1. Warm-Up Define: Geography Absolute Location Relative Location
Fall Line
Region
Precipitation
Wetland
Barrier Island
Continental Shelf
Climate

2. Unit 1 Geography
SS8G1
The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical features and location

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. SS8G1 a.
Locate Georgia in relation to region, nation, continent, and hemispheres

8. 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).

9. Understanding Location
Relative Location: Where Georgia is located compared with other places
Western/Northern Hemisphere
North America
Southeastern United States
Atlantic coast
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11. Largest state east of the Mississippi River
Part of the Sunbelt
Bordered by 5 states—Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina
Bordered by Atlantic Ocean.

12. SS8G1 b.
Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain

13. SS8G1 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

14. Five Geographic Regions
Appalachian Plateau-5
Ridge and Valley-1
Blue Ridge-3
Piedmont-2
Coastal Plains-4

15. 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

17. Appalachian TAG Corner
Appalachian Plateau—Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain meet.
Appalachian Trail begins…runs 2,144 miles all the way to Maine

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

21. Blue Ridge Brevard Fault—separates Blue Ridge from Piedmont
Chattahoochee River

22. Piedmont Means “at the foot of the mountains”
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

23. Stone Mountain--granite
Lots of Business and Industry
Atlanta, Athens, Milledgeville

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
Fall Line-marks transition from Piedmont region to Coastal Plain region
Stretches from Augusta to Columbus

26. 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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27. 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

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

30. Tidewater Rivers Rivers that flow into Oceans
Freshwater mixes with salt water-estuary
Different Sea Life-oysters
Good for growing Rice

31. 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

33. SS8G1 a. Evaluate the impact of climate on Georgia’s development
Georgia’s Climate
SS8G1 a.
Evaluate the impact of climate on Georgia’s development

34. 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

35. 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)

36. 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.

37. 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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