1. Georgia is located in the Western and Northern hemispheres. In other words, we are located west of zero degrees longitude (the “prime meridian” which passes through Great Britain) and north of the equator. 2. Within the U. S., we are a part of two major geographic regions: the South, the Southeast

1. Georgia is located in the W______ and No______ hemispheres. In other words, we are located west of zero degrees longitude (the “p_____ meridian” which passes through Great Britain) and north of the e________. 2. Within the U. S., we are a part of two major geographic regions: the S______, the _____east

Georgia’s Relative Location

Within Georgia there are five geographic regions. Georgia’s five geographic regions are: 1. COASTAL PLAIN 2. PIEDMONT 3. BLUE RIDGE 4. RIDGE AND VALLEY 5. APPALACHIAN PLATEAU

FACTS: * approximately 700 square miles of swamp land * logging was a primary industry here from 1910 to 1937 * In 1937 (during the Great Depression) President Franklin Roosevelt makes the Okeefenokee a wildlife refuge.

These islands just off the coast earn their name by providing a barrier between the mainland and the ocean. This barrier protects fishing boats, pleasure craft, and shippers from winds, waves and currents as they travel along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Estuaries (semi enclosed bodies of water where salt and fresh water mix) contain 70% of GA’s recreationally and commercially important fishes. These estuaries are located in and among the Barrier islands. Some developed, to the mainland by bridges/causeways: (Jekyll {a state park}, St. Simons, Tybee). Tourism is important to these islands. Some are wildlife refuges (Blackbeard, Wassaw, Wolf) Some are privately owned.

** It’s located on the former shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean. ** It is a 20 mile wide drop off in eleva- tion that forms the boundary between the Piedmont and Coastal Plains regions. **The Fall Line affected early commercial transportation resulting in the development of cities along the Line (Columbus, Macon, Augusta)

1828: Georgia’s General Assembly (our legislative branch of gov’t) creates the town of Columbus. Why? Late 1830s: Fall line used for industrial power source (water power)for textile mills & gristmills. These mills were important to the Confederacy during Civil War (1861 – 1865). For that reason, Union troops focused on destruction of factories and mills of cities on Fall Line.

1828: Georgia’s General Assembly (our legislative branch of gov’t) creates the town of C_____. Why? Late 1830s: Fall line used for industrial p____ source (w____power)for t___ mills & gristmills. These mills were important to the Confederacy during Civil War (1861 – 1865). For that reason, Union troops focused on destruction of factories and mills of cities on Fall Line.

REMINDER: `The Coastal Plain region is famous for growing the 3 P’s:, PEACHES, and PECANS These grow well in the western section of the Coastal Plain. Near the Fall Line, peaches grow well. The soil is too sandy in the eastern Coastal Plain which is known for its pine barrens.

** Georgia “red clay” (result of iron in the soil) **Part of the larger Piedmont (100 to 300 mi. wide) that stretches from mid Atlantic States down through SE. **2 nd largest region (30% of GA), rolling hills & valleys ** Atlanta, GA’s largest city (and Canton) located here ** contains marble, granite (Stone Mtn. is granite), and slate deposits; “Granite capital of the world” = Elbert County, GA ** This region known for growing cotton, soybeans and wheat. Beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs, and chickens raised in large numbers in the Piedmont (Gainesville: “Chicken Capital”) ** Southern border of Piedmont is the Fall Line. FACTOID: Most of Ga’s Peach crop is grown in counties along the Fall Line.

** Georgia “red ___” (result of i___ in the soil) **Part of the larger Piedmont (100 to 300 mi. wide) that stretches from mid Atlantic States down through SE. **2 nd largest region (30% of GA), r____ hills & v_____ ** A_____, GA’s largest city (and Canton) located here ** contains ma_____, gr_____ (Stone Mtn. is gra____), and slate deposits; “Granite capital of the world” = E____ County, GA ** This region known for growing c_____,soybeans and wheat. Beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs, and chickens raised in large numbers in the Piedmont (G_______: “Chicken Capital”) ** Southern border of Piedmont is the F___Line. FACTOID: Most of Ga’s P_____crop is grown in counties along the Fall Line.

**1540: de Soto again—passes through this region as well **Through the 1700s on into the 1800s, cotton plantations developed in the lower Piedmont subsistence farming in northern Piedmont, later replaced by poultry and hog farming.

