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Vocabulary
Unit 1
Geography
● The study of our land, anything that can be mapped.
● We studied geography when we examined the 4
regions of NC.
● Related words: Maps, Terrain, MR. HeLP
Region
● An area where habitats are similar.
● NC is in the US region called the South.
● Related words: Coastal Plains, Mountain region,
Piedmont.
Location
● Where a place is: absolute or relative location of a
place.
● The absolute location of a place can be found by giving
its coordinates.
● Related words: Absolute location, Relative location,
address
Adapt
● How we change ourselves to fit our environment.
● We adapted to the stormy weather by putting on rain
jackets.
● Related words: Human-Environment Interaction, alter,
evolve.
Modify
● To alter the environment to fit your needs.
● We modified the forest when we cut down the trees.
● Related Words: Change, alter
Dependency/dependent
● Being reliant upon the environment for survival.
● We as a human race have a dependency upon the
environment.
● Related words: rely, need
Topography
● The physical features of a place.
● The topography of North Carolina varies across the 4
regions.
● Related words: mountains, trees, elevation, maps
Elevation
● Height above sea level
● The elevation of the Appalachian State football stadium
sits at is 3,333 feet.
● Related words: height
Mountain region
● The western region of the state that is located in the
Appalachian Mountains.
● Christmas Tree farming is an important industry in the
Mountain Region of NC.
● Related words: Appalachian Mountains, Christmas
Trees, cold weather.
Piedmont
● The area of land in between the Mountain Region and
the Coastal Plain (separated by the fall line).
● The Piedmont is home to North Carolina’s largest cities
and industries: high-tech jobs, furniture, and textiles.
● Related words: Research Triangle Park, Greensboro,
Charlotte.
Coastal Plain
● The large flat area of land in between the Piedmont and
the Tidewater.
● The Coastal Plains, which has the best soil for farming,
has a historically had a large tobacco industry.
● Related words: sandy soil, farming, Greenville, military
bases.
Tidewater
● The area of land from the Coastal Plains to the Atlantic
Ocean.
● The Tidewater region is home to the state’s two deep
water ports: Wilmington and Morehead city.
● Related words: outer coastal plain, estuaries, sound.
Estuary
● A muddy area that supports sea life.
● Estuaries are a transition zone between fresh and sea
water environments.
● Related words: tide water
Sound
● An inland body of mixed salt and fresh water.
● The Pamlico Sound is the largest on the East Coast*
● Related Words: Pamlico Sound, Albemarle Sound.
Inlet
● An Area where seawater flows with the tide.
● The inlet was almost completely drained at low tide.
● Related Words: tide water, tides, fishing
Fall Line
● A section of waterfalls and rapids that divides the
Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
● The Fall Line makes traveling down rivers difficult.
● Related words: separation
Climate
● The average weather over a long period of time.
● The climate in the NC mountain region is 3.5 degrees
cooler per 1000 feet in elevation.
● Related words: seasons, temperature, weather, hot,
cold.
Carolina Bays
● Elongated depressions found in Coastal Plain
● White Lake is the largest Carolina Bay in NC.
● Related Words: Lake,
Barrier Island
● Long sandy island along the coast.
● The Outerbanks, which are examples of barrier islands,
protect the coastline from harsh storms.