1. Where in the World is Georgia?

2. The United States

4. Geography of Georgia
Region – An area of land that shares common characteristics with itself but whose characteristics are different than other surrounding areas.
Nation – Political division of land; also known as a country.
Continent – One of the seven large areas of land that cover the surface of the Earth. The seven continents are: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.
Hemispheres – Half of the earth. Refers to the halves of the earth formed by the Equator (northern and southern) and the Prime Meridian (eastern and western).

6. Longitude (Meridians)
Lines that measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian

7. Latitude (Parallels)
Lines that measure distance north or south of the Equator
Think (“Rungs on a ladder”—Laddertude) OR (“Lat lays flat”)

8. Equator 0 degrees Latitude
The starting point for measuring north or south

9. Prime Meridian 0 degrees Longitude
The starting point for measuring east or west

10. Coordinates A set of global measurements identifying an exact location
Latitude & Longitude

11. Cardinal Directions
North, South, East, and West

12. Intermediate Directions
Measurements between the cardinal directions.
Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest

13. Absolute Location 32.9605° N, 83.1132° W Georgia, Coordinates
Identifies a precise position on Earth’s surface.
° N, ° W
Georgia, Coordinates

14. Relative Location
Describes where a place is located with other places.
Dalton is located about 89 miles NW of Atlanta.

16. The 5 Major Physiographic Regions

17. Appalachian Plateau

18. Appalachian Plateau Smallest Region Far northwest corner
A maze of limestone, deep canyons, and interesting rock formations
TAG Corner
Sometimes referred to the Cumberland Plateau
Most scenic but less traveled
Contains the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Beginning of the Appalachian Trail

20. Blue Ridge

21. Blue Ridge Known for its rugged beauty About 2000 square miles
Highest and largest groups of mountains
The first barrier to warm, moist air rising from the Gulf of Mexico
Precipitation can exceed 80 inches a year
Brasstown Bald is located here
Landmarks include Tallulah Gorge and the alpine community of Helen

23. Ridge and Valley

24. Ridge and Valley Low open valleys and narrow ridges
Flat fertile farmlands with fields of grain, pastures for cattle and rows of apple orchards
Elevation ranges from 700 to 1600 feet above sea level
Known for its industry, particularly textile and carpet manufacturing
Dalton, known as the “carpet capital of the world”

26. Piedmont

27. Piedmont Begins in the mountain foothills of northern Georgia
Gently sloping hills and valleys in the north and flatlands in the south
“heartland” of the state
Means “foot of the mountain”
Granite-based landform makes up about a third of the state
Other type of soil: “red” clay
½ of the state’s population
Cotton belt of antebellum days
Business and industry flourish
Densely populated

29. Coastal Plain

30. Coastal Plain Outer Coastal: Inner Coastal:
Largest: occupies 3/5 of state
Inner Coastal:
Mild climate & good supply of underground water
Soil: limestone to clay
Vidalia Upland: onions
Dougherty Plain: peanuts, corn, & pecans
Outer Coastal:
Does not have drained soil nor fertile farmlands
Center of naval stores & pulp production
Flat and in some areas swampy or marshy
Okefenokee Swamp
Barrier islands
2/3 of barrier islands’ land remain wilderness sanctuaries

32. The Appalachian Mountains
Very large mountain range which runs over 1,500 miles from eastern Canada to central Alabama.
The southernmost part of the Appalachian Mountain chain is called the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Close to 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains extend into north Georgia.
These mountains form the first barrier to warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. The cool mountain air causes the moisture in the air to condense and fall to the earth as precipitation (rain, snow, etc.). This precipitation forms the basis of many of Georgia’s rivers.

33. Appalachian Mountains

34. Chattahoochee River
Begins in the Blue Ridge Region and flows southwest toward Alabama and into the Gulf of Mexico.
It forms Georgia’s western boundary with Alabama.
The river is a fast moving creek north of the Fall Line and can not be used for boat travel most of the year. The river flattens out and slows down south of the Fall Line and can be used for transportation.
After World War I the Chattahoochee’s fast moving water was used to create hydroelectric power through dams.
Provides most of the drinking water for the metropolitan Atlanta area.

35. Chattahoochee River

36. Savannah River Natural boundary between Georgia and South Carolina.
Begins at Lake Hartwell and flows southeast toward the city of Savannah before emptying in the Atlantic Ocean.
Also used as a source for hydroelectric power.
Provides most of the drinking water for Augusta and Savannah.

37. Savannah River

38. Rivers Chatahoochee Savannah Flint Ocmulgee Oconee Altamaha Ogeechee
Chattahoochee

39. Why are the Savannah/Chattahoochee Rivers Important
Drinking water
Hydroelectric power
Travel/transportation/Trade

40. The Fall Line
Located where the hilly or mountainous lands of the Piedmont region meet the coastal plain region.
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

41. Fall Line

42. 7 Natural Wonders of GA
Amicalola Falls
Providence Canyon

43. Radium Springs
Warm Springs

44. Stone Mountain
Tallulah Gorge

45. 7th Wonder: Okefenokee Swamp
Named for the Seminole Indian word which means “land of the trembling Earth”
Largest swamp in North America (About 681 square miles)
Freshwater (not salt water) wetland
Located south of Waycross (Charlton, Ware, Brantley and Clinch)
Home to more than 400 species of animals
Water lies close to the surface
President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge which protected land and stopped logging companies from cutting down the large, old trees.

46. Barrier Islands
Also known as the Golden Isles (Spanish explorers called the islands “Islands of Gold).
Form a barrier between Georgia’s mainland coast and the Atlantic Ocean.
Helps to protect Georgia’s mainland coast form strong winds, waves and ocean currents.
Important to the state’s tourism. Many people visit the beaches and resorts
Jekyll, Sea Island, St. Simons, and Tybee Islands are all connected to the mainland by bridges but others can be reached by boats.
Today, the islands are mainly tourist and recreation destinations though the fishing and paper industries are still important economic enterprises.

47. Barrier Islands

48. Georgia has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters, though the mountainous areas tend to be cooler than that of the rest of the state. Georgia usually has a large amount of precipitation throughout the year and ranges from 45 to 75 inches per year depending on the area, but receives very little snow fall.
Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains receives a significant amount of rainfall because of the warm air from the Gulf of Mexico becoming trapped by the high altitude of the cool mountains.

49. Georgia is prone to tornadoes and often feels the effects of hurricanes, though the state has not been hit directly since Georgia’s warm, wet, climate has made it an ideal location for agriculture. From its beginning, Georgia was established for growing crops. Georgia’s relatively mild climate has brought many people and businesses to the state, making it the 9th most populous in the nation.