1. Geography of Georgia

2. Geography Defined: Studying Earth as home of humans
Must have earth and humans or some other science involved.
Take notes with your map out.

3. location Northern/Western hemispheres
North of Equator/ West of Prime Meridian
North America
Southeastern United States

4. Physical regions

5. Appalachian plateau Located in TAG corner, extreme NW corner
Often called Cumberland Plateau
Made up of plateau formations, canyons, limestone caves
Main feature: Lookout Mountain and Cloudland Canyon
Hardwood forest/pastures
Only source of coal (mining)
Chickamauga Battlefield located here

6. Ridge and valley Located in Northwestern area of state
Topography dominated by high ridge lines separating a series of valleys
Economic activity is somewhat diverse: forests, pastures, farmland, apple orchards
Dalton known as “carpet capital of the world”
Large textile industry particularly hard hit during current economic downturn.

7. Blue ridge Located in extreme NE Georgia
Most mountainous terrain in state
Brasstown Bald (about 5,000 ft. elevation)
Agriculture dominated by hardwood forests, vegetable farming and apple orchards
Appalachian Trail begins here – runs to Maine
Scenic beauty includes Brasstown Bald, Amicalola Falls, Tallulah Gorge
Alpine village of Helen (tourism)
Important cities: Dahlonega – home of America’s first gold rush
Receives most rain annually.

8. Piedmont Plateau
Location: begins in mountain foothills and goes to Fall Line (“piedmont” means at the foot of the mountains)
Geography is rolling hills and plains
Suitable for various types of agriculture including commercial farming
Granite bedrock formation runs all the way to Delaware (Stone Mountain)
Contains ½ of state’s population including Atlanta metro area – most populous

9. Coastal plain State’s largest regions (about 60%)
In prehistoric times was underwater.
Has an inner and outer part.
Inner coastal in major agricultural region in state of Georgia (peanuts, Vidalia onions, peaches, pecans)
Outer coastal plain has sandy soil (naval stores and pulp from pine trees)
Pulp and paper production
Okefenokee Swamp located here: largest freshwater wetland in U.S.
Savannah – oldest city

10. Barrier Island Located off Georgia’s coastal shoreline
Called “sea islands” or Golden Isles”
14 islands
Act as a “buffer” in protecting GA