Download Summary: The Coastal Plain

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CHAPTER 2, LESSON 1
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Summary: The Coastal Plain
Why We Study Regions
North Carolina has three regions. Studying and comparing
them helps people to understand the state as a whole. The
Mountain region is part of the Appalachians, which stretch
from Canada to Alabama. The Piedmont region is part of
a hilly plateau that runs from New York to Georgia. The
Coastal Plain is part of flat land that stretches from New
York to Florida.
The Coastal Plain makes up nearly half of North
Carolina. It has two sections, the Inner Coastal Plain near
the Piedmont, and the Tidewater near the ocean. The
Tidewater is made up of flat land, wetlands, sounds, and
beaches. It is a popular recreation spot. The Cape Hatteras
and Cape Lookout areas are National Seashores preserved
for recreation and wildlife study.
People use the Tidewater region to ship goods around
the world. Ships stop at ports such as Morehead City and
Wilmington. The United States Marines, Coast Guard, and
Air Force all have bases in the Tidewater.
Inner Coastal Plain
The Inner Coastal Plain is between the Tidewater and the
Piedmont. Wetlands and high ground swamps called pocosins
dot the region. The Inner Coastal Plain is the most rural
part of North Carolina. Fort Bragg Army Base and Pope Air
Force Base are near Fayetteville. Fayetteville is the region's
largest city and urban area.
The Inner Coastal Plain's fertile soil is good for farming.
Peanuts, tobacco, and soybeans grow well there. Pines and
other trees cover half of the region. Wood from the pines
is used to make paper and furniture. The demand for wood
from North Carolina has grown. Logging companies are
cutting down more trees. Conservation groups help protect
the environment from too much logging.
The Sandhills lies in the southern part of the state near
the fall line. The soil is sandy, and most crops do not grow
well there. Peaches, however, thrive. People come to the
Sandhills to golf, relax at resorts, or raise horses.
Find and underline each
vocabulary word.
plateau (pla TOH) noun,
high land that can be flat
or hilly on top
port (pawrt) noun, a place
along the shore of a lake
or an ocean where ships
can dock
rural (RUR uhl) noun, a
country area with open
spaces and few people
urban (UR buhn) noun,
a city area with many
people
REVIEW What crops grow
well in the Inner Coastal
Plain? Underline the
sentence that contains the
answer.
REVIEW What are
North Carolina's three
major regions? Circle the
paragraph that provides this
information.
Practice Book
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Use with North Carolina: Geography and History, pp. 32–35
10/05/2007 15:43:45