1. Georgia and the American Experience
Chapter 1:
Where in the World is Georgia?
Study Presentation
© 2005 Clairmont Press

2. Georgia and the American Experience
Section 1: What is Geography?
Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia
Section 3: Georgia’s Climate

3. Section 1: What is Geography?
Essential Question
- What roles do the six essential elements of geography play in our lives?

4. Section 1: What is Geography?
What geographic terms do I need to know?
-- geography
-- absolute location
-- relative location

5. What is Geography?
Geographica (Greek origin) means “earth’s description”.
Science of studying Earth as the home of humans.
Geography helps us understand why Georgia’s native peoples and later settlers chose certain parts of the state for their home.

6. Understanding Georgia: Spatial Geography
Spatial: How Georgians organize their space and environment:
159 counties
five bordering states

7. Understanding Georgia: Places and Regions
Places and Regions: People create regions to understand Earth’s complexities
Georgia has five physiographic regions
18 islands
58, 910 square miles
854 square inland water miles

8. Understanding Georgia through Geography
Physical Systems: Physical processes that shape the earth’s surface
Coastal islands (southeast Georgia)
Appalachian Mountains (north Georgia)
Fall Line divides east and west Georgia

9. Understanding Georgia: Human Systems
Human Systems: Where Georgians migrated and settled
Atlanta (Fulton County) is the capital
Twiggs County (geographic center)
Port of Savannah (first major settlement)
Brasstown Bald (highest geographic point)

10. Understanding Georgia: Environment and Society
Environment and Society: Actions of humans modify the environment
Suburban sprawl in metropolitan Atlanta
Interstates and highways
Urban population centers
Rural farmlands and agricultural regions

11. Understanding Georgia: Uses of Geography
Uses of Geography: Interpret Georgia’s past, understand its present, plan for its future
Location from one settlement to another affects how each settlement develops
Georgia’s location relative to other states affects Georgia’s growth and economic development

12. Understanding Location
Absolute location: A precise position on Earth’s surface
Georgia is located at 30°– 35°N latitude, 80°– 85° W longitude
Georgia borders Florida (south), Alabama (west), Tennessee and North Carolina (north), and South Carolina (east).

13. Understanding Location
Relative Location: Where Georgia is located compared with other places
North America
Southeastern United States
Atlantic coast
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14. Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
-- How would you describe the geographic regions of Georgia?

15. Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia
What words do I need to know?
-- Fall Line
-- Region
-- Precipitation
-- Wetland
-- Barrier Island
-- Continental Shelf

16. Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia
What regions do I need to know?
-- Appalachian Plateau Region
-- Ridge and Valley Region
-- Blue Ridge Region
-- Piedmont Plateau
-- Coastal Plain Region
-- Okefenokee Swamp

17. Appalachian Plateau Region
Georgia’s smallest physiographic region
Many limestone caves, deep canyons, rock formations
Cumberland Plateau (Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain separated by limestone ridges)
Limestone, shale, and sandstone soils

18. Ridge and Valley Region
Between Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Plateau
Low open valleys parallel to narrow ridges
Elevations ranges from 700 to 1600 feet above sea level
Forests and pastures dominate the region
Limestone and clay soils in the valley
Shale and sandstone on the ridges

19. Blue Ridge Region Northeastern part of state
Contains state’s highest and largest group of mountains
Brasstown Bald, Georgia highest mountain is here
Mountains provide much precipitation (water) for the state
Sandy loam and clay soils
Hardwood forests, vegetable farming, and apples

20. Piedmont Plateau
Begins in mountain foothills and goes to state’s central part
Gently sloping hills in north, flatlands in the south
Hardwood timber, pine, and agriculture
Red clay and granite base
Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Oconee rivers

21. Coastal Plain Region Largest region, three-fifths of state
Inner Coastal Plain: Mild climate, good underground water supply, state’s major agriculture region
Outer Coastal Plain (southwest corner): rich soil for peanuts, pecans, corn, and pulp production
Low-lying freshwater wetlands

22. Okefenokee Swamp 681 square miles Located south of Waycross
Largest swamp in North America
Freshwater wetland
Water lies close to the surface

23. Islands of Gold
Spanish explorers called the barrier islands “islands of gold”
Protect beaches by blocking sand, winds, and water that could erode the mainland
Two-thirds remains wilderness areas
Much recreation, seafood gathering
Deep water ports for shipping

24. Shelves and Lines
Georgia’s continental shelf is portion of coastal plain that extends into the ocean
The Continental slope falls into deep plateaus and into the Atlantic Ocean depths
The Fall Line, a natural boundary, separates the Coastal Plain from the Piedmont Plateau

25. Fall Line Features Hilly or mountainous lands meet the coastal plain
Runs from Columbus (west) through Macon to Augusta (east)
Many waterfalls caused by water from the hills cutting channels into the softer soil of the plains
Fall Line waterfalls provide power source for several Georgia communities
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26. Section 3: Georgia’s Climate
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
-- How would you describe the climate of Georgia?

27. Section 3: Georgia’s Climate
What concepts do I need to know?
-- Difference between weather and climate
-- Effect of weather conditions on the state
-- Different types of weather phenomena

28. Georgia’s Temperature
Mild climate, subtropical feel along the coast
Hot, humid summers and mild winters
Four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Vertical climate (higher elevation in mountains causes colder temperatures)
July is hottest month; January is coldest

29. Georgia’s Precipitation
In normal year, Georgia gets inches of rain in central and southern regions and inches in the northern mountains
July is wettest month; October is driest
From 1998 to 2002, Georgia experienced a major drought (extended lack of precipitation)

30. Winds and Currents
Air masses from Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean control summer’s warm months.
Air masses from polar regions of Alaska and Canada control Georgia’s winters.
Ocean currents, trade winds, and prevailing westerlies aided travel for early explorers and settlers to Georgia.

31. Storms over Georgia
Georgia averages 21 tornadoes each year, resulting in one to three deaths
Most tornadoes in Georgia occur from March to May
Georgia’s most hurricane-like storm (in terms of lives lost) occurred in Savannah in 1893
Called the “Sea Islands Hurricane,” the storm resulted in 1,000 deaths.
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