North Carolina Regions

Three Regions land is result of erosion by water Elevation in the east begins @ sea level and rises as you travel west Mt. Mitchell is the highest point in NC and eastern US NC is divided into 3 physical regions

The Coastal Plain 45% of state Coast to fall line– where rivers drop into rapids from higher elevations Flat area with thin layer of sand and clay Two largest port cities are Wilmington and Morehead City

Coastal Plain cont. Divided into two areas The Outer Banks –barrier islands, beaches, dunes, sounds, swamps Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout & Cape Fear Sounds –shallow water between main land and islands, brackish water (fresh & salt) Inlets—where ocean flows between islands, strong currents

Coastal Plain cont. Tidewater– west of outer banks, slightly higher, sandhills Golf courses, peach orchards, horse farms Tobacco, soybeans, and peanuts

The Piedmont Rolling land, 45% of state What is left of very old mountains (erosion) Furniture, textiles, tobacco Many rivers provide hydroelectric power Largest population center– Raleigh, Durham, W-S, GBoro, Charlotte

The Mountains Two ranges w/ plateau in middle Blue Ridge and the Smokies Heavily forested, dairy farming, apples, Christmas trees Eastern continental divide– rivers east flow to Atlantic, west go to Gulf of Mexico

Mountains cont. Tourism- Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail

Waterways in NC Most rivers begin in mountains or piedmont Only one goes directly to Atlantic (Cape Fear), most empty into sounds Most lakes are man-made, largest are Fontana, Norman, and Gaston

Climate in NC Climate– temperature and precipitation over long period of time Long growing season- period of time from last frost to first frost More snow in mountains (elevation and rain shadow) More rain in coastal plain