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GA Studies- SS8G1a The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical
features and location.
a. Locate Georgia in relation to region, nation, continent, and hemispheres.
Relative LOCATION
1) Which hemisphere is Georgia located in?
2) Which continent is Georgia located in?
3) Which five states touch Georgia?
4) Which ocean borders Georgia?
Absolute LOCATION
1) What is the latitude of Georgia?
2) What is the longitude of Georgia?
3) What is the greatest length of Georgia?
4) What is the width of Georgia?
5) How many square miles of land does Georgia have?
6) How many square miles of inland water does Georgia have?
7) Where is the geographic center of Georgia?
b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge
Mountains, Valley and Ridge, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and
Coastal Plain.
Blue Ridge Mountains- known for its rugged beauty, it is the first barrier to the
warm, moist air rising from the Gulf of Mexico. This area is known for its
hardwoods, vegetable farming, and apples.
1) What part of the state are the Blue Ridge Mountains in?
2) The Appalachian Highlands stretch from _________________________ to
_____________________________ (states).
3) How wide is the Blue Ridge Mountains?
4) What is the land area of the Blue Ridge Mountains?
5) What kind of soil does this region have?
6) What is the highest peak in Georgia, that is located in this region and how
high is the peak?
7) What three states can you see from this peak?
8) Name three well known landmarks in this region.
Ridge and Valley- known for its low open valleys and high, narrow ridges that run
parallel to the valleys. It is dominated with forests and pastures and flat, fertile
farmlands with fields of grain, pastures for cattle, and many apple orchards.
1) What two regions is Ridge and Valley located between?
2) What is the elevation range in this region?
3) What kind of soil is found in this region?
4) Where is this region located?
5) What kind of industry is found in this region?
Appalachian Plateau- smallest of the regions. You will find many limestone caves,
deep canyons, and rock formations there. The Appalachian Trail begins in this
region.
1) Why is this region called the “TAG” corner?
2) What is another name for this region?
3) What famous mountain is found in this region?
4) What is the elevation of this region?
5) What two famous national parks are found in this region?
6) How many miles long is the Appalachian Trail?
Piedmont1) Where does the Piedmont Region begin and end?
2) What does the term Piedmont mean?
3) How much of Georgia does the Piedmont Region take up?
4) How much of the state’s population lives in the Piedmont region?
5) What are some agricultural products produced in this region?
6) What are the four main rivers located in the Piedmont region?
Coastal Plain- largest region.
1) What are the names of the two parts of this region?
2) What kind of climate is found in this region?
3) What kind of soil is found in this region?
4) What vegetable is the Vidalia Uplands famous for?
5) What agricultural products are grown in the Dougherty Plain?
6) What famous swamp is found in this region?
7) What is a wetland?
8) What coastal cities are found in this region?
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.
Fall Line- a natural boundary that separates the Coastal Plain from the
Piedmont Plateau. At the fall line, the hilly, mountainous lands meet the
Coastal Plain. Rivers and creeks that flow from the mountainous region cuts
deep channels into the soft soil of the Coastal Plain, which causes a lower
elevation and creates waterfalls.
1) The Fall lines runs from ______________________
through_______________________ and into _______________________.
2) Why did many settlers, exploring inland Georgia, have to stop at the Fall
Line?
3) Why were settlements built there?
Okefenokee Swamp- the largest freshwater wetlands in North America. The
area has about 70 “piney woods” islands, which were settled by pioneer
families in the 1850’s. The swamp is filled with alligators, herons, egrets,
cranes, and black bears.
1) How large is the Okefenokee Swamp?
2) What is the Indian meaning of the word Okefenokee?
3) The Okefenokee Swamp is filled with “black water”, what causes this?
4) What city is the swamp located near?
5) What group of Indians was the swamp one home to?
6) What type of giant trees are found in the swamp?
Appalachian Mountains- part of all three northern regions.
1) Explain how the Appalachian Mountains were formed.
Chattahoochee River- major source of water for Atlanta, Columbus, Helen,
Buford, LaGrange, and West Point.
1) What does the word “Cherokee” mean in the Cherokee language?
2) How long is the Cherokee River?
3) What are the three chief cities the Cherokee flows through?
4) What lakes are part of the Cherokee River?
Savannah River
1) How long is the Savannah River?
2) What was the Indian name for Savannah River?
3) What three lakes are part of the Savannah River?
4) Where are the headwaters of Savannah River located?
Barrier Islands- a group of islands that protect beaches by blocking water,
sand, and wind that would erode the mainland. These islands are known for
their beauty and tourism.
1) How long is Georgia’s coastline?
2) What are some of the famous “barrier islands”?
d. Evaluate the impact of climate on Georgia’s development.
Climate of Georgia- Georgia has a mild climate, with a subtropical climate
along the coast. There are four distinct seasons: fall, winter, spring, and
summer. Georgia has mild winters and hot, humid summers. Because of
higher elevation in the mountains, the winters are much colder and the
summers are mild. The mild climate of Georgia benefits its growing industry
and agriculture. When snow in the mountains melt, it runs off into the rivers
and streams and helps with the agriculture industry. Rainfall in the central and
southern regions is an average of 40-52 inches a year. In the mountainous
regions, rain averages 65-76 inches.
1) What is Climate?
2) What is weather?
3) What is vertical climate?
4) What is a drought?
5) Which Georgia industry would be most affected by rain and drought?