South Carolina’s Geography

I. Location It borders what states? What U.S. region is S.C. a part of? 31,113 square miles; ranks 40th

II. Natural Land Regions Divided into five natural regions: 1. Coastal Zone 2. Coastal Plain 3. Sandhills 4. Piedmont 5. Blue Ridge **GATE:P. 33** **REG: P. 4**

A. The Coastal Zone Atlantic Ocean inland for ten miles Divided into three parts: Grand Strand, Santee Delta, and the Sea Islands Delta: triangular shaped land that forms at the mouth of the river from deposited material

Quick Check The Coastal Zone is broken up into three parts: the Grand Strand, the Sea Islands and what else? Include in your answer a definition of the word.

B. The Coastal Plain Largest of geographic regions. Flat and featureless Most interesting feature: Carolina bays

C. The Sandhills Middle of state Stretches from Coastal Plain to Fall Line (the point at which the rivers fall from the high land to the low land) Coastline thousands of years ago; still has sandy soil Referred to as “Midlands”. Columbia located here

D. The Piedmont Means “foot of the mountains” Rolling and hilly Fertile soil but some rocky areas Interesting feature: monadnock Includes the cities of Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill

E. The Blue Ridge Named for the Blue Ridge Mountains Smallest region Rugged; elevation ranges from 1400 to 3500 feet Highest mountain: Sassafras Mountain at 3,554 feet

Answer to Quick Check Santee Delta- a triangular shaped piece of land formed by deposits at the mouth of a river

III. Waterways A. Major Rivers -Four major river systems: Pee Dee, Santee, Savannah, and Edisto -Only Edisto completely in SC, but not really a system B. Lakes -Dams -Eleven major lakes on two river systems: the Santee and Savannah. - Lake Wateree first lake in 1919.

Review What are the five landform regions of South Carolina starting at the coast moving inland? Coastal Zone Coastal Plain Sandhills Piedmont Blue Ridge

IV. Climate Subtropical climate Rainfall plentiful; warm temperatures Average temperature 61 F Coldest ever? -19 on 1/21/85 at Caesar’s Head Hottest ever? 111 in Blackville in September, 1925

Answer to Quick Check Santee Delta- a triangular shaped piece of land formed by deposits at the mouth of a river

Your Assignments South Carolina Land Region map (practice) South Carolina Rivers handout Landform Regions Activity due Tuesday.

Wednesday, August 17 Bell Work 1. There are five natural landform regions in South Carolina. Which one do we live in? Which one is our state capital located in? Name the four major river systems located in South Carolina.

Thursday, Aug. 18 Bell Work What is a delta? What is a monadnock? Homework: study for quiz on Monday!