Unit 1 Geography

Georgia Performance Standard (GPS)

SS8G1: The student will describe Georgia with regard to

physical features and location.

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

What is

Geography?

Geography – the

science of

studying the

earth.

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

Latitude – parallel

lines that run east

and west, but

measure north and

south locations on

the earth’s surface.

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

Longitude –

meridian lines that

run north and south,

but measure east

and west locations

on the earth’s

surface.

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

Both the Equator

and Prime

Meridian are

used to divide

the earth into

hemispheres.

Hemispheres –

two halves of a

sphere.

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

Quick Geography Review/Quiz

1. How many continents are on the earth’s surface?

2. What continent is the state of Georgia located in?

3. What nation is Georgia apart of?

4. What are the major lines of latitude and longitude

and what do they do? Hint: multiple answers

5. How many hemispheres are there?

6. What hemisphere is the state of Georgia located in?

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to

region, nation, continent, and

hemispheres.

What region is the state of Georgia located in within

the United States?

SS8G1 b. Describe the five

geographic regions of Georgia,

include the Blue Ridge Mountains,

Ridge and Valley, Appalachian

Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

SS8G1 b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia, include

the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley, Appalachian

Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

What is a region?

A region is the basic unit of

study in geography.

Georgia’s 5 physiographic regions:

1) The Appalachian Plateau

2) The Ridge & Valley Region

3) The Blue Ridge Region

4) The Piedmont Plateau

5) The Coastal Plain

SS8G1 b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia,

include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley,

Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

Appalachian Plateau:

Smallest of the regions

It is a maze of limestone caves, deep canyons, and interesting rock formations

Far northwestern corner of the state

SS8G1 b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia,

include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley,

Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

Ridge and Valley: Has low open valleys

and narrow ridges that run parallel to the valleys.

Forests & pastures dominate the region, but there are flat and fertile farmlands.

Georgia

Ridge and Valley

SS8G1 b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia,

include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley,

Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

Blue Ridge Region:

Known for its rugged beauty

Located in northeastern GA

The highest and largest group of mountains in Georgia is in this region

Blue Ridge Mountains

Blue Ridge Mountains in Fall

SS8G1 b. Describe the five geographic regions of

Georgia, include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge

and Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and

Coastal Plain.

Blue Ridge (cont.):

Brasstown

Bald, the

highest peak in

the state, is

located in this

region. (Almost

5000 ft. high)

Brasstown Bald

SS8G1 b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia,

include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley,

Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

Piedmont: Begins in the

mountain foothills of GA and goes to the central part of the state

This granite-based landform makes up about 1/3 of the state’s land area.

About ½ of the state’s population lives in the Piedmont region

Atlanta

Stone Mountain

SS8G1 b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia,

include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley,

Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

The Coastal Plain:

Largest region, occupies three-fifths of the state

It is the major agricultural region of the state, with soil that varies from limestone to clay.

The Coastal Plain region is separated from the Piedmont Plateau by a natural boundary known as the Fall Line.

Coastal Plains Farming

Savannah Port

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.

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.

The Fall Line

Separates the Piedmont and Coastal plain

a boundary about 20 miles wide that runs across Georgia.

Called Fall Line due to its many water falls.

Major Cities along Fall Line:

1. Augusta

2. Macon

3. Columbus

4. Milledgeville

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.

Okefenokee Swamp

Located in the southeast corner of Georgia

It is the largest swamp in North America. (Almost covers 700 miles)

Home to more than 400 species of animals.

Became the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in 1937

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.

Appalachian

Mountains

Southernmost part of

the Appalachian

Mountains are the

Blue Ridge

Mountains.

GA’s highest and

wettest areas (over

80 inches of annual

rainfall)

Appalachian Mountains (cont.)

The crest (top) of the mountains form the Continental Divide.

Divides the direction in which rivers drain

West flowing rivers empty into the Gulf of Mexico

East flowing rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean

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.

Chattahoochee River

Begins in the Blue Ridge

Mountains

Flows southwest

towards Alabama and

into the Gulf of Mexico

Important for Georgians

for:

1. Drinking Water

2. hydroelectric power

3. recreation

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.

Savannah River

Natural boundary between Georgia and South Carolina

Flows southeast into the Atlantic Ocean

Important for Georgians for:

1. Drinking Water

2. hydroelectric power

3. recreation

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.

Barrier Islands

Barrier islands are found along nearly the entire eastern seaboard of United States.

They protect the mainland from storms.

Important for tourism, fishing, and paper production

d. Evaluate the impact of climate on

Georgia’s development.

Weather – The day to day change of the

earth’s atmosphere in regard to

temperature, moisture, wind velocity and

pressure.

Climate – the average of weather patterns

measured over a long period of time.

1. Georgia’s climate can be described as

mild, temperate, or humid subtropical.

2. Winters in Georgia are cool while summers

are warm to hot.

3. Both the Piedmont and Coastal Plain

regions have longer and hotter summers

because of their location near/in between the

warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the

Atlantic Ocean.

Georgia's climate varies from the forested elevations of the mountains to the Coastal Plain beaches. It is generally temperate, and is influenced by Georgia's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico as well as wintertime blasts of cold Arctic air coming southward from Canada.

GA County Questions

Directions: Use page 602 in your textbook to help you answer the following questions on a sheet of paper.

1. How many counties are there in Georgia?

2. Identify the county in which you live in.

3. Identify each county that borders the Atlantic Ocean and list them.

4. Identify the counties of Georgia that border Florida and list them.

5. Which counties share more than one state border? Which states do these counties touch?