The Southeast Region of the United States 5.4 North American Geography

Where is the Southeast Region? The Southeast region of the United States is bordered by: – Atlantic Ocean to the east – states of Oklahoma and Texas to the west – Ohio River Valley to the north – Gulf of Mexico to the south

Sections of the Southeast The Southeast region of the United States is divided into: – Coastal States Atlantic Coast States Gulf Coast States – Inland states

Atlantic Coastal States Capital: Annapolis Abbreviation: MD Major City: Baltimore Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Piedmont Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Potomac River Chesapeake Bay Atlantic Ocean

Washington, D.C. Capital of the USA Abbreviation: D.C. Major Land Features: Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Potomac River Anacostia River Remember: Washington, D.C. is NOT a state. It is a district and a city where our president lives and our laws are made. Both Maryland & Virginia border D.C.

Atlantic Coastal States Capital: Richmond Abbreviation: VA Major Cities: Roanoke; Northern Virginia area; Norfolk/Hampton/Virginia Beach area Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Piedmont Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Potomac River James River Chesapeake Bay Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Coastal States Capital: Raleigh Abbreviation: NC Major Cities: Durham, Charlotte, Wilmington Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Piedmont Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Cape Hatteras Cape Fear Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Coastal States Capital: Columbia Abbreviation: SC Major Cities: Camden, Greenville Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Piedmont Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Coastal States Capital: Atlanta Abbreviation: GA Major Cities: Augusta, Savannah Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Piedmont Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Atlantic Ocean

Gulf Coast States Capital: Baton Rouge Abbreviation: LA Major Cities: New Orleans, Lafayette, Shreveport Major Land Features: Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Mississippi River Mississippi Delta Gulf of Mexico Also… New Orleans is the site of Mardi Gras and also where Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.

Gulf Coast States Capital: Jackson Abbreviation: MS Major City: Biloxi Major Land Features: Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico

Gulf Coast States Capital: Tallahassee Abbreviation: FL Major Cities: Miami, St. Petersburg/Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando Major Land Features: Coastal Plains Florida Keys Major Water Features: Atlantic Ocean Everglades Gulf of Mexico

Gulf Coast States Capital: Montgomery Abbreviation: AL Major Cities: Birmingham, Mobile Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Piedmont Coastal Plains Major Water Features: Gulf of Mexico Also… Mobile, AL is a major port city in the U.S.

Inland Southern States Capital: Little Rock Abbreviation: AR Major Cities: West Memphis, Pine Bluff Major Land Features: Quachita Mountains Coastal Plains (inland) Major Water Features: Arkansas River Mississippi River

Inland Southern States Capital: Nashville Abbreviation: TN Major Cities: Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Great Smoky Mountains Coastal Plains (inland) Major Water Features: Mississippi River Tennessee River

Inland Southern States Capital: Frankfort Abbreviation: KY Major Cities: Lexington, Louisville Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Major Water Features: Ohio River Mississippi River

Inland Southern States Capital: Charlestown Abbreviation: WV Major Cities: Wheeling, Morgantown Major Land Features: Appalachian Mountains Major Water Features: Ohio River

The Southeast region of the United States is characterized by: – expansive coastline – inland hills – mountains Physical Features

Geographic Terms: – Gulf – A part of an ocean or sea that extends into the land. – Delta – Land made of silt left behind as a river drains into a larger body of water. – Coastal Plains – large area of nearly flat land along the coast. More Physical Features

– Peninsula – A body of land nearly surrounded by water. – Lowlands – a broad expanse of land with a generally low level. More Physical Features

Appalachian Mts. Broad lowlands on Coastal Plain Peninsula Fall Line Landforms of the Southeast

Atlantic Ocean Gulf of Mexico Chesapeake Bay Mississippi River Ohio River Everglades Water Features of the Southeast

The Southeast region has a generally mild climate, but is vulnerable to seasonal natural weather disasters. Climate of the Southeast

Winters – Generally mild, colder in the north and higher elevations Summer – Hot, humid, with thunderstorms – Vulnerable to hurricanes from June through November Climate of the Southeast

The generally mild climate of the Southeast provides a long growing season, making agriculture an important economic activity. Natural Resources Contribute to the Southeast’s Economy

The expansive coastline, many rivers, and port cities make the southeast a gateway for global trade. Natural Resources Contribute to the Southeast’s Economy

Fertile soil Forests Coal Petroleum/Oil Fish Natural Resources

Farming – Cotton, rice, peanuts, soybeans, oranges, sugarcane, pigs, dairy cows Economic Activities

Manufacturing – Lumber, paper mills, food processing, furniture, fertilizers Mining – Minerals, limestone, granite Economic Activities

Fishing – crabs, shrimp, oysters Tourism – resorts, beaches Shipping – food, crops, steel, chemicals Technology – computers, electronics Economic Activities

The Southeast region has busy ports to ship products throughout the world. – Baltimore, MD – Norfolk, VA – Charleston, SC – New Orleans, LA – Mobile, AL Port Cities

The importance of agriculture and reliance on cash crops contributed to a sense of rural isolation and strong regional pride among people in the Southeast. Agriculture & Cash Crops

Establishment of a slavery-based economy (1600s) Cumberland Gap – Important passage used by Indians and widened by Daniel Boone (1775) – Led to further westward migration and settlement Historically Significant Events & Places

Civil War ( ) Historically Significant Events & Places

Plantations, agriculture-based economy – e.g. cotton, tobacco, rice, peanuts Music – e.g. Blues, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass Southern food Cultural Features

Myrtle Beach, SC – e.g. numerous beaches Jamestown, VA – e.g. early settlement site Everglades, FL – e.g. National Park Disney World – e.g. recreational park Landmarks & Significant Features

Fort Sumter, SC – e.g. Civil War Site Great Smoky Mountains – e.g. National Park Graceland, TN – e.g. cultural attraction Montgomery, AL – e.g. Civil Rights Movement sites Landmarks & Significant Features

Vicksburg, MS – e.g. Civil War sites Smithsonian Mall (Washington, D.C.) – e.g. National Museums Historic antebellum homes Landmarks & Significant Features