1. Alabama’s Natural Environment
Chapter 2

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.

3. Our 5 Regions Highland Rim region-
Located in the northwestern corner of Alabama
Land is hilly
It is to the west of the Appalachian Mountains

4. Our 5 Regions Cumberland Plateau region-
Located southeast of the Highland Rim
Has plateaus, which are large areas of flat land that are higher than the land around it
It has the Appalachian Mountains

5. Our 5 Regions Ridge and Valley region-
Located east of the Cumberland Plateau
Jagged and uneven land
It has valleys and sharp mountain ridges
The city of Birmingham is in this region

6. Our 5 Regions Piedmont region-
Located south and east of the first 3 regions
Similar in height to the Cumberland Plateau, but lower than the Ridge and Valley
It has Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in the state

7. Our 5 Regions Coastal Plain region-
The largest landform region in Alabama
Forests in the northern part, sandy soils in the southern part, and rich farmland in between
Mainly flat land

8. Lesson 2 – Alabama’s Rivers
We have three main river systems
Alabama – Coosa – Tallapoosa
Tennessee
Black Warrior – Tombigbee

9. River Systems
Two of Alabama’s river systems are connected by the Tennessee – Tombigbee Waterway, which helps Alabama transport goods to other places in the world.

10. 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

11. Some Water Dams in Alabama

12. 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

13. Natural Resources
Our temperate climate and rich soil is good for farming
Our major crops are
Corn
Soybeans
Peanuts

14. 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

15. 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

16. George Washington Carver
He found that peanuts and sweet potatoes grew well in Alabama and invented many different uses for them