The WONDERFUL Regions of North Carolina

The Mountains Biggest economic industries: Cherokee Tribe Topography is mountainous & has rocky soil Appalachian Mountain range Blue Ridge Mountains(eastern boundary of the Appalachian Mtns), Smoky Mountains, Black Mountains (Mt. Mitchell – 6,684 feet) much of the land is covered in mountains - can only farm in coves or valleys Biggest economic industries: tourism Christmas tree farms

Mountains Called Tanawha ("fabulous bird" or "eagle") by the Cherokee Indians, the mountain acquired the name "Grandfather" from early settlers who saw the face of an old man's profile in the outline of the peaks against the sky Lake Lure has been the setting for “Dirty Dancing” and “Last of the Mohicans”

The Piedmont “Foot of the mountain” Catawba Tribe Topography - hills and red clay not good for growing crops central location with large cities: Charlotte (biggest city) Raleigh (capitol), Durham, Greensboro The Uwharrie Mountains – “mini mountains” south of Greensboro Monadnocks: geological condition where a point of land stands out because the land around it is eroded (Pilot Mountain)

Piedmont Economic Industries: The big 3: textile, tobacco, and furniture (people have also depended on livestock and dairy farming to make a living) Banking – Charlotte is a center for international banking NASCAR located in Charlotte as well

The Coastal Plain Tuscarora Tribe Topography – Flat land & loam, rich soil led to lots of farming (tobacco and cotton) Takes up about 1/3 of NC Tobacco Towns: Rocky Mount, Greenville, Wilson ,and Goldsboro Tobacco farmers have decreased in recent years due to health risks and the cut off of government payments Tarheel State – Longleaf pine was plentiful throughout the Coastal Plain first, but has disappeared from our landscape (state tree)

The Coastal Plain Sandhills leftover from ancient shoreline & poor soil. Good for golf courses (Pinehurst) and military bases (Ft Bragg) Biggest Economic Industries Military Bases like Fort Bragg Tourism Farming (tobacco and cotton)

The Tidewater Algonquian speaking tribes: Roanoke and Croatoan Topography - sandy, flat, sounds, beach, and Barrier Islands/Outer Banks This is the region first reached by Europeans by boat - colonization was difficult because of barrier islands (Outer Banks) Roanoke Settlement - Lost Colony – failed Cape Hatteras was nicknamed “Graveyard of the Atlantic” due to difficult to navigate waters. The Hatteras lighthouse has become legendary.

Tidewater Did you know that the Venus Fly Trap is native to the Tidewater region? You can find the Venus Fly Trap in its natural habitat towards the southern end of the Tidewater. (The Green Swamp) Least populated region in NC Economy: Fishing and tourism