Social Studies 5 Regions Project By: Marco Vega

Piedmont Georgia's second-largest geographical region is the Piedmont; while it is the second largest in size, it contains the highest population. This hilly region makes up approximately 30 percent of the state and lies between the mountainous regions of north Georgia and the Coastal Plain. The Chattahoochee River is one of the major rivers in Georgia’s Piedmont. The Chattahoochee River originates in the southeast corner of Union County, Georgia, in the Southern Appalachian Mountains and flows southwesterly through the Atlanta metropolitan area before dumping itself in Lake Seminole, at the Georgia-Florida border. The Chattahoochee River drains an area of 8,770 square miles and is one of the most heavily used surface water resources in Georgia. Lake Oconee is a reservoir in central Georgia, United States, on the Oconee River near Greensboro and Eatonton. It was created in 1979 when Georgia Power completed the construction of the Wallace Dam on the Oconee River. Lake Oconee runs through Georgia's Morgan, Greene, and Putnam counties and is separated from its sister lake, Sinclair, by Wallace Dam. Oconee is the name of an ancient Creek town. Two major cities in Georgia’s Piedmont are Atlanta and Athens. Atlanta is the capital of the U.S. state of Georgia. It played an important part in both the Civil War and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Athens was the largest and most powerful Greek state. It was a city with lots of beautiful public buildings, shops and public baths. The people of Athens lived below the Acropolis (rocky hill). The marble Parthenon, a temple, was built on the highest part of the Acropolis.

Coastal Plains Georgia’s largest geographical region is the Coastal Plains which take up 60% of the state, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Fall Line. In prehistoric times, most of Georgia’s Coastal Plains was under the ocean. The Flint River is a 344-mile-long (554 km) river in the U.S. State of Georgia. The river drains 8,460 square miles (21,900 km) of western Georgia, flowing south from the upper Piedmont region south of Atlanta to the wetlands of the Gulf Coastal Plains in the southwestern corner of the state. Along with the Apalachicola and the Chattahoochee rivers, it forms part of the ACF basin. In its upper course through the red hills of the Piedmont, it is considered especially scenic, flowing unimpeded for over 200 miles (320 km). Lake Seminole is a reservoir located in the southwest corner of Georgia along its border with Florida, maintained by the U.S. Army Crops of Engineering. The Chattahoochee and Flint rivers join in the lake, before flowing from the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, which impounds the lake, as the Apalachicola. The lake contains 37,500 acres (152 km) of water, and has a shoreline of 376 mi (605 km). Augusta and Macon are two major cities in Georgia’s Coastal Plains region. Augusta is a consolidated city-county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia, and located at the fall line of the Savannah River, at the head of its navigable portion. Macon is a city located in the state of Georgia, United States. Macon lies near the geographic center of the state, approximately 85 miles south of Atlanta, hence the city's nickname "the Heart of Georgia."

