Download Georgias Geography

The Location of Georgia
Absolute and Relative
Georgia’s Location
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Hemispheres: Northern &
Western
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Continent: North America
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Country: United States
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Region: South or the
Southeast
Border States: FL, NC, SC, AL,
TN
The Southern United States
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Georgia is one of
eleven states
commonly referred to
as “the south.” 4
other states are also
often included within
this region of the
United States
The 5 Regions of Georgia
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Appalachian Plateau
Ridge and Valley
Blue Ridge
Piedmont
Coastal Plain
Appalachian Plateau
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Smallest region in GA.
Sloping land with a high relief
over neighboring valleys.
Soil - sandstone, shale, and
limestone.
Resources – hardwood forests,
pastures, & coal.
TAG Corner – TN, AL, GA.
Lookout Mtn. & Cloudland
Canyon
The Ridge and Valley
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Low open valleys & narrow
ridges.
Soil – shale and sandstone on
ridges & limestone and clay in
the valleys.
Resources – forests, pastures,
apple orchards (Ellijay), and
carpet factories (Dalton).
Major battle ground during the
Civil War (Tourism)
The Blue Ridge Region
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Receives the most rainfall annually (80 inches per year).
Major industry is tourism. It used to be mining.
Soil – sandy loam and clay (erosion problems)
Resources – hardwood forests, vegetable farming,
apples.
Appalachian Mts. Are located in this region.
Most rainfall (precipitation) in GA.
Brasstown Bald – Highest Mt. In
GA
The Piedmont Region
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Georgia’s largest regions in population
(over 4.5 million people).
Region where Georgia’s major cities are
located: Atlanta, Athens, Atlanta,
Augusta
The soil is made of well drained granite
and red clay.
Made up of rolling hills and flatlands
(Foot of the Mountain)
Economy – wheat, soybeans, poultry,
corn, cattle, tourism.
The Coastal Plain Region
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Largest Region of the state in land.
It makes up three-fifths of the state.
Inner Coastal Plain – Agricultural
heartland of the state (peaches,
peanuts, cotton, Vidalia onion.
Outer Coastal Plain – Not good for
farming (soil is too wet). This
region has many pine trees is close
to the Atlantic Ocean, which makes
it good for tourism, shipping, and
seafood.
Soil is limestone and clay.
Fall Line
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Separates the Coastal Plain
and Piedmont regions.
Prehistoric Coastline
Impact on Georgia – Early
settlers made their home hear
because the waterfalls could
be converted to energy.
Many explores couldn’t move
past the Fall Line due to the
waterfalls.
Okefenokee Swamp
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Largest freshwater swamp in
North America (700 square
miles).
Early Native Americans lived
here (name means “Trembling
Earth).
The swamp was a major
source of timber from 19101937.
Tourist area today! Many
animals to see. Protected area.
Savannah & Chattahoochee
Rivers
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Chattahoochee – used
primarily as a water source for
Georgian’s living in the
Piedmont region.
Savannah – used primarily for
shipping goods, but also for
drinking water (Savannah &
Augusta), and hydroelectric
power, and to cool nuclear
power plants in South
Carolina.
The Appalachian Mts.
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The mountains stretch from
Maine to Georgia.
Georgia calls these mountains
the Blue Ridge Mts.
These mountains bring in a lot
of tourism: hiking, mountain
biking, skiing, camping. This
brings money into the state.
The Barrier Islands
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These islands protect the
mainland from erosion.
There are 14 islands in GA.
The islands are a big tourist
destination (swimming,
horseback riding, fishing, etc.)
Fishing and paper industries
are popular here.
Weather and Climate
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Weather – day to day
conditions in the atmosphere
(rainy, cloudy, sunny)
Climate – weather over a long
period of time (usually snowy
in Antarctica; usually sunny in
Hawaii).
Impact – people want to settle
in Georgia because it has a
warm and mild climate. The
climate is also great for
farming.