1. Cornell Note-taking (Two Column Notes)
Geographic Regions of Georgia SS6G11b 8/28/09
SS8G1 The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical features and location.
b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
c. Locate and evaluate the importance of key physical features on the development of Georgia; include the Fall Line, Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian Mountains, Chattahoochee and Savannah Rivers, and barrier islands.
Cornell Note-taking (Two Column Notes)
Step 3: Record
During lesson, take notes here to record the details relating to the main idea.
Skip lines to end one idea and to start another. Use abbreviations (b/c, gov., etc., lol) and phrases
Step 2: Recall
Essential Question?
How would you describe the different geographic regions of Georgia?
This is pre-requisite knowledge and not part of today’s lesson. As students in the class, you would already have been taught two-column notetaking. For today, however, I need to make sure everyone is familiar with the process.
Back to today’s lesson . . .
Step 4: summarize the ideas and facts in as few words as possible include notes about upcoming quizzes/tests

2. Warm-Up Which statement BEST describes Georgia’s relative location?
A. Georgia is a northeastern state.
B. Georgia is located north of Florida
C. Georgia is located in the southwestern United States
D. Georgia is located between 30º and 35º N latitude and between 80º and 85º W longitude.
How many states border Georgia?
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8
What are the names of the states that border Georgia?
A. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina
B. Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida
C. Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina
D. Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, and North Carolina
4. Into which hemisphere does the prime meridian place Georgia?
A eastern hemisphere
B northern hemisphere
C southern hemisphere
D western hemisphere

3. The Regions of Georgia
© 2010 Clairmont Press

4. Geographic Regions of Georgia
SS8G1 The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical features and location.
b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
c. Locate and evaluate the importance of key physical features on the development of Georgia; include the Fall Line, Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian Mountains, Chattahoochee and Savannah Rivers, and barrier islands.

5. What is Physical Geography?
Physical geography focuses on understanding the processes and pattern of natural environment

6. Georgia has 5 physiogeographic regions.
Appalachian Plateau
Ridge and Valley
Blue Ridge
Piedmont
Coastal Plain
The characteristics of each region make unique contributions to our state.

7. Appalachian Plateau Region aka: Cumberland Plateau/ TAG corner
Smallest Region
Appalachian Mountains stretch from north Georgia into Canada (over 2000 miles).
Among the oldest mountains in the world; worn down by thousands of years of erosion.
The plateau region is the western side of the Appalachian range. It is known for high, scenic bluffs of relative flat lands overlooking wide, beautiful valleys.
In northwest corner of Georgia and part of the 80 mile-long Lookout Mountain.
Many caves due to limestone underground.
Coal and iron mined in the region.
Cloudland Canyon State Park is in this region.

8. Appalachian Plateau aka: Cumberland Plateau/ TAG corner
Worn away by erosion
Northwest corner of Georgia
Ellison’s Cave is 12th largest
Coal fields and iron ore mines
Made up of old mountains

9. Ridge and Valley Region
The Ridge and Valley region has long ridges of mountains, separated by long valleys.
Chickamauga, Armuchee, and Great Valley are important valleys.
Valleys have fertile land good for farming.
Roads and streams follow the valleys. A few roads cross the ridges to connect roads in the valleys.
Region is divided from the mountains in the east by the Carter’s Dam Fault.

10. Ridge and Valley Lower elevation than Appalachian Plateau
Low open valleys and narrow ridges
Soil good for forests, pastures, and crops such as grain and apples (Ellijay)
Industry includes textiles and carpet (Dalton is the carpet capital of the world)

11. Ridge and Valley Long ridge of mountains with long valleys
Chickamauga valley and the Great Valley
Divided by Cartersville Great Fault Valley
Fertile Farmland

12. Blue Ridge Mountains Region
The Blue Ridge range is a part of the larger Appalachian Mountains.
The mountains are more rugged and the valleys randomly arranged as compared to the Ridge and Valley region.
Most roads follow the winding valleys.
Elevations of 1,600 to 4,700 feet above sea level give the region a cooler climate.
Brasstown Bald (4,784 feet) is tallest mountain.
Appalachian Trail begins here.
Gold has been found in the region, and marble is an important natural resource.
Tourists come to hike, view wildlife, canoe, raft, and enjoy trees in their fall colors.

13. Blue Ridge
Highest mts. in the state including Brasstown Bald- Georgia’s highest point.
Provides water for the entire state through precipitation from trapping warm moist Gulf air
Sandy loam and clay soil good for hardwoods, vegetable farming and apples
Beginning of Appalachian Trail, home to Amicalola Falls, Tallulah Gorge, and Helen
See it while you can. Erosion continues to wear down the height of the mountains.

