
Ridge, Valley and Ridge, and
Appalachian Plateau.
 Each of these regions differ from each
other in location, size, population,
climate, resources, and numerous
other areas.
The Blue Ridge Region (pg.14-15)
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

The Valley and Ridge Region Pg. (12-13)
 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
The Appalachian Plateau Region (pg. 10-11)
 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
The Piedmont Region (pg. 16-17)
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

The Coastal Plain Region (pg. 18-19)
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.

Thursday August 8, 2013
 Finish
notes (coastal plain)
 Map of Georgia geographic zones
 Warm-up: Which of the 5 geographic
regions of Georgia discussed
yesterday would you prefer to live in
and why? (2-3 sentences)
Friday August 9, 2013
 Notes:
Physical features of
Georgia
 Georgia Stories Video
 Warm-up: List 3 things you have
learned about the State of Georgia
this week. (Complete Sentences)
Standard:
 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.
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
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.
Georgia Stories:
The Okefenokee Swamp

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/ok
efenokee_swamp
The Appalachian Mountains
Very large
mountain range
which runs over
1,500 miles from
eastern Canada to
central Alabama.
 The southernmost
part of the
Appalachian
Mountain chain is
called the Blue
Ridge Mountains.

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.

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 water for the
metropolitan Atlanta
area.
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
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.

Monday August 12, 2013
Finish Notes
 Handout: pg. 6
 It’s Your Turn Questions pg. 21 (All answers
must be in complete sentences.

 Warm-up:
Copy and answer the
following
 In what area of Georgia is the
Appalachian Plateau located?
A: southwest
B: southeast
C: northeast
D: northwest
Tuesday August 13, 2013
Climate Notes
 Section 3 map skill questions
 Chapter 1 Review
 Warm-up: Copy and circle the correct
answer
In which region is the Okefenokee Swamp, the
largest swamp in North America, located?
A. Blue Ridge
B. B. Coastal Plain
C. C. Piedmont Plateau
D. D. ridge and Valley

Georgia’s Climate
 Climate-
the type of weather a region
experiences over a long period of tie
 Weather- the day-to-day conditions and
changes in the atmosphere
 The climate influences the types of
homes built, industries that develop,
clothing styles, and what crops are
grown
Temperature
 Overall,
mild temperatures, with a subtropical feel along the coast
 4 distinct seasons
 Vertical Climate- the higher the
elevation, the colder the temperature
 July is typically the hottest month,
January is the coldest
Precipitation
 Vital
to Georgia’s economy
 Snowfall mainly in Blue Ridge area
 40-52 inches of rain in the Southern
region and 65-76 inches in the northern
mountains
 July is the wettest month, October is
the driest on average
 Droughts/Impacts
Pg. 24
Winds/ Ocean Currents
 From the Gulf of Mexico and
Atlantic control summer months,
and winds from Alaska and Canada
control winter months
 Mainly run up the coast of Georgia
from the Caribbean, important for
trade by sea
Hurricanes
 Typically
occur June-November
 Wind and storm surge cause most
damage
 1893 Hurricane hit Savannah killing
1,000, 72 mph winds
 Hurricane strikes in Georgia are more
rare than Gulf Coast States
Tornadoes
 Average
of 21 per year in Georgia
 Most occur March to May, but can
happen any time of the year
 Very unpredictable
 1939 Gainesville tornado killed over
200, and injured over 1,600
Assignment
1- Section 3 map skill questions (5 total) pgs
23-28 (Answer in complete sentences)
 2- Use the word GEORGIA to make notes
from unit 1- 1 Fact per letter
 Georgia is divided into 5 geographic
Regions
E
O
R
G
I
A

Wednesday August 14, 2013
 Notes: Transportation systems of
Georgia
 Georgia Stories Videos
 Warm-up: How does the climate of
Georgia impact the agriculture
industry in the state? Explain (2-3
sentences)
Standard
 Explain
how the Interstate
highway System, HartsfieldJackson International Airport,
and Georgia’s deepwater ports,
and the railroads help drive the
state’s economy
Interstate Highway System
 Georgia’s transportation systems
are important to the state’s
economy
 15 Interstate Highways in Georgia
 Highways
move goods and people
around the state (trucking, personal
automobiles)
 Interstates join major cities with the
rest of the country
 I-20, I-75, and I-85 all run through
Atlanta
 I-95
passes through Georgia running
from Florida to Maine
 I-75 (Florida to Michigan)
 Interstates are used by people traveling
to their jobs, vacations, and
transporting goods across the country
Georgia Stories- Interstates

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/stories/i
nterstate_highway_system
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
 One
of the busiest airports in the world
 Named after 2 Atlanta Mayors: Williams
Hartsfield (founded airport in 1925) and
Maynard Jackson (first African
American mayor of a major southern
city)
 Jackson’s name was added in 2003
following his death
 More
than 1,000 airplanes pass through
the airport daily going to all continents
except Antarctica and Australia
 Planes carry passengers (business and
travel) and cargo including mail
 Over 20 companies send cargo via HJ
Airport
 The
airport covers 4,700 acres and
has 5 runways
 Over 200 shops and restaurants
are located in the airport terminal
 Airport employees over 55,000 and
is the largest employer in Georgia
Other Facts (do not copy)






There are four fire stations at the Atlanta Airport
provided and staffed by the Atlanta Fire DepartmentAirport Division
The Atlanta Airport's underground automated people
mover connects all concourses with the terminal
Concourse "E" is the largest international concourse in
the US
The Atlanta Airport has more than 1296 toilets
The Atlanta Airport produces more than 57 tons of
trash everyday
250,000 passengers each day (over 91,000,000 per
year)
Georgia Stories- Airport

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/stories/s
econd_busiest_airport_in_the_world
Deepwater Ports
 Georgia
has 2 ports managed by the
Georgia Ports Authority (GPA)
 Ports are located in Savannah and
Brunswick
 Ports open up the state for trade and
commerce with the world (shipping)
 Cargo,
automobiles, and dry bulk
goods are brought into the ports
 Terminals are in each port 2 Savannah
and 3 in Brunswick
 Rivers
in the western part of
Georgia use barges to come crude
oil and petroleum products
 Bainbridge and Columbus have
barge terminals
Railroads
 Move
freight and cargo from factories
and ports
 Norfolk-Southern and CSX are main
companies that run through Georgia
 All
transportation systems work
together to keep Georgia’s
economy working
 All are vital to moving people
and goods through the state
 Without these systems, jobs
would not exist
Thursday August 15, 2013
Review for Unit 1 test
 Jeopardy

 Warm-up:
Explain how Interstates
and major airports provide jobs to
people in our state. (2-3
sentences)
Friday August 16, 2013
Unit 1 Test
 Extra Credit Puzzle
 Warm-ups due
 Warm-up: copy and answer the following:
Georgia’s deepwater ports ____.

A.
B.
C.
Might close because air traffic is more
important
Open the state for trade with the world
Are only for goods coming into the state,
not leaving
Monday August 19, 2013

Georgia Map Activity
 Warm-up:
copy and answer:
 Which industry is most affected by
Georgia’s climate?
A: Agriculture
B: Chemical
C: Mining
D: Transportation
Tuesday August 20, 2013

Finish/Review Map Activity
 Warm-up:
Looking at your map you
started yesterday, discuss one
thing that you have learned or that
has surprised you about our state
map. (2-3 sentences)