Physiographic Regions of

Georgia

5 Physiographic Regions of Georgia:5 Physiographic Regions of Georgia:

PlateauPlateauRidge and ValleyRidge and Valley

Blue RidgeBlue RidgePiedmontPiedmontCoastalCoastal

Each is described in terms of location, Each is described in terms of location, soil, history, farming/mining, and soil, history, farming/mining, and

vegetationvegetation

Physiographic Regions of

Georgia

Blue Ridge MountainsBlue Ridge Mountains

1: northeast corner of GA1: northeast corner of GA

2: location of the tallest point in 2: location of the tallest point in GA, Brasstown BaldGA, Brasstown Bald

3: This area provides rain for the 3: This area provides rain for the entire state when warm air from entire state when warm air from Gulf of Mexico is cooled by the Gulf of Mexico is cooled by the mtnsmtns

4: location of Tallulah Gorge 4: location of Tallulah Gorge

5: Mostly hardwood and pine trees5: Mostly hardwood and pine trees

6. Land is mostly used to grow 6. Land is mostly used to grow apples and vegetable farmingapples and vegetable farming

7. Its soil is easily eroded, made of 7. Its soil is easily eroded, made of sandy loam and claysandy loam and clay

Blue Ridge MountainsBlue Ridge Mountains

Sky Valley in Sky Valley in winter, ready winter, ready for skiers!for skiers!

Brasstown Bald, Brasstown Bald, the highest the highest point in the point in the state.state.

Party Talk!!

Did ya know…

the red, yellows, and oranges of fall leaves are actually in the leaves all year long? We just can’t see them in the spring and summer through the green chlorophyll.

Tallulah GorgeTallulah Gorge

Physiographic Regions of

Georgia

Ridge and Valley RegionRidge and Valley Region1: 1: located between the Plateau and located between the Plateau and

Blue Ridge regionsBlue Ridge regions

2: has low, open valleys and narrow 2: has low, open valleys and narrow ridges that run parallel to the valleysridges that run parallel to the valleys

3: fertile farmland, pastures, and apple 3: fertile farmland, pastures, and apple orchards, soybean cropsorchards, soybean crops

4: known for textile and carpet 4: known for textile and carpet industries, and Dalton as the “Carpet industries, and Dalton as the “Carpet Capital of the World”Capital of the World”

5. Its soil is limestone, clay, and 5. Its soil is limestone, clay, and sandstonesandstone

6. Where this region ends and the Blue 6. Where this region ends and the Blue Ridge begins is the start of the Ridge begins is the start of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mtn.Appalachian Trail at Springer Mtn.

Ridge and Valley RegionRidge and Valley Region

Physiographic Regions of

Georgia

Plateau RegionPlateau Region1: 1: smallest of the regionssmallest of the regions

2: far northwest corner of GA2: far northwest corner of GA

3: includes the two flat-topped mtns of 3: includes the two flat-topped mtns of Lookout Mtn and Sand Mtn, also Lookout Mtn and Sand Mtn, also includes Cloudland Canyonincludes Cloudland Canyon

4: Known as the TAG corner (TN, AL, and 4: Known as the TAG corner (TN, AL, and GA)GA)

5: only known location of coal in the state5: only known location of coal in the state

6: hardwood and pine trees6: hardwood and pine trees

7. Its soil is limestone, shale, and 7. Its soil is limestone, shale, and sandstonesandstone

8. Land is used for timber for furniture8. Land is used for timber for furniture

Plateau RegionPlateau Region

Lovers’ Leap??

Many versions of the story exist, particularly in areas with this kind of landscape. The legend tells of two lovers who are forbidden to be together by their families…sometimes it is a financial decision, other times it is because the two lovers are from opposite backgrounds. In every legend, though, the two star-crossed lovers go to the edge of the plateau and jump to their deaths…choosing to die together than live apart.

Physiographic Regions of

Georgia

Piedmont RegionPiedmont Region1: piedmont means “foot of the mountains”1: piedmont means “foot of the mountains”

2: gently sloping hills and valleys in the 2: gently sloping hills and valleys in the north, flatlands in the southnorth, flatlands in the south

3. Located in the middle of the state and 3. Located in the middle of the state and takes up 1/3 of the statetakes up 1/3 of the state

4: known for its red clay soil and granite 4: known for its red clay soil and granite

5: holds half of the state’s population5: holds half of the state’s population

6: produces wheat, soybeans, corn, poultry, 6: produces wheat, soybeans, corn, poultry, and cattleand cattle

7. Includes Stone Mountain and Lake Lanier7. Includes Stone Mountain and Lake Lanier

8. Vegetation is mostly pines and 8. Vegetation is mostly pines and hardwoodshardwoods

9. Land is used for agriculture and 9. Land is used for agriculture and businessesbusinesses

10. 50% of state’s population lives here10. 50% of state’s population lives here

Piedmont RegionPiedmont Region

Party Talk…

Did ya know…

John W. Beauchamp was the first person to claim ownership of Stone Mountain when he traded with Indians for possession. Later, he traded the mountain to Andrew Johnson and Aaron Cloud for a muzzle-loading gun and twenty dollars. Because half of Georgia and part of North Carolina rest on the mountain's base, it is widely believed that Stone Mountain may be formed like some icebergs--larger underneath the ground's surface than it is above ground

