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South Carolina’s
Geography
S.C. Standard 3-1.2 Describe the location and characteristics
of significant features of South Carolina, including landforms,
river systems, major cities, and climate regions.
Geography
 Geography is the study of the land,
water, plants, animals, and people of
a place.
 It is the setting for our state story.
 The geography of the land helps us
learn how people in the past met their
needs. We learn about where they
lived, the foods they grew, clothes
they wore, and ways they made a
living.
 Physical features such as landforms,
bodies of water, climate, plants, and
soil were made by nature.
Reading A Map
• Maps are tools that Geographers use to help
them learn about the land. There are tools on
the maps that we use to help us get where we
want to go.
• Maps include a title, a
compass, a scale of miles,
and a legend.
Where in the World is
North Augusta?
• Planet- Earth
• Continent- North America
• Country- United States of America
o Our state is in the Southeastern part of the U. S.
• State- South Carolina
o 50 states in the U.S.
• County- Aiken
o 46 Counties in S.C.
• City- North Augusta
Hello Neighbor!
• Our state has 3 major borders.
• We are bordered to the north by
NORTH CAROLINA, to the west by
GEORGIA, and to the east by the
ATLANTIC OCEAN.
• The western border between
S.C. and Georgia is the
Savannah River.
Landforms
• Landforms have to do with the shape of the
Earth’s surface. Some landforms in our state are:
o Foothills-a low hill at the base of a mountain
or mountain range
Carolina BaysShallow, oval, swampy
lake with trees growing
around ; Very puzzling
to scientist
Fall Line- a narrow
zone that marks the
geological boundary
between an upland
region and a plain;
where waterfalls and
rapids flow down from
hills
Monadnocks - Isolated hill
made of granite rock
Barrier Island- long
narrow islands that run
close to the mainland
and protect it from
storms or erosion.
Mountains- Large, natural
elevations of the Earth’s surface;
Sassafras Mountain is S.C.’s
highest mountain
Swamps-low-lying land
where water collects
Marshlands-soft,
wet land with
grasses and
cattails
BeachesSeashores
covered with
sand
Dune –Mound or
ridges of sand
piled up by the
wind
Plains- a large
area of flat land
with few trees
Rivers-large natural
streams of water
flowing into other
rivers or to the ocean
River Systems
• South Carolina has many rivers. Most of the early
towns were started near rivers so that settlers would
have a water source.
• The rivers flow toward the Atlantic Ocean. Some small
rivers flow into bigger rivers to form tributaries.
• As rivers empty into other rivers they form a river
system. Four major River Systems in South Carolina are
the Pee Dee, Santee, Edisto, and the Savannah.
• The land surrounding each river system is called a river
basin.
• Along the rivers are many lakes. Lakes are man-made
by damming the larger rivers.
Savannah River
• Forms the western border between South Carolina
and Georgia.
• Begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains and empties in
the Atlantic Ocean.
• Lake Thurmond (named after former Senator Strom
Thurmond) was created by damming the Savannah
River.
Edisto River
• The only major river system and basin that does not
flow into another state.
• It includes many smaller rivers, creeks, and swamps.
Santee River
• South Carolina’s longest river.
• Flows from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic
Ocean.
• Santee River was dammed to create Lake Marion
and Lake Moultrie. Lake Marion is the largest lake in
South Carolina.
Pee Dee River
• Located in the northeastern part of our state.
• Flows through South Carolina from North Carolina,
and then on to the Atlantic Ocean.
Climate
• Climate is an important natural feature.
• Climate is the weather over a long
period of time.
• South Carolina has a humid
subtropical climate.
• We have hot summers, mild winters,
and plenty of rain.
• Humid means having lots of moisture in
the air.