14. Blue Ridge
Brasstown Bald is highest Point North East Georgia Stretches from VA to NE GA Waterfalls and rapid streams Hiking trail known as Appalachian Trail 1800’s gold was found Cherokee Indians lived here until forced off their land

15. Blue Ridge Images
Brasstown Bald: You can see 3 states from this point. Can you name them?
Amicalola Falls
Helen, Georgia has a strong German influence. Why do you think that is? How does the town of Helen contribute to our state?
Ga. Fruits & Vegetables

16. Piedmont Region
The Piedmont is known for its rolling hills between the mountains and Coastal Plain.
Plentiful granite and clay soil with fertile farms.
Many Georgians live in the region.
Rivers flow through the Piedmont, including the Chattahoochee and Savannah.
Pine trees as well as hardwood forests (oak, elm, maple, hickory, etc.).
Southern boundary is the Fall Line.
Changes in rock type cause the ground to fall away, creating waterfalls at the “fall” line across the state.
Cities grew along the Fall Line since ships could navigate from the Atlantic to this point (Augusta: Savannah River; Milledgeville: Oconee River; Macon: Ocmulgee River; Columbus: Chattahoochee River).

17. Piedmont: “Foot of the mountain”
Begins in the mountain foothills of N. Georgia and goes to the central part of the state.
You live in the Piedmont region.
Granite based foundation (What’s our largest granite outcropping?)
Soil is sandy loam and red clay suitable for growing hardwoods, pine, and agriculture.
Cotton belt before the Civil War, now wheat, soybeans, corn, poultry, and cattle.
Some of the most densely populated cities and crossed by Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Oconee rivers.

18. Piedmont: “Foot of the mountain”
Largest populated region
Rolling Hills
Red clay caused by iron oxide in the soil
Chattahoochee River flows through this region
Stone Mountain
Granite mines
Atlanta

19. Piedmont Images Georgia’s Flint River starts in Clayton County.
Why do you think most of Georgia’s major cities are located in the Piedmont region?
Sandy loam and red clay are make good soil for agriculture.
Why do you think most of Georgia’s rivers start in the Piedmont region?

20. Coastal Plain Region
The Coastal Plain is in the southern half of state and is the largest region.
Region has underground limestone and sandy soil.
A part of the Floridan Aquifer (underground water storage region) which stores much fresh water.
Lower coastal plain has Georgia’s barrier islands, 100 miles of coastline, marshes, and the Okefenokee Swamp.
Flatland makes for highways that are straight and level.
Home to many types of wildlife.
Farming is important to the region’s economy.
Longleaf pines grew above acres of wiregrass before the 1800s; railroads made it possible to transport large trees for lumber. There are few of these areas left.
Loblolly and slash pines are grown in the region today for lumber.

21. Coastal Plain Region Largest Region in size 100 miles of coastline
Once covered by the Atlantic
Aquifers are the largest source of fresh water
Low, flat, marshland
Okefenokee Swamp

22. Coastal Plain There are two parts to Georgia’s coastal plain:
The Inner Coastal Plain
The Outer Coastal Plain
Which color do you think represents the Inner Coastal Plain and which color represents the Outer Coastal Plain? Why?

23. The Inner Coastal Plain
Good supply of underground water
Major agricultural region: Vidalia Onions, peanuts, pecans, and corn
Why do you think President Jimmy Carter was known as “The Peanut Farmer from Georgia” during his campaign?

24. The Outer Coastal Plain
Soil not good for agriculture but trees provide naval stores and pulp production
Deep harbors and barrier islands also provide for tourism/recreation, fishing industry, and ports for importing/exporting goods.
Location of the earliest visits by explorers, first forts for protection, and Georgia’s first settlements.

25. Outer Coastal Plain Images
Why do you think a British flag flies over Fort Frederica?
Trees are used to
produce pulp and naval stores. The processed goods are then shipped from our shores.
Our shores continue to bring visitors to our state.
Early map of Savannah

26. Other Important Coastal Plain Features
Okefenokee Swamp:
Covers 681 square miles making it the largest swamp in North America
Freshwater wetland (wetland: low-lying land area where water lies close to the surface)

27. Another type of wetland
Salt Marshes:
A wetland that is influenced by tides
Georgia ranks 4th in the nation in wetland acres
A marsh at low tide The same marsh at high tide.

28. Georgia’s Barrier Islands “Islands of Gold”
Barrier islands protect the mainland from wind, sand, and water that cause erosion.
Georgia has 18 barrier islands.
These islands are tourist destinations but 2/3 of the land remains wilderness sanctuaries.

29. Other Georgia Geographic Features
Continental Shelf:
Where the land meets the sea
The Fall Line:
Where hilly land meets the coastal plain
Runs from Columbus through Macon to Augusta
Prevented exploration but provided for settlements