1. Georgia’s Geographic Regions

2. What makes a region?
A region can be defined by common characteristics that are usually- cultural, human or physical
The five regions in Georgia include:
Appalachian Plateau
Ridge and Valley
Blue Ridge
Piedmont
Coastal Plain

3. Appalachian Plateau Region
Located in the Northwest corner
Smallest of the 5 regions
AKA: Cumberland Plateau and TAG Corner- because it connects the states of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia
Geography:
Caves, canyons, rock formations
Lookout Mountain- flat topped 100 mile mountain
Soil: limestone, shale, and sandstone
Economy:
Tourism-Cloudland State Park- 2 waterfalls
The site of a major Civil War battle; Chickamauga
Agriculture limited to berries (overall not well-suited)
poultry
Cities:
LaFayette and Trenton

4. Appalachian Region

5. The Ridge and Valley Region
Geography:
Located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Plateau.
low open valleys and narrow ridges
Elevation reaches 700-1,600 feet above sea level
Shale, limestone, sandstone, clay
Forests and pastures
Fossil fuel: Coal (Ga’s only coal deposits)
Economy:
Dalton has a large textile and carpet industry; considered “carpet capital of the world”
Major battle ground for the Civil War and a major transportation route between Georgia and Tennessee
Some farm land for grain and apple orchards and some cattle
Tourism with apple orchards
Cities:
Cartersville, Calhoun, Ellijay, Rome and Dalton

6. Ridge and Valley Region

7. The Blue Ridge Region Geography: Economy: Cities:
Located in the northeastern part of Georgia
It is 100 miles wide
Appalachian Mtns: tallest mountains including Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest point (5,000ft high).
The source of Georgia’s rivers
sandy loam, clay
Includes the southernmost point of the Appalachian Trail
Receives the states most precipitation with 80 inches of rain annually.
Well suited for forests, vegetable farming, and apples.
Economy:
mining was once the primary industry, but today it is tourism.
Amicalola Falls
Tallulah Gorge
Cities:
Dahlonega (site of America’s first Gold Rush), Helen

8. The Blue Ridge Region

9. The Piedmont Region Geography: Economy: Cities:
Located in the middle of the state; hills and valleys in north; flatlands in south
most populous region with more than half of the state’s population; home to Georgia’s largest cities
Once covered with cotton fields
Sandy loam, red clay, granite
Chattahoochee River supplies water to western part of state as well as Alabama and Florida; forms border to Alabama
Fall Line-natural boundary separating Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Drop in elevation. Prevented early settlers from advancing over the steep falls, but provided source of power
Economy:
Industry, manufacturing and mining (granite)
Agriculture: mostly poultry; cattle; wheat, soybeans, corn
Hardwood timber and pine
Cities:
Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus and Stone Mountain

10. The Piedmont Region

11. The Coastal Plain Region
Geography:
Once covered by prehistoric ocean
Largest region taking up 3/5 of the state
Okefenokee Swamp- covers half a million acres. Primitive wetland and home to hundreds of species of animals.
Barrier Islands- protect beaches from wind, sand and water erosion. 2/3 remains wilderness sanctuaries.
Fall Line: runs through Columbus, Macon and Augusta.
Savannah River: begins in South Carolina and creates the eastern border of Georgia
Economy:
agricultural heartland of the state with peaches, peanuts, cotton, and Vidalia Onions (rich soil, swampy to coast)
Naval stores and paper and pulp products
Tourism; islands, beaches, saltwater fishing, marine life
Shipping and seafood (two deepwater ports)
Cities:
Savannah (Georgia’s oldest city), Albany, Macon, Brunswick

12. What do you remember about… Georgia’s physiographic regions???
Lesson Two (SS8G1b) – Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
What do you remember about… Georgia’s physiographic regions??? D.
1. Contains GA’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald
A. Piedmont C.
2. Contains most of GA’s peanut and cotton farms
B. Valley & Ridge E.
3. The smallest physiographic region
C. Coastal Plain D.
4. Has GA’s highest amount of annual rainfall
D. Blue Ridge A.
5. The most populated of GA’s regions.
E. Appalachian Plateau B.
Contains mountain ridges with valleys between
Contains GA’s only source of a fossil fuel (coal)
The location of GA’s capital and largest city E. A. C.
9. The largest of GA’s regions, in terms of land area
SS8G1 – The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical features and location.

13. Georgia Outdoors
Grand Canyons

14. Georgia’s Seven Wonders

15. 1. Okefenokee Swamp
Coastal Plains

16. 2. Tallulah Gorge
Blue Ridge. Three miles long and 1,200 feet deep

17. 3. Radium Springs
Coastal Plains. Sapphire blue water in a crystalline.

18. 4. Warm Springs
Piedmont. Mineral springs that maintain a temperature of 88.

19. 5. Stone Mountain
Piedmont. Solid granite. Largest raised sculpture in the world.

20. 6. Providence Canyon
Blue Ridge. Little Grand Canyon. 1,108 acre park containing sixteen canyons

21. 7. Amicalola Falls
Blue Ridge foot cascade of water.