Blue Ridge The Blue Ridge Mountains are the highest in the Appalachian Highlands. This range reaches from northeast Georgia to southern Pennsylvania; it contains the highest elevations east of the Mississippi River. Georgia's highest mountain Brasstown Bald (4784 feet above sea level) is located in the Blue Ridge region. There are no major rivers in Georgia’s Blue Ridge region but Tugaloo River and Lake Blue Ridge are rivers and lakes in this region. The Tugaloo River (originally Tugalo River) is a mile-long (73.9 km) river bordering the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina. It is fed by the Tallulah River and the Chattooga River, which each form an arm of Lake Tugaloo, on the edge of Georgia's Tallulah Gorge State Park. The Tugaloo then flows out of the lake via Tugaloo Dam, passing into Lake Yonah and through Yonah Dam. The river then ends as an arm of Lake Hartwell, as does South Carolina's Seneca River. After flowing out of Lake Hartwell, it is called the Savannah River. Lake Blue Ridge is a reservoir in Fannin County, in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. The lake encompasses 3,300-acre of water, and a "full summer pool" of approximately 1,686 feet (514 m) above mean sea level. It is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and is primarily fed by the Toccoa River. Two major cities are Clayton and Brass town Bald. Clayton is a city in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,019 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Rabun County and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brasstown Bald is Georgia's highest elevation, rising 4784 feet above sea level. It is located in northeast Georgia partially in Towns County and partially in Union County and is part of the Blue Ridge Mountain chain of the Appalachian Mountain range. Brasstown Bald is located with the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Ridge and Valley The Ridge and Valley region occupies only a small part of the state. Very few people live in this area. It is heavily forested. It also has steep river valleys. The area has lots of waterfalls. In fact Georgia's highest waterfall is located in this region. The Ridge and Valley region was covered with water 400 million years ago. Now, when you visit this region, you can find ancient sea fossils of all kinds. There are no major rivers in Georgia’s Ridge and Valley region but North Georgia's Amicalola Falls are a natural attraction in this region. It gets it’s name from the native Cherokee word meaning "tumbling waters." Amicalola is the state's highest waterfall, with a total drop of 729 feet. It is located in Amicalola Falls State Park. Two major cities in this region are Dahlonega and Blairstown. Blairsville is a city in Union County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 652. The city is the county seat of Union County. The town is named after Revolutionary War veteran James Blair. The city of Dahlonega is the county seat of Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242. Dahlonega is located at the north end of the Georgia 400, which connects Atlanta to many suburbs to the north. It is consistently named as a best place to retire by many different publications due to its low cost of living, vibrant activities, continuing education for seniors, festivals, and beautiful setting.

Appalachian Plateau The Appalachian Plateau is in the far northwest corner of Georgia. It sits 1,800 to 2,000 feet above sea level. It is the smallest region of Georgia. It has narrow valleys and wooded ridges. In this area, you can go hang gliding, hiking, camping, and whitewater rafting. Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon, and Sand Mountain are in this region. There are no major rivers and none of the Seven Wonders of Georgia are in this region. But Lookout Mountain and Cloudland Canyon reside in this region. Lookout Mountain is a mountain ridge located at the northwest corner of the U.S. state of Georgia, the northeast corner of Alabama, and along the southern border of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Lookout Mountain was the scene of the "Last Battle of the Cherokees" during the Nickajack Expedition, which took place in the 18th century, as well as the November 24, 1863 Battle of Lookout Mountain during the American Civil War. The name "Lookout Mountain" is said to have come from General Andrew Jackson's troops, but more likely comes from the Cherokee term for "two mountains looking at each other". Cloudland Canyon State Park is a 3,485 acre (14.10 km²) Georgia state park located near Trenton and Cooper Heights on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. One of the largest and most scenic parks in Georgia, it contains rugged geology, and offers visitors a range of vistas across the deep gorge cut through the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, where the elevation varies from 800 to over 1,800 feet. Views of the canyon can be seen from the picnic area parking lot, in addition to additional views located along the rim trail. At the bottom of the gorge, two waterfalls cascade across layers of sandstone and shale, ending in small pools below. La Fayette is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,702 and 7,121 at the 2010 census. It was known originally as Chattooga. Trenton is a city in Dade County, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1830 by European Americans, the area was originally known as Salem. In 1839 Salem was designated the seat of the newly formed Dade County. It was renamed Trenton in The population was 2,301 at the 2010 census. It is the only incorporated municipality in the county, and as such it serves as the county seat.

Paragraph The region I would like to live in the most out of all 5 regions is most likely the Piedmont. I chose my answer because I already live in the Piedmont region of Georgia and I am most familiar with this region’s landscape and physical features. I would also rather live in this region because its flat land and its not as known for having rocky or extremely large mountains and hills everywhere. It is the hilly part of Georgia but it’s known as the “foot of the mountains”, meaning its below all the mountains as I mentioned. My best reason for preferring the Piedmont region over all the other regions is because I enjoy learning more about Georgia’s history and about the major settlements and explorations and the majority of them took place in Georgia’s Piedmont.