1. Georgia and the American Experience
Chapter 1: Where in the World is Georgia? Study Presentation
© 2005 Clairmont Press

2. Georgia and the American Experience
Section 1: What is Geography? Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia Section 3: Georgia’s Climate

3. Section 1: What is Geography?
Essential Question
What roles do the six essential elements of geography play in our lives?
Where is Georgia located in relation to region, nation, continent and hemisphere

4. Section 1: What is Geography?
What geographic terms do I need to know?
-- geography
-- absolute location
-- relative location

5. What is Geography?
Geographica (Greek origin) means “earth’s description”.
Science of studying Earth as the home of humans.
Geography helps us understand why Georgia’s native peoples and later settlers chose certain parts of the state for their home.

6. Understanding Georgia’s Geography
How Georgians organize their space
Georgia has five physiographic regions
18 islands
58, 910 square miles
159 counties
5 bordering states
Tennessee
Florida
North Carolina
South Carolina
Alabama

7. Understanding Georgia: Uses of Geography
Uses of Geography: Interpret Georgia’s past, understand its present, plan for its future
Location from one settlement to another affects how each settlement develops
Georgia’s location relative to other states affects Georgia’s growth and economic development

8. Understanding Location
Absolute location: A precise position on Earth’s surface
Georgia’s absolute located is between 30°– 35°N latitude, 80°– 85° W longitude
Twiggs County is the geographic center

9. Understanding Location
Relative Location: Where Georgia is located compared with other places
North America
Southeastern United States
Atlantic coast
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10. Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
-- How would you describe the geographic regions of Georgia?

11. Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia
What words do I need to know?
-- Fall Line
-- Region
-- Precipitation
-- Wetland
-- Barrier Island
-- Continental Shelf

12. Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia
What regions do I need to know?
-- Appalachian Plateau Region
-- Ridge and Valley Region
-- Blue Ridge Region
-- Piedmont Plateau
-- Coastal Plain Region
-- Okefenokee Swamp

13. “ People create regions to understand Earth’s complexities”

14. Appalachian Plateau Region
smallest physiographic region
Located in Northwest Georgia
Many limestone caves, deep canyons, rock formations (Cloudland Canyon)
TAG corner
Home to Cumberland Plateau or (Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain)
made limestone, shale, and sandstone soils

15. Ridge and Valley Region
Located Between Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Plateau
Forests and pastures dominate the region
Home to Dalton, (The Carpet capital of the World)
Ellijay – Gilmer County (Apple Capital of Georgia)
The valley is made of limestone and clay soils
The ridges are composed of Shale and sandstone

16. Blue Ridge Region Northeastern part of state
highest and largest group of mountains
Brasstown Bald, Georgia highest mountain is here
Mountains provide much precipitation (water) for the state
Sandy loam and clay soils
Hardwood forests, vegetable farming, and apples
Springer Mtn.—beginning of Appalachian Trail

17. Piedmont Plateau
Begins in mountain foothills and goes to state’s central part
Gently sloping hills in north, flatlands in the south
Most densely populated region
Hardwood timber, pine, and agriculture
Red clay and granite base
Business and technology center of state

18. Coastal Plain Region Largest region, three-fifths of state
Inner Coastal Plain: Mild climate, good underground water supply,
It the agricultural Center
Known for it’s Vidalia onions
Outer Coastal Plain (southeast corner): rich soil for peanuts, pecans, corn, and pulp production
Low-lying freshwater wetlands

19. Okefenokee Swamp 681 square miles Largest swamp in North America
Water lies close to the surface creating Freshwater wetland

20. Barrier Islands
Spanish explorers called the barrier islands “islands of gold”
serve as a wilderness sanctuary
Protects the beaches from, winds, and water erosion
attract thousands of tourists for recreation, & fishing
Provides 2 deep water ports for shipping (Savannah and Brunswick)

21. Continental shelf
Georgia’s continental shelf is a portion of the coastal plain that extends into the ocean
Georgia is LESS LIKELY to feel the impact of hurricanes b/c the continental shelf helps to move hurricanes northward

22. Fall Line Features
The Fall Line, a natural boundary, separates the Coastal Plain from the mountainous Piedmont Plateau
It’s the prehistoric coast line
Many major cities are along the fall-line b/c early settlers could not pass the rugged terrain
Fall Line waterfalls provide power source for several Georgia communities
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23. Section 3: Georgia’s Climate
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
-- How would you describe the climate of Georgia?

24. Section 3: Georgia’s Climate
What concepts do I need to know?
-- Difference between weather and climate
-- Effect of weather conditions on the state
-- Different types of weather phenomena

25. Georgia’s Climate
is consistently mild with Hot, humid summers and mild winters
Is the reason why businesses and industries move to Georgia
We experience four seasons
July is hottest month; January is coldest

26. Georgia’s Precipitation
In normal year, Georgia gets inches of rain in central and southern regions and inches in the northern mountains
July is wettest month; October is driest
From 1998 to 2002, Georgia experienced a major drought (little or no lack precipitation)

27. Winds and Ocenan Currents
Ocean currents like the Gulf stream, and wind currents like the Trade winds, and prevailing westerlies aided the early explorers and settlers to reach the New World and Georgia.
The Trade winds helped the early explorers on the journey to the New World
The Gulf Stream and prevailing westerlies aided them on their journey back to Europe

28. Storms over Georgia
Georgia averages 21 tornadoes each year, resulting in one to three deaths
Most tornadoes in Georgia occur from March to May
Georgia’s most hurricane-like storm (in terms of lives lost) occurred in Savannah in 1893
Called the “Sea Islands Hurricane,” the storm resulted in 1,000 deaths.
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