** Region consists of southernmost Appalachian Mtns. ** Borders Ga’s Piedmont Region to the south and Ridge & Valley region to the west. **Heavy r_____ in the Blue Ridge region contributes significantly to GA’s water supply ** Contains spectacular waterfalls. ** Both the C____and S_____ Rivers begin in the Blue Ridge Region ** A____ orchards thrive. ** Br_____ Bald, the ______ point in Ga, is located here. *

**Many historians believe Cherokees arrived in 1400s. **First European: conquistador Hernando de Soto (1540) **Gold discovered in late 1820s; Gold rush in 1830s; spells end for Cherokees in GA. Why?

**During the American Civil War this region was divided. A significant number of the people living here opposed secession. One reason: there were very few slaves. Why?

Appalachian Plateau

**GA region that is part of the national Appalachian Plateau stretching from New York to Alabama. GA’s smallest region in extreme NW GA **Only known area of GA containing coal deposits. **Land primarily used for hardwood harvesting and pasture.

**GA region that is part of the national Appalachian Plateau stretching from New York to Alabama. GA’s s___ region in extreme NW GA **Only known area of GA containing c___ deposits. **Land primarily used for h____ harvesting and p_____.

climate Georgia’s CLIMATE has contributed to its historically agricultural roots. The climate of the state has provided for a long growing season. Georgia’s moderate CLIMATE has also attracted business to the area in the 20 th and 21 st centuries.

Georgia is Part of the Sunbelt

Paleo Indians first appeared along Savannah River ~10,000 B.C.(“Native Americans” migrated from Asia into North America across a land bridge known as Beringia that connected the two continents at that time.) The 4 early Native American periods found in GA from earliest to most recent were: Paleo->Archaic->Woodland- >Mississippian (“PAWM”)..

P_____Indians first appeared along Savannah River ~10,000 B.C.(“Native Americans” migrated from A___ into N_____ A_______ across a land bridge known as B_____ that connected the two continents at that time.) The 4 early Native American periods found in GA from earliest to most recent were: P____->Ar_____>W_______- >M_______(“PAWM”)..

Paleo: nomadic hunters of large game (wild animals) from which they got food clothing, tools); also ate fruits & vegetables they found; may have developed atlatl (spear throwing device). 2. Archaic: nomadic in early years,; dependent on hunting, fishing, gathering (fruits, veggies) widespread use of atlatl, eventually developed pottery allowing them to become more settled WHY? 3. Woodland: began to form tribes & villages; bow & arrow improved survival rate; built burial mounds and ceremonial mounds (Rock Eagle; Kolomoki). Started farming 4. Mississippian: agricultural developments and food storage made large settlements (towns) possible; main crops: the 3 sisters—corn (maize), squash, beans; built large flat -topped mounds used for burials and ceremonies (Etowah & Ocmulgee Mounds); were here when Spanish arrived.

P_____: n_____hunters of large game (wild animals) from which they got food clothing, tools); also ate f____& v__________ they found; may have developed a____(spear throwing device). 2. A_______: n________ in early years,; dependent on hunting, fishing, gathering (fruits, veggies) widespread use of a______, eventually developed p_______ allowing them to become more settled WHY? 3. Woodland: began to form tribes & villages; b___ & a_____improved survival rate; built b____mounds and c______mounds (R_____ Eagle; K_________). 4. Mississippian: agricultural developments and food storage made large settlements (towns) possible; main crops: the 3 s______—c____, s_____, b_____; built large flat -topped mounds used for burials and ceremonies (E____ & O_______Mounds); were here when Spanish arrived.

2. First known European explorer: Hernando de Soto in 1540; came to new world in search of gold and silver. Spanish claimed the area we now call GA. When de Soto arrived, the Mississippian cultures were thriving. European diseases brought by Spanish wreaked havoc on native populations, decimating the Mississippian cultures 3. In early 1700s, British needed buffer colony for S. Carolina (protection from Spanish in FL), so GA colony was established on Savannah River under the leadership of James Oglethorpe. British said this was part of their territory based on exploration of North American coast by John Cabot in 1497 &1498

4. In the 1800s, these rivers were important lines of travel and transport. 5. Both purposes vital to the Confederacy during Civil War. Union ships blockaded Savannah River during the war ( ). 6. After WWI (1914 – 1918), roles reduced due to advances in railroad development and motorized vehicles (trucks, cars, busses). 7. Today these rivers provide vital water supply for drinking. Dams on the rivers provide reservoirs and hydroelectric power. 8. Savannah River forms most of GA’s border with S. Carolina; Chattahoochee forms major portion of border with Alabama.