Geography of NC Basic facts 28 th in size in US 500 miles from East/West 188 miles North/South Highest Point Mt. Mitchell Lowest Point Sea Level

Geography of NC Composed of 4 regions Tidewater Coastal Plain Piedmont Mountains

Tidewater Easternmost counties 30 feet or less in elevation from SL Several Sounds, Saltwater stretch of water that lies between two bodies of land. – Pamlico and Albemarle two largest Numerous swamps, the largest is The Great Dismal Swamp (111,000 square miles) – Home of the Venus Flytrap!

Tidewater Many Lakes, largest in NC being Lake Mattamuskeet (natural lake). Other lakes include Waccamaw, Phelps, and Great Lake. Outer Banks: String of narrow islands with numerous inlets difficult to navigate if you don’t know them. Graveyard of the Atlantic: Nickname for the Outer Banks because of numerous shipwrecks.

Above: Border sign at Camden County, Bottom Left mudflats of the Cape Fear River, Bottom right Venus Fly Trap native to GDS, Top Right Swamps meet the sounds

Lake Phelps (under Plymouth) and Lake Mattamuskeet. Below: Lake Phelps, Below Right Tundra Swans gather at Lake Mattamuskeet

Coastal Plain Large rivers including Cape Fear, Tar, Neuse, Pee Dee, and White Oak. Cape Fear busiest river in NC, Large areas of flat or rolling hills Sandhills in SW CP, popular tourist section, most of CP excellent region for large farms Many military bases here, Example Ft. Bragg

Above-Weymouth Nature PreserveBelow Left: A farm in SE of Southern Pines in Moore CountyEastern NC. Left: Pine trees being “tapped” for their tree sap Below Right: Tryon Palace, the original colonial capital.

Piedmont “at the foot of mountains” Named after Italian province Largest region of NC Most large cities here, highest population Economy based on Industrial or production of goods through machines. Small farms Also services or jobs that offer skills and knowledge instead of a physical good (ex. Banking, education, Legal services)

Above Moravian WagonRight City of Winston SalemBelow: Pilot mt. Below Left Textile millBelow: Furniture Plant High Point

Above: Sauratown Mt, Stokes CountyAbove: King’s Mt, Gaston County

Mountains Mt. Mitchell highest peak E. of Miss R. Average elevation above sea level 4,000 ft Many large caves such as Linville Caverns (McDowell County) and Bat Cave (Buncombe County) Part of the Appalachian system, extends from GA to ME. Major tourist area, Blue Ridge Parkway mt travel route.

Above: Swinging Bridge Grandfather Mt.Above: Linville Viaduct, Blue Ridge Parkway Below: Mount MitchellBelow: mountains of NC in summer and fall