Coastal Plains

• Largest land region in North Carolina

• Can be divided into two subregions: The Tidewater and the Inner Coastal Plain.

• The OBX is separated from the mainland by 2 large “sounds” the Albemarle and the Pamlico Sounds-brackish (mix of fresh and salt water) shallow water.

Barrier Islands

• An elongated strip of sand running parallel to a mainland separated by a body of water-sound or lagoon.

• May change shaped due to wind, rain, tide action.

• The Outer Banks (OBX) are barrier islands off NC coast.

• Pawley's Island SC after Hurricane Hugo.

Major Rivers of Coastal Plains

• Roanoke River, Tar River, and the Neuse River all flow into the Albemarle or Pamlico Sounds.

• The Cape Fear River flows directly into the Atlantic Ocean near Wilmington- the state’s major port and Coastal Plains largest city.

Economy

• Past- Tobacco, rice, and forest products.• Today- largely rural-flat rich soil good for

farming.• Cotton, peanuts, sweet potatoes,

cucumbers, tobacco and soybeans.• Chicken, turkey hog farming.• Sounds and ocean provide commercial

farming.• Tourism and military bases.

Piedmont

• “at the foot of the mountains”

• 300 miles of rolling hills btw the Coastal Plain and Mountain regions.

• Low mountains- Uwharrie, South Mtns., and the Brushy Mtns.

• Rivers- Lower Catawba, Yadkin, Cape Fear and Neuse Rivers.

Fall Line

• This is the boundary between the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont.

• It is noticeable near streams and rivers which fall onto the Coastal Plains as rapids or waterfalls.

• Linville

People of Piedmont

• 16th Century –Catawba Indians• Early 1700’s- Europeans mainly from

Pennsylvania traveled the Great Wagon Road.

• Established small, self-sufficient farms..• Hydroelectric power, railroad solved

transportation issues- textile, furniture and tobacco were major industries.

• Today-Most wealthy and urbanized region

Largest Cities

• 10 lrgst cities are in the Piedmont:

• Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill make up Research Triangle.

• Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem-the Triad

• Charlotte and the Metrolina are known as the Urban Crescent.

Economy Today

• Traditional- textiles, tobacco, and furniture.

• New industries- banking, trucking, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, computer, software…

Mountains

• Western fifth of the state

• Part of the southern Appalachian range

• Includes the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mtns.

• Eastern Continental Divide runs through the Blue Ridge-

Rivers

• French Broad, The Upper Catawba, New River, Little Tennessee River, and the Hiawassee River.

People

• Cherokee Indians have lived her for thousands of years.

• Europeans began arriving in the 1700’s.

• Still isolated today in some areas.

Economy

• After the Civil War, timber became a major industry. Tourists began taking advantage of cool summers.

• Tourism remains one of the main industries.

• Asheville is the largest city.• Small farms-apples, burley tobacco,

livestock, & Christmas trees, gem mining, minerals lumber