Transcript The 5 Major Physiographic Regions

Where in the World is Georgia?
The United States
Geography of Georgia
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.
Continent – 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).
Longitude (Meridians)
Lines that measure distance east or west of
the Prime Meridian
Latitude (Parallels)
Lines that measure distance north or south of
the Equator
Think (“Rungs on a ladder”—Laddertude) OR
(“Lat lays flat”)
Equator
0 degrees Latitude
The starting point for measuring north or
south
Prime Meridian
0 degrees Longitude
The starting point for measuring east or
west
Coordinates
A set of global measurements identifying an
exact location
Latitude & Longitude
Cardinal Directions
North, South, East, and West
Intermediate Directions
Measurements between the cardinal
directions.
Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
Absolute Location
Identifies a precise position on Earth’s
surface.
32.9605°
N,
83.1132°
W
Georgia,
Relative Location
Describes where a place is located with other
places.
Dalton is located about 89 miles NW of
Atlanta.
The 5 Major Physiographic Regions
Appalachian Plateau
Appalachian Plateau
Smallest Region
Far northwest
corner
A maze of
limestone, deep
canyons, and
interesting rock
formations
TAG Corner
Sometimes
referred to the
Cumberland
Plateau
Most scenic but
less traveled
Contains the
Chickamauga
and Chattanooga
National Military
Park
Beginning of the
Appalachian
Trail
Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge
Known for its
rugged beauty
About 2000
square miles
Highest and
largest groups
of mountains
The first barrier
to warm, moist
air rising from
the Gulf of
Mexico
Precipitation can
exceed 80
inches a year
Brasstown Bald
is located here
Landmarks
include Tallulah
Gorge and the
alpine
community of
Helen
Ridge and Valley
Ridge and Valley
Low open valleys
and narrow
ridges
Flat fertile
farmlands with
fields of grain,
pastures for
cattle and rows
of apple
orchards
Elevation ranges
from 700 to
1600 feet above
sea level
Known for its
industry,
particularly
textile and
carpet
manufacturing
Dalton, known as
the “carpet
capital of the
world”
Piedmont
Piedmont
Begins in the
mountain
foothills of
northern
Georgia
Gently sloping
hills and
valleys in the
north and
flatlands in the
south
“heartland” of
the state
Means “foot of the
mountain”
Granite-based
landform makes up
about a third of the
state
Other type of soil:
“red” clay
½ of the state’s
population
Cotton belt of
antebellum days
Business and
industry flourish
Densely populated
Coastal Plain
Coastal Plain
Largest: occupies 3/5 of
state
Inner Coastal:
Mild climate & good
supply of underground
water
Soil: limestone to clay
Vidalia Upland: onions
Dougherty Plain:
peanuts, corn, & pecans
Outer Coastal:
Does not have drained
soil nor fertile farmlands
Center of naval stores &
pulp production
Flat and in some areas
swampy or marshy
Okefenokee Swamp
Barrier islands
2/3 of barrier islands’
land remain wilderness
sanctuaries
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.
Appalachian Mountains
Chattahoochee River
Begins in the Blue Ridge Region and flows southwest
toward Alabama and into the Gulf of Mexico.
It forms Georgia’s western boundary with Alabama.
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.
Chattahoochee River
Savannah River
Natural boundary between Georgia and
South Carolina.
Begins at Lake Hartwell and flows
southeast 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.
Savannah River
Rivers
• Chatahoochee
• Savannah
• Flint
• Ocmulgee
• Oconee
• Altamaha
• Ogeechee
Why are the
Savannah/Chattahoochee Rivers
Important
Drinking water
Hydroelectric power
Travel/transportation/Trade
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
7 Natural Wonders of GA
Amicalola Falls
Providence Canyon
Radium Springs
Warm Springs
Stone Mountain
Tallulah Gorge
7th Wonder: Okefenokee Swamp
Named for the Seminole Indian
word which means “land of the
trembling Earth”
Largest swamp in North America
(About 681 square miles)
Freshwater (not salt water) wetland
Located south of Waycross
(Charlton, Ware, Brantley and
Clinch)
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.
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.
Today, the islands are mainly tourist
and recreation destinations though the
fishing and paper industries are still
important economic enterprises.
Barrier Islands
Georgia has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and
mild winters, though the mountainous areas tend to be cooler
than that of the rest of the state. Georgia usually has a large
amount of precipitation throughout the year and ranges from 45
to 75 inches per year depending on the area, but receives very
little snow fall.
Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains
receives a significant amount of
rainfall because of the warm air from
the Gulf of Mexico becoming trapped
by the high altitude of the cool
mountains.
Georgia is prone to tornadoes and often feels the effects of
hurricanes, though the state has not been hit directly since
1898. Georgia’s warm, wet, climate has made it an ideal
location for agriculture. From its beginning, Georgia was
established for growing crops. Georgia’s relatively mild climate
has brought many people and businesses to the state, making it
the 9th most populous in the nation.