Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia -- Appalachian Plateau Region -- Ridge and Valley Region -- Blue Ridge Region -- Piedmont Plateau -- Coastal Plain Region -- Okefenokee Swamp

Appalachian Plateau Region Georgia’s smallest region TAG corner (Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia meet) Many limestone caves, deep canyons, rock formations Cumberland Plateau (Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain separated by limestone ridges)Lookout Mountain Sand Mountain Limestone, shale, and sandstone soils Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Parks Cloudland Canyon with waterfalls Ellison Cave

Ridge and Valley Region Between Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian PlateauAppalachian 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 Taylor Ridge and Pigeon Mountain Textile and carpet industry (Dalton)

Blue Ridge Region Northeastern part of state Contains state’s highest and largest group of mountains (create barrier to warm moist air from Gulf of Mexico) Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest mountainBrasstown Bald Mountains provide much precipitation (water) for the state (80 inches) Sandy loam and clay soils Hardwood forests, vegetable farming, and apples Amicalolo Falls, Tallulah Gorge, Helen are here.

Piedmont Plateau Begins in mountain foothills and goes to state’s central part Gently sloping hills in north, flatlands in the south Hardwood timber, pine, and agriculture Red clay and granite basegranite base Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Oconee rivers Over ½ population live here. Atlanta, Athens, Madison, Milledgeville, Stone Mountain

Coastal Plain Region Largest region, three-fifths of state Inner Coastal Plain: Mild climate, good underground water supply, state’s major agriculture region (Vidalia onion)Mild climate Outer Coastal Plain (southwest corner): naval stores,Okefenokee Swamp, and Barrier islands, 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(2 to 4 feet) President Franklin Roosevelt established Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge in 1927 in order to protect swamp

Barrier Islands Spanish explorers called the barrier islands “islands of gold” barrier islands 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 St. Simons, Jekyll, and Tybee

Fall Line Features Separates Piedmont Plateau and Coastal Plain 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 communitiesFall Line

Savannah River *boundary between Georgia and South Carolina. *empties into Atlantic Ocean *has nation’s busiest ports *hydroelectric dams provide power *provides drinking water for Savannah, Augusta, and South Carolina

Chattahoochee River Flows into Gulf of Mexico and forms part of border with Alabama Goes through Fall Line Provides hydroelectric power Provides drinking water for Georgia, Florida, and Alabama Flows into Gulf of Mexico and forms part of border with Alabama Provides flood control and recreation

Appalachian Mountain Southernmost part is the Blue Ridge Mountain chain Highest peak in GA is here (Brasstown Bald is 4,786 feet above sea level). Highest and wettest part of GA. (80 inches a year) This rain leads to rivers that provide drinking water for most of GA. Brings tourists, kayakers, canoeists, and whitewater rafters Crest (top) forms Continental Divide-a line that divides the direction in which rivers drain. Rivers west of divide flow west into Gulf of Mexico. Rivers east of divide flow east into Atlantic Ocean.