1. Virginia’s Geography

2. Relative Location
Relative location may be described using terms that show connections between two places such as “next to,” “near,” and “bordering.”

3. Bordering Bodies of Water
Virginia is bordered by two large bodies of water:
Chesapeake Bay
Atlantic Ocean

4. Bordering States Virginia is also bordered by five other states:
Maryland
West Virginia
Kentucky
Tennessee
North Carolina

5. Virginia’s Five Regions

6. Virginia’s Five Regions
Virginia is divided into five geographic regions and each region has distinctive characteristics.
Tidewater Region (Coastal Plain)
Piedmont Region
Blue Ridge Mountains Region
Ridge and Valley Region
Allegheny (Appalachian) Plateau Region

7. Tidewater Region Coastal Plain Flat land.
Located near the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay (includes the Eastern Shore Peninsula).
East of the Fall Line.

8. The Great Dismal Swamp Located in the southeastern corner of Virginia.
Home to many kinds of wildlife.
It covers over 600 square miles!

9. The Fall Line
The Tidewater and Piedmont regions of Virginia are separated by a natural border called a “fall line.”
This is the place where waterfalls prevent further travel on rivers.

10. The Piedmont Region
The area of rolling hills between the fall line and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The word Piedmont means, “land at the foot of the mountains.”

11. Blue Ridge Mountains Region
Old, rounded mountains.
Located between the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley regions.
Source of many rivers.
Part of the Appalachian Mountains system.

12. Ridge and Valley Region
Includes the Great Valley of Virginia (Shenandoah Valley).
Located west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Famous for farming and orchards!

13. Allegheny (Appalachian) Plateau Region
Located in Southwest Virginia.
Only a small part of the plateau is located in Virginia.
Plateau – area of elevated land that is flat on top.
Coal mining is big in this region!