Physiographic Regions of

Georgia

Coastal Plains RegionCoastal Plains Region11: largest region, covers three-fifths of the state, : largest region, covers three-fifths of the state,

located in the southern part of the statelocated in the southern part of the state2: divided into 2 areas…inner coastal and outer 2: divided into 2 areas…inner coastal and outer

coastalcoastal3: inner coastal:3: inner coastal:

a) rich soil, some claya) rich soil, some clayb) location of Providence Canyon and Flint b) location of Providence Canyon and Flint RiverRiverc) major agricultural area…peanuts, c) major agricultural area…peanuts, corn, and Vidalia Onionscorn, and Vidalia Onionsd) mostly pine treesd) mostly pine trees

4: outer coastal:4: outer coastal:a) poorly drained, sandy soil: much is marshy a) poorly drained, sandy soil: much is marshy and swampyand swampyb) deep harbors, Barrier islands, and b) deep harbors, Barrier islands, and Okefenokee SwampOkefenokee Swampc) known for naval stores (material for ship c) known for naval stores (material for ship building or roofing) and pulp production as building or roofing) and pulp production as well as seafoodwell as seafood

Coastal Plains RegionCoastal Plains Region

Wetlands in Wetlands in South GeorgiaSouth Georgia

Marshlands Marshlands near the coast near the coast of Georgiaof Georgia

Sea Oats and Sea Oats and Beaches of St Beaches of St Simon’sSimon’s

Savannah PortSavannah Port

Party Talk!!

In the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, there are 39 kinds of fish, 37 types of amphibians, 64 sorts of reptiles, along with 235 varieties of birds and a collection of 50 different mammals.

Physiographic Regions of

Georgia

Barrier Islands:

Located off the coast of GA between the Intercoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean

* protect the beaches by blocking winds, sand and water that could erode mainland* called “Islands of Gold” by Spanish explorers* most are wilderness sanctuaries*excellent source of seafood and popular vacation spot

Fall LineFall Line

Separates the Piedmont and Coastal Separates the Piedmont and Coastal regionsregions

The inner most boundary of the prehistoric The inner most boundary of the prehistoric oceanocean

Runs from Columbus to Macon to AugustaRuns from Columbus to Macon to Augusta Elevation drops sharply between the two Elevation drops sharply between the two

regions, causing water to flow more quicklyregions, causing water to flow more quickly Fast flowing water was a good power Fast flowing water was a good power

source, made the area excellent for source, made the area excellent for industry during early settling of the stateindustry during early settling of the state

GA’s ClimateGA’s ClimateClimate: the average weather in a region over a period of about 20 yearsClimate: the average weather in a region over a period of about 20 years

GA: mild climate with hot, humid summers and mild wintersGA: mild climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters

provides a long growing season which makes GA great for provides a long growing season which makes GA great for agricultureagriculture

avg. temp in GA for the year is 65 degreesavg. temp in GA for the year is 65 degrees

our weather is influenced by the Gulf of Mexico in the warmer our weather is influenced by the Gulf of Mexico in the warmer months and Canada in the colder monthsmonths and Canada in the colder months

Our most dangerous weather are tornadoes, but we occasionally Our most dangerous weather are tornadoes, but we occasionally suffer from the effects of hurricanessuffer from the effects of hurricanes

Because of GA’s mild weather, it easily attracts businesses to move Because of GA’s mild weather, it easily attracts businesses to move here as well as touristshere as well as tourists

GA’s Natural ResourcesGA’s Natural ResourcesNatural resources: found in our state naturally, not man-made Natural resources: found in our state naturally, not man-made

Best known resource: marble, found in Gilmer, Hall, and Pickens countiesBest known resource: marble, found in Gilmer, Hall, and Pickens countiesTate, GA has a school and hotel made of marbleTate, GA has a school and hotel made of marble

Granite: Found in Dekalb and Elbert counties, used for building and concreteGranite: Found in Dekalb and Elbert counties, used for building and concrete

Fuller’s earth: very profitable for GA…used for kitty litter, in soaps, and in Fuller’s earth: very profitable for GA…used for kitty litter, in soaps, and in absorbents for oil or greaseabsorbents for oil or grease

Kaolin: coating for paper, filler for paint, plastics and rubber, and cement. Kaolin: coating for paper, filler for paint, plastics and rubber, and cement. Mined in areas along the Fall lineMined in areas along the Fall line

Other natural resources that GA has are the wildlife and plant life in the state. Other natural resources that GA has are the wildlife and plant life in the state.

All of GA’s natural resources provide money to the economy as businesses are All of GA’s natural resources provide money to the economy as businesses are developed to handle the resources and the resources are sold to other developed to handle the resources and the resources are sold to other businessesbusinesses

Can you tell me…Can you tell me…

Which region is the smallest?Which region is the smallest? Which region we live in?Which region we live in? Which region is largest?Which region is largest? Which region is where the highest point in GA is Which region is where the highest point in GA is

located?located? Which region is known for apples?Which region is known for apples? Which region is the only known source of coal in GA?Which region is the only known source of coal in GA? Which region has areas of flat land surrounded by Which region has areas of flat land surrounded by

mountains?mountains? Which region has the barrier islands in it?Which region has the barrier islands in it?