The Geography of North Carolina How have regional variations of land, climate, and resources in NC affected patterns of settlement and the economy?

General Facts and Characteristics NC belongs to the geographic region of the US called the South. It shares a border to the north with Virginia, to the south by South Carolina and Georgia, to the west by Tennessee, and to the east by Atlantic Ocean. NC ranks 28th among the 50 states in size. The total land area is 48,711 square miles. It’s climate is described as moderate. There are 100 counties within North Carolina. Raleigh is the state’s capital city.

North Carolina’s Land Regions NC’s topography, or physical terrain, is divided into three geographical regions. A geographical region is described as being a large area or land with a common set of features. The three regions are the Mountains, Piedmont, and the Coastal Plain. The Coastal Plain has been divided further into the inner coastal plain and the outer, or Tidewater. Elevation is used to identify these three major regions.

The Tidewater and the Coastal Plain Stretching for approximately 150 miles, the broad, flat region called the Coastal Plain has an elevation of 500ft. to sea level. One of the most identifying characteristics of the Coastal Plain is the Tidewater and the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks refers to the long chain of sandy barrier islands that form NC’s eastern coastline. These islands are ever shifting and vary in size due to tides and wind patterns. Among the barrier islands are some famous capes. A cape is a pointed piece of land that juts out into a sea, ocean, lake, or river. NC’s capes include Cape Hatteras (northernmost), Cape Lookout, and Cape Fear (southernmost). Places where the ocean flows between the Outer Banks toward the mainland are called inlets. The currents are very strong in these areas. The Outer Banks has often been called the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” because of the regions violent storms, strong currents and sandbars. Wilmington and Morehead City are NC’s 2 major ports. The Tidewater Cape Hatteras Cape Lookout Cape Fear

The Tidewater and the Coastal Plain The Atlantic Ocean impacts the state in various ways. There are two main currents that meet off our coast line. The Labrador Current flows south and brings cold water. The Gulf Stream is a warm water current that flows north and veers out to sea near Cape Hatteras. These two currents meet off of Cape Hatteras along the continental shelf, an underwater plain that extends out from the continent. This area is home to a rich fishing ground and also may be a source for off shore gas and oil. The shallow areas along the continental shelf are called shoals. They can be tricky for ships to navigate through, causing many to run aground.

The Tidewater and the Coastal Plain Several large sounds, or channels of brackish (mixture of salt and fresh water) water separating the islands of the Outer Banks from the mainland are found here. Major NC Sounds: Pamlico (largest & deepest), Albemarle, Core, Currituck, and Bogue. Much of the Coastal Plain is very rural and has some of the best farmland due to its rich, sandy soil. Tourism is also vital to the economy as beaches are a major draw. Many swamps, rivers and natural lakes provide good water resources for the region. Lake Mattamuskeet is the largest natural lake in NC. Major rivers of the area are the Roanoke, Tar-Pamlico, Neuse, and Cape Fear. The Cape Fear is the only NC river to flow directly to the Atlantic Ocean. All other Coastal Plain Rivers flow into the sounds. On the southwestern edge of the Coastal Plain is an area of flat, rolling hills called the Sandhills. It has the poorest soil in the state and is know for its golf courses (Pinehurst). The largest cities of the region are: Fayetteville, Wilmington, Greenville, and Jacksonville. Albemarle Sound Pamlico Sound Sandhills

The Piedmont Fall Line The Piedmont climbs in elevation from 500ft to 1500ft at its western border. The region is separated from the Coastal Plain by the Fall Line, or the point at which rocky rapids and waterfalls form, thus making movement difficult. Piedmont is a Latin word that means at the foot of the mountain, hence the region is often referred to as the foothills. The Piedmont is the most urban region where the vast majority of the state’s population, cities, and industries are located. The 5 largest cities in the Piedmont are: Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Durham, and Raleigh.

The Piedmont Two distinct features of the Piedmont region are red clay soil and monadnocks, a point of land that stands out due to the erosion of surrounding land. Pilot Mountain is an example of a monadnock. Major rivers of the region: Yadkin-PeeDee and Catawba (flow into SC) Largest man-made lake in NC is Lake Norman Abundant hydroelectric power in the region gave rise to the manufacturing center of the state. Historically, the three major industries were textiles, tobacco, and furniture (High Point). Recent developments have led to the development of such industries as tech, food, pharmaceuticals, machinery, banking, and chemicals.

The Mountains The mountain region is the furthest west in NC and is very rural. The Appalachian Mountains form this region in NC. The Appalachian Mountain range stretches for over 2,000 miles, from Newfoundland in Canada to the state of Alabama. The mountains were given their name in 1540 by Hernando de Soto, who became the first European to step foot in the region. The Blue Ridge Mountains form the eastern boundary of the Appalachain Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains form the western boundary of the Applachains. The elevation ranges from 1500ft to well above 6000ft and most scientists believe that these mountains may be the oldest mountains in the world. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6684 feet.

The Mountains Eastern Continental Divide The eastern continental divide runs through the mountains. Rivers east of the divide flow into the sounds. Rivers west of the divide stream into the rivers that feed the Ohio River. Major rivers of the region are the Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Watauga, and the New. Fontana Lake is the largest man made lake in the region and provides hydroelectric power to the area. Agriculture (wheat, vegetables, apples, Christmas trees) and tourism (Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachain Trail, Biltmore House, Cherokee) are the region’s main industries. Asheville is the largest city in the region. Eastern Continental Divide

NC’s Climate NC’s climate is described as humid subtropical and mild, producing distinct changes of seasons and supporting various flora and fauna throughout the state. The Atlantic Ocean impacts the climate of the Coastal Plain keeping temps mild in the winter and moderate in the summer. The ocean has less of an impact in the Piedmont and Mountain region. Annual rainfall is between 44 inches in the northern Piedmont to 70 inches in the southern mountains. Periodic droughts do occur. Temps vary from the coast to the mountains. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes are three types of windstorms that impact the state.