1. In the following presentation you will find information
about the five geographic regions of Virginia.
Read and enjoy!
Try the multiple choice questions. Refer to your
Virginia History SOL booklets for help!

2. The Five Geographic Regions of Virginia
Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Blue Ridge Mountains
Piedmont
Valley and Ridge
Appalachian Plateau

3. Distinctive Characteristics of each region
Coastal Plain(Tidewater)
low, flat land
sandy soil
located near the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay
located east of the Fall Line
Our peninsula, the Northern Neck, is located in this region.

4. The Peninsulas and their bordering bodies of water:
Northern Neck : bordered by the Potomac and the Rappahannock rivers
Middle Peninsula :bordered by the Rappahannock and the York rivers
The Peninsula :bordered by the York and the James rivers
The Eastern Shore Peninsula : bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean

5. Piedmont The word Piedmont means (land at the foot of the mountains)
rolling hills (Look at the picture on page 61 in your textbook)
located west of the Fall Line
This is Virginia’s largest region. It is also called the Plateau.
( A plateau is a large, raised ,level piece of land)
Our state capital, Richmond,is located here.

6. The Fall Line
This is part of the Piedmont region.It has many waterfalls and rapids.The waterfalls prevented further travel on the rivers during Colonial Virginia and this cause towns to
spring up. The towns later became cities like Richmond, Fredericksburg,Alexandria, Petersburg,and later Emporia.They are all Fall Line cities because they grew up along major Virginia rivers.

7. Fall Line cities and the Rivers they developed along
Alexandria was developed
along the Potomac River.
Fredericksburg was developed
along the Rappahannock River.
Richmond was developed
along the James River.
Petersburg was developed along
the Appomattox River.
Emporia was developed along the
Meherrin River.

8. Petersburg Emporia Alexandria Potomac River Rappahannock River
James River
Petersburg
Emporia

9. Let’s Review Look at the previous slide if you need help at any time.
A. On what river was the Fall Line city of Alexandria developed?
That’s right! Potomac!
B. On what river was our state capital, Richmond, developed?
Well, James River, of course!
C. Name the Fall Line city that’s located directly south of Petersburg.
Did you say Emporia? Good!
D. On what river did this city develop ?
Meherrin River!

10. Let’s imagine that you are one of the early settlers traveling on the
Potomac River. You’re now approaching a sudden drop in the way
that your ship was moving. What do you think could have happened?
Go to the next slide and look closely! Click the back-arrow to
come back to this slide!
Now. Let’s go back. Did you see how difficult it would be to continue
your journey. You would actually have to get out of your boat and
barter, or trade your goods in order to walk around the falls and then
get back in your boat once it has gotten around the falls.

11. Waterfalls and Rapids

12. Look again! Would it be possible for a boat to travel with
ease on water
like this?
No, I
didn’t think
that you
would like
it!

13. Blue Ridge Mountains
Old, rounded mountains(stretching from Pennsylvania to Georgia)
part of the Appalachian Mountain system
(This mountain system stretches from Canada to Alabama.
ridge = a line of hills or mountains
located between the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge regions
Source of many rivers

14. Valley and Ridge
Includes the Great Valley of Virginia and other valleys separated by ridges (the Great
Valley lies between the Allegheny and the
Blue Ridge Mountains)
It is rugged due to many high and rocky peaks.
The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Valley and Ridge Regions are part of the Appalachian Mountain system.
Located west of the Blue Ridge Mountains

15. Appalachian Plateau
Plateau : an area of elevated land that is flat on top
located in Southwest Virginia
bordered by the states of Tennessee and Kentucky

16. (Tidewater)

18. Virginia’s Products and Industries
Coastal Plain
(Tidewater)
Shipbuilding, tourism,
federal military installations
Seafood
Tobacco products,
information technology
Technology, federal and state
government,farming,textiles
Piedmont
Blue Ridge
Mountains
Apples
Recreation
Valley and Ridge
Farming
Poultry, apples
Coal mining
Appalachian
Plateau
Coal

19. Facts about some Virginia cities:
Norfolk : home to the largest Naval Base in Virginia
There are a lot of people working in military jobs
here.
Newport News : home to the largest shipbuilding yards in the
United States
Virginia Beach : well known resort city
This city helps Virginia’s tourism industry.
This is Virginia’s most populated independent city.

20. Federal and State Government
The state government is led by the governor.
Our former governor of the state of Virginia is James Gilmore.
He stayed in Richmond, our state capital, in the
house known as the Governor’s Mansion.

21. Virginia’s First African - American Governor
Lawrence Douglas Wilder
was the first African- Ameri-
can to be governor of Virginia.
He was also the first African -
American governor in the U.S.
since Reconstruction.

22. Which of these isn’t one of Virginia’s five geographic regions?
A. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
B. Piedmont
C. Valley & Ridge
D. Rocky Mountains
E. Appalachian Plateau

23. Which region is farthest west?
A. Appalachian Plateau
B. Atlantic Ocean
C. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
D. Eastern Shore W E S

24. Which region is directly west of the Fall Line?
A. Appalachian Plateau
B. Piedmont
C. Valley & Ridge
D. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)

25. In which region is Richmond located?
A. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
B. Piedmont
C. Eastern Shore Peninsula
D. Northern Neck Peninsula

26. Which of Virginia’s regions is the largest?
A. Piedmont
B. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
C. Appalachian Plateau
D. Blue Ridge Mountain

27. Which rivers border the Northern Neck Peninsula?
A. Pamunkey River, James River
B. Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean
C. Rappahannock River, Potomac River
D. James River, York River

28. Which two geographic regions are
separated by the Fall Line?
A. Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont
B.Valley & Ridge, Appalachian Plateau
C.Coastal Plain (Tidewater), Piedmont
D.Valley & Ridge,Blue Ridge Mt.

29. In which of Virginia’s regions would you live?
(Tidewater)
In which of Virginia’s regions would you live?
A. Valley & Ridge
B. Piedmont
C. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
D. Appalachian Plateau

30. Which of Virginia’s regions is closest to the state of Kentucky?
A. Blue Ridge Mountains
B. Appalachian Plateau
C. Valley & Ridge
D. Piedmont

31. Which peninsula is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay?
A. Piedmont
B. Eastern Shore Peninsula
C. Valley & Ridge
D. Northern Neck Peninsula

32. Which of Virginia’s geographic regions is known for having rolling hills as one of its characteristics?
A.Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
B. Shenandoah Valley
C. Piedmont
D. Valley and Ridge

33. D. waterfalls and rapids
Which of the following would’ve contributed a lot to the development of early Fall Line towns?
A. pathways
B. rapids and valleys
C. highways
D. waterfalls and rapids

34. How were the rivers useful to the early colonists of Colonial Virginia?
A. They provided a place for gathering rocks and
jewels.
B. They provided pathways for exploration and were
a source of food to all who wanted some.
C. They were a good source of food for all animals.
D. They provided pathways for exploration and sail.

35. Which of the following is a major characteristic of a plateau?
A.hills and valleys
B. ridges and valleys
C. elevated land that is flat on top
D. mountainous land

36. Northern Neck Peninsula Eastern Shore The PeninsulaB y
Northern Neck
Peninsula
Potomac River
Eastern Shore
Middle Peninsula
Rappahannock River
The
Peninsula
Atlantic
Ocean
The Southside