1. GEOGRAPHY of North Carolina: Land of Diversity

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

4. BASIC FACTS its longest east-west point is about 500 miles
its widest north-south point is about 180 miles
covers about 53,000 square miles
is about the size of England
is known as one of the South Atlantic states

5. North Carolina

6. North Carolina has 3 distinct geographical regions

7. Wilmington
The Coastal Plain
Outer Banks

8. COASTAL PLAIN located between Atlantic Ocean and the fall line
covers nearly 45% of state’s landmass
elevations range from sea level to ft. at the fall line

9. COASTAL PLAIN is divided into 2 sections
Tidewater
from the ocean to about miles inland
contains a series of barrier islands that border the ocean known as the Outer Banks

10. The Outer Banks

11. 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.

12. Cape Lookout Lighthouse

13. Currituck Lighthouse

14. (stretch 170 miles along coast)
Cape Hatteras
and
Cape Lookout
national seashores
(stretch 170 miles along coast)

17. Maritime Forest of the Outer Coastal Plain

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

19. Currituck Sound

20. Emerald Isle Inlet

21. Lake Mattamuskeet

22. Major Tidewater coastal towns
Morehead City*
New Bern
Edenton
Elizabeth City
Beaufort
Wilmington*
Southport
Washington

23. INNER COASTAL PLAIN stretches 70-100 miles from Tidewater to fall line
contains sandy soil—prime agricultural region
Main crops - tobacco, cotton, corn, wheat.
Beef & dairy cattle, hogs, & poultry- common livestock.

24. Inner Coastal Plain is the prime agricultural region for
Cotton
Tobacco
Hog Farming

25. Inner Coastal Plain, noted for its sandy soil.

26. SANDHILLS
named because of deep sandy soil—noted for its golf courses

27. The Sandhills

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

29. Greensboro
State Capitol
The Piedmont
Charlotte
Raleigh

30. PIEDMONT located between the fall line and the Blue Ridge Mts.
stretches approximately 200 miles
covers nearly 39% of state’s landmass
elevations from 500-1,500 ft. (moving east to west)

31. PIEDMONT Center of the state’s urban population Raleigh Charlotte
Greensboro
Winston-Salem *
Durham

32. 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

33. Restored Mine Tunnel at Reed

34. The Deep River, Lee County

36. The Haw River, Chatham County

39. Center of higher education

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

41. The Mountains

42. 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 miles wide

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

45. Mt Mitchell State Park

46. 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

47. The Appalachian Trail

50. BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

51. Creek on the Parkway

52. The Blue Ridge Parkway

54. Cherokee--state’s only Indian reservation

55. Unto These Hills

56. Asheville--largest city in region

57. State’s largest national forests Pisgah and Nantahala

58. Pisgah National Forest

59. Nantahala National Forest