Eighth Grade Social Studies North Carolina The Lay of the Land Ms. Polashock & Mrs. Tyndall Track 1 Eighth Grade Social Studies

BASIC FACTS Located in the southeastern United States. Bound on the north by Virginia. on the west by Tennessee. on the south by Georgia and South Carolina. on the east by Atlantic Ocean.

North Carolina’s Geographic Regions Tidewater Coastal Plain Piedmont Mountains

The Tidewater Region Narrow strip of North Carolina (NC) along the Atlantic Ocean 30-50 miles wide. Tides affect the region’s water. Sounds: inland bodies of salt/fresh water mix. Contains a series of barrier islands that border the ocean known as the Outer Banks.

The Outer Banks

TIDEWATER Capes (parts of the islands that jut far out into ocean): Cape Fear, Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras “Graveyard of the Atlantic” -- shallow water off the shores causing ships to run aground In 1800’s lighthouses were built to help warn ships away from dangerous waters.

Cape Lookout Lighthouse

Currituck Lighthouse

Maritime Forest of the Outer Coastal Plain

SOUNDS West of the barrier islands is an almost tideless body of water that consists of 5 major sounds: 1. Currituck 2. Albemarle (Great Dismal Swamp is located between this sound and Norfolk, VA) 3. Pamlico (Lake Mattamuskeet is located between Pamlico & Albemarle Sounds) 4. Core 5. Bogue

Currituck Sound

Lake Mattamuskeet

Major Tidewater coastal towns: Morehead City New Bern Edenton Elizabeth City Beaufort Wilmington Southport Washington

The Coastal Plain Region Stretches from Virginia to South Carolina and about 100 miles wide. Covers about 1/3 of the state. Rich soil and flat land make area good for farming. Crossroads hamlets: serve rural areas, usually a one or two stores, church, school, etc.

The Coastal Plain is the prime agricultural region for : Cotton Tobacco Hog Farming

Noted for its sandy soil.

The Sandhills Located northwest of the bays. Sandy, rolling ridges left by ancient coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Very poor soil. Used as the home for golf courses and Fort Bragg.

Major Inner COASTAL PLAIN towns Fayetteville Goldsboro Wilson Southern Pines Rocky Mount Greenville Pinehurst

Greensboro State Capitol The Piedmont Charlotte Raleigh

PIEDMONT -Located between the fall line and the Blue Ridge Mts. -Center of the state’s urban population: Raleigh Charlotte Greensboro Winston-Salem Durham

PIEDMONT Center of state’s manufacturing: Textiles Tobacco Furniture Before 1849, NC was the country’s leading gold producing state -(In Charlotte the federal government once minted gold coins) Rich clay soil--variety of products

Restored Mine Tunnel at Reed

The Deep River, Lee County

The Haw River, Chatham County

Center of higher education!

Center of cultural activities History Museum Museum of Natural Science Art Museum Discovery Place

The Mountains

MOUNTAINS Located between Piedmont and Tennessee. Covers 6,000 square miles. Elevations from 1,500(east) to 6,684 ft. Mount Mitchell--highest peak in eastern U.S.). About 200 miles long and 15-50 miles wide.

At the top of Mt. Mitchell— elevation 6,684 feet above sea level

Mt Mitchell State Park

MOUNTAINS Part of Appalachian chain (runs southwest to northeast--from Georgia to Quebec). Blue Ridge Mountains--at eastern edge. Great Smokey Mountains & Unakas--at western edge. Black Mountain & Balsams--connecting the ranges.

The Appalachian Trail

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

Creek on the Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway

The Mountains Economy Early settlers isolated from others Farming, traveling, trading were more difficult Towns developed in valley areas Known for sales of local plants with medicinal properties. Tourism is a major industry. Christmas tree is a new and growing industry; Fraser firs are the most popular.

Cherokee--state’s only Indian reservation.

Unto These Hills

Asheville--largest city in region.

State’s largest national forests Pisgah and Nantahala

Pisgah National Forest

Nantahala National Forest