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Alabama’s Natural
Environment
Chapter 2
Lesson 1 – Alabama’s Regions
• Our state has many
different kinds of
landforms.
• The green areas on
the map are the
lowest points.
• The brown areas on
the map are the
highest points.
Our 5 Regions
Highland Rim region1. Located in the
northwestern corner of
Alabama
2. Land is hilly
3. It is to the west of the
Appalachian Mountains
Our 5 Regions
Cumberland Plateau
region1. Located southeast of the
Highland Rim
2. Has plateaus, which are
large areas of flat land
that are higher than the
land around it
3. It has the Appalachian
Mountains
Our 5 Regions
Ridge and Valley region1. Located east of the
Cumberland Plateau
2. Jagged and uneven land
3. It has valleys and sharp
mountain ridges
4. The city of Birmingham is
in this region
Our 5 Regions
Piedmont region1. Located south and east of
the first 3 regions
2. Similar in height to the
Cumberland Plateau, but
lower than the Ridge and
Valley
3. It has Cheaha Mountain,
the highest point in the
state
Our 5 Regions
Coastal Plain region1. The largest landform
region in Alabama
2. Forests in the northern
part, sandy soils in the
southern part, and rich
farmland in between
3. Mainly flat land
Lesson 2 – Alabama’s Rivers
• We have three main river
systems
– Alabama – Coosa – Tallapoosa
– Tennessee
– Black Warrior – Tombigbee
Fun Fact:
The French explorer who suggested
connecting the Tennessee and Tombigbee
Rivers was Marquis Montcalm
River Systems
• Two of Alabama’s river systems are connected
by the Tennessee – Tombigbee Waterway,
which is an important trade route between the
Midwest and the Gulf of Mexico.
• This area of Alabama is known for great soil and
is called the Black Belt.
Dams were built to hold back water and to
control the flow
Generators in the dams use the power of the
water to produce electricity
This is called hydroelectric power
Some Water Dams in Alabama
Lesson 3 – Alabamians and the
Environment
• We have many natural resources
• Natural resources are things in the environment
that people can use.
– Water
– Soil
– Forests
Natural Resources
• Our temperate
climate and rich soil is
good for farming. It
helps them have a
long growing season.
• Our major crops are
– Corn
– Soybeans
– Peanuts
Natural Resources
• Trees are an
important resource in
Alabama
• They provide wood,
which is a raw
material
• A raw material is
something that is
changed so that
people can use it
Natural Resources
• People in Alabama have changed the
natural environment
• There is now less farmland, and forests
are being cut down to make new houses
• There are groups in Alabama that are
trying to conserve, or save, our natural
environment
George Washington Carver
• He found that peanuts
and sweet potatoes grew
well in Alabama and
invented many different
uses for them.
• He developed 118
products from sweet
potatoes and he helped
make Alabama a leader
in peanuts.