1. Geography of Georgia
Georgia Studies

2. Key terms
Geography
Absolute location
Relative location

3. What is geography? Science of studying the earth and its people
Geography helps us understand why Georgia’s native peoples and later settlers chose certain parts of the state as their home

4. Spatial Geography How do we organize the land? 159 counties
5 bordering states
What are they??? (label your map)

5. Places & Regions
People create regions to understand the earth’s complexities
GA has 5 physiographic regions
18 islands
58,910 square miles of land
854 square inland water miles

6. Physical systems of GA
Physical processes that shape the earth’s surface
Coastal islands (SE GA)
Appalachian Mountains (N GA)
Fall Line: line that separates east & west GA

7. Human systems Where Georgians migrated and settled Atlanta – capital
Twiggs County – geographic center
Port of Savannah – first major settlement
Brasstown Bald – highest geographic point

8. Environment & Society Actions of humans that modified the environment
Suburban sprawl (Metro Atlanta)
Interstates & highways
Urban population centers
Rural farmlands & agricultural regions

9. How do we use Geography?
Interpret GA’s past, understand its present, plan for the future
GA’s location relative to other states affects its growth & development

10. Absolute Location A places precise location on the earth’s surface
Latitude
Longitude
GA: 30 – 35 N latitude, 80 – 85 W longitude

11. Relative Location Where is GA located compared with other places
North America
Southeastern United States
Atlantic Coast

12. GA’s Physiographic Regions
How would you describe the Geographic Regions of Georgia?

13. Key terms & places Fall line Region Precipitation Wetland
Barrier Island
Continental Shelf
Appalachian Plateau
Ridge & Valley
Blue Ridge
Piedmont Plateau
Coastal Plain
Okefenokee Swamp

14. Appalachian Plateau Region
GA’s smallest physiographic region
Climate: Cooler because of the mountains
Economy: tourism, forestry
Location: NW corner of GA
Features: Limestone caves, deep canyons, & rock formations
Lookout Mountain, Sand Mountain, Chickamauga
Soil: Limestone, shale, & sandstone

15. Ridge & Valley Region
Location: between the Blue Ridge Mountains & Appalachian Plateau
Climate: warmer than mountains
Soil: Limestone & clay in valleys, Sandstone & shale on ridges
Economy: Farming (apples & cattle) & carpet industry
Features: Dalton (Carpet capital of the world)

16. Blue Ridge Region
Climate: Mountains provide much of the state’s precipitation (cooler)
Location: Northeastern part of state
Features: GA’s highest & largest group of mountains, Brasstown Bald (highest point), Helen, GA & Amicalola falls
Soils: sandy loam & clay
Economy: tourism, forestry, vegetable farming, apple farming

17. Piedmont Plateau Climate: mild winters; hot, humid summers
Location: from the mountain foothills and goes to central part of state (fall line)
Economy: industry, tourism, & some farming
Soil: Red clay & granite base
Features: Chattahoochee, Flint, Oconee, & Ocmulgee rivers
Atlanta, Athens, Stone Mountain, Kennesaw MTN

18. Coastal Plain Region Climate: mild winters; hot, humid summers
Economy: Farming (peanut, soybean, corn, & pecans)
Location: from Piedmont (fall line) to coast of GA
Soil: Varies from Limestone to clay
Features: Barrier islands, wetlands, Okefenokee Swamp, Savannah, Continental Shelf, Naval Stores & pulp production

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

20. Barrier Islands Spanish Explorers called them “islands of gold”
Protect beaches by blocking sand, winds, & water that could erode coastline
2/3’s remain wilderness areas
Recreation & seafood gathering as well as tourism

21. Shelves & Lines
Continental Shelf: part of coastal plain that extends into ocean
Fall Line: natural boundary that separates the Coastal Plain from the Piedmont Plateau
Hilly or mountainous lands meet coastal plain
Many water falls here because of the change in land structure
Fall Line water falls provide power source for many GA communities

22. Georgia’s Climate What do I need to know?
Difference between weather & climate
Effect of weather conditions on state
Different types of weather phenomena

23. GA’s temperature Mild climate, subtropical feel on coast
Hot, humid summers & mild winters
Four distinct seasons
Vertical climate: cooler climate at higher elevations (mountains)
July is hottest month, January coldest

24. GA’s Precipitation
Normal year: 40 – 52 inches of precipitation in central & southern regions, 65 – 76 inches in northern regions
July is wettest month, October is driest
2007 precipitation – so far

25. Winds & Currents
Air masses from Gulf of Mexico & Atlantic control warm summer months
Air masses from Canada & Alaska control winter weather
Ocean currents, trade winds, & prevailing westerlies aided travel for early explorers

26. Storms over GA
GA averages 21 tornados per year resulting in one to three deaths
Most tornados in GA generally occur from March to May