Physiographic Regions of Georgia

Region An area on Earth’s surface that is defined by certain unifying characteristics (cultural, physical, or human) An area on Earth’s surface that is defined by certain unifying characteristics (cultural, physical, or human)

Appalachian Plateau

Plateau

Size/Location Elevation  300 square miles  NW corner (TAG- TN,AL,GA Corner) of Georgia  feet

Landforms  Broad flat topped mountains separated by ridges of limestone  Limestone caves, deep canyons, interesting rock formations, waterfalls

Soil/Rocks, minerals  sandstone, shale, limestone

Resources/Crops  Appalachian Oak Forests cover most of it.  pastures  Coal –the only source of coal in Georgia

Cities/Places of Interest  Sand Mountain  Lookout Mountain  Long narrow valley between these mts.  Cloudland Canyon  Chickamauga-civil war battle site

How formed/Other features  Plates under the earth’s crust collided causing the crust to fold and wrinkle causing hills and mountains

Ridge and Valley

Size/Location Elevation  most of NW Georgia  feet

Landforms  long, parallel ridges  wide rolling valleys

Soil/Rocks, minerals  sedimentary rock  sandstone ridges  limestone and shale valleys

Resources/Crops  Forests, pastures  Apple orchards, wheat, cotton, hardwoods, pines,  4% of Georgia’s farmland  timber

Cities/Places of Interest  Taylor Ridge, Pigeon Mountain  Dalton –Carpet industry – more than 70 carpet manufacturing plants

How formed/Other features  Plates under the earth’s crust collided causing the crust to fold and wrinkle causing hills and mountains

Blue Ridge

Size/Location Elevation most of NE Georgia 2000 square miles feet

Landforms highest mountains in Appalachian highlands Rivers begin here. steep slopes waterfalls

Soil/Rocks, minerals clay, sand erosion High precipitation – provides water for the entire state

Resources/Crops Hardwood forests apples Small vegetable farms

Cities/Places of Interest Chattahoochee National Forest Brasstown Bald (treeless on top) 4,784 ft. Amicalola falls Tallulah Gorge Helen

Other Features Springer Mountain –start of the Appalachian Trail which stretches from Georgia to Maine (2,144 miles)

How formed/Other features Plates under the earth’s crust collided causing the crust to fold and wrinkle causing hills and mountains

Piedmont “foot of the mountain”

Piedmont

Size/Location Elevation 30% of state 30% of state between the Coastal Plain and the mountains between the Coastal Plain and the mountains feet feet

Landforms Gently, sloping hills, flatlands Gently, sloping hills, flatlands valleys valleys many streams and rivers many streams and rivers ravines ravines

Soil/Rocks, minerals red clay, sandy loam red clay, sandy loam fertile soil fertile soil bedrock bedrock large areas of solid rock just below the earth’s surface large areas of solid rock just below the earth’s surface often exposed where soil has washed away often exposed where soil has washed away granite, gneiss, marble granite, gneiss, marble

Resources/Crops oak-hickory-pine forests oak-hickory-pine forests marble, granite marble, granite cotton, soybeans, wheat, poultry, cattle cotton, soybeans, wheat, poultry, cattle

Cities/Places of Interest Athens Athens Atlanta Atlanta Milledgeville Milledgeville Six Flags Six Flags Zoo Atlanta Zoo Atlanta Stone Mountain Stone Mountain

Other features 60% of Georgia’s population lives here. 60% of Georgia’s population lives here. Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee Rivers Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee Rivers

Coastal Plain

Size/Location Elevation 60% of state 60% of state lower half of the state lower half of the state feet feet

Landforms Two parts Two parts – Inner Coastal Plain – Outer Coastal Plain flat with low relief flat with low relief gentle slopes gentle slopes wide, deep, slow rivers wide, deep, slow rivers

Soil/Rocks, Minerals Limestone, sand, clay Limestone, sand, clay Outer coastal plain -- poorly drained Outer coastal plain -- poorly drained Inner Coastal plain -- fertile soil, underground water Inner Coastal plain -- fertile soil, underground water

Resources/Crops Outer Coastal Plain Outer Coastal Plain –some swampy areas –Used for pasture and timber –shrimp and fish Inner Inner –crops such as peanuts, cotton, Vidalia onions, corn, soybeans, peaches, pecans timber timber

Cities/Places of Interest Savannah, Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta Savannah, Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta Okefenokee Swamp – freshwater wetland Okefenokee Swamp – freshwater wetland

once covered by ocean once covered by ocean Barrier Islands Barrier Islands – protect beaches by blocking sand, wind, water – tourism, recreation, wildlife sanctuaries Continental shelf Continental shelf – very wide – reduces the chance of hurricanes Other features

Fall Line Point at which hilly or mountainous lands meet the coastal plain Columbus, Macon, Augusta Waterfalls provide a power source