Warm-Up Define: Geography Absolute Location Relative Location Fall Line Region Precipitation Wetland Barrier Island Continental Shelf Climate

Unit 1 Geography SS8G1 The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical features and location

What is Geography? Geographica (Greek origin) means “earth’s description”. Science of studying Earth as the home of humans. Geography helps us understand why Georgia’s native peoples and later settlers chose certain parts of the state for their home.

Understanding Georgia: Spatial Geography Spatial: How Georgians organize their space and environment: 159 counties five bordering states

Understanding Georgia: Places and Regions Places and Regions: People create regions to understand Earth’s complexities Georgia has five physiographic regions 18 islands 58, 910 square miles 854 square inland water miles

Understanding Georgia: Human Systems Human Systems: Where Georgians migrated and settled Atlanta (Fulton County) is the capital Twiggs County (geographic center) Port of Savannah (first major settlement) Brasstown Bald (highest geographic point)

SS8G1 a. Locate Georgia in relation to region, nation, continent, and hemispheres

Understanding Location Absolute location: A precise position on Earth’s surface Georgia is located at 30°– 35°N latitude, 80°– 85° W longitude Georgia borders Florida (south), Alabama (west), Tennessee and North Carolina (north), and South Carolina (east).

Understanding Location Relative Location: Where Georgia is located compared with other places Western/Northern Hemisphere North America Southeastern United States Atlantic coast Click here to return to main menu.

Largest state east of the Mississippi River Part of the Sunbelt Bordered by 5 states—Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina Bordered by Atlantic Ocean.

SS8G1 b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain

SS8G1 c. Locate and evaluate the importance of key physical features on the development of Georgia; include the Fall Line, Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian Mountains, Chattahoochee and Savannah Rivers and barrier islands

Five Geographic Regions Appalachian Plateau-5 Ridge and Valley-1 Blue Ridge-3 Piedmont-2 Coastal Plains-4

Appalachian Plateau Region Georgia’s smallest physiographic region Many limestone caves, deep canyons, rock formations Cumberland Plateau (Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain separated by limestone ridges) Limestone, shale, and sandstone soils

Appalachian TAG Corner Appalachian Plateau—Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain meet. Appalachian Trail begins…runs 2,144 miles all the way to Maine

Ridge and Valley Region Between Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Plateau Low open valleys parallel to narrow ridges Elevations ranges from 700 to 1600 feet above sea level Forests and pastures dominate the region Limestone and clay soils in the valley Shale and sandstone on the ridges

Blue Ridge Region Northeastern part of state Contains state’s highest and largest group of mountains Brasstown Bald, Georgia highest mountain is here Mountains provide much precipitation (water) for the state Sandy loam and clay soils Hardwood forests, vegetable farming, and apples

Blue Ridge Brevard Fault—separates Blue Ridge from Piedmont Chattahoochee River

Piedmont Means “at the foot of the mountains” Gently sloping hills in north, flatlands in the south Hardwood timber, pine, and agriculture Red clay and granite base Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Oconee rivers

Stone Mountain--granite Lots of Business and Industry Atlanta, Athens, Milledgeville

Shelves and Lines Georgia’s continental shelf is portion of coastal plain that extends into the ocean The Continental slope falls into deep plateaus and into the Atlantic Ocean depths The Fall Line, a natural boundary, separates the Coastal Plain from the Piedmont Plateau

Fall Line Fall Line-marks transition from Piedmont region to Coastal Plain region Stretches from Augusta to Columbus

Fall Line Features Hilly or mountainous lands meet the coastal plain Runs from Columbus (west) through Macon to Augusta (east) Many waterfalls caused by water from the hills cutting channels into the softer soil of the plains Fall Line waterfalls provide power source for several Georgia communities Click here to return to main menu.

Coastal Plain Region Largest region, three-fifths of state Inner Coastal Plain: Mild climate, good underground water supply, state’s major agriculture region Outer Coastal Plain (southwest corner): rich soil for peanuts, pecans, corn, and pulp production Low-lying freshwater wetlands

Okefenokee Swamp 681 square miles Located south of Waycross Largest swamp in North America Freshwater wetland Water lies close to the surface

Tidewater Rivers Rivers that flow into Oceans Freshwater mixes with salt water-estuary Different Sea Life-oysters Good for growing Rice

Islands of Gold Spanish explorers called the barrier islands “islands of gold” Protect beaches by blocking sand, winds, and water that could erode the mainland Two-thirds remains wilderness areas Much recreation, seafood gathering Deep water ports for shipping

SS8G1 a. Evaluate the impact of climate on Georgia’s development Georgia’s Climate SS8G1 a. Evaluate the impact of climate on Georgia’s development

Georgia’s Temperature Mild climate, subtropical feel along the coast Hot, humid summers and mild winters Four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Vertical climate (higher elevation in mountains causes colder temperatures) July is hottest month; January is coldest

Georgia’s Precipitation In normal year, Georgia gets 40-52 inches of rain in central and southern regions and 65-76 inches in the northern mountains July is wettest month; October is driest From 1998 to 2002, Georgia experienced a major drought (extended lack of precipitation)

Winds and Currents Air masses from Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean control summer’s warm months. Air masses from polar regions of Alaska and Canada control Georgia’s winters. Ocean currents, trade winds, and prevailing westerlies aided travel for early explorers and settlers to Georgia.

Storms over Georgia Georgia averages 21 tornadoes each year, resulting in one to three deaths Most tornadoes in Georgia occur from March to May Georgia’s most hurricane-like storm (in terms of lives lost) occurred in Savannah in 1893 Called the “Sea Islands Hurricane,” the storm resulted in 1,000 deaths. Click here to return to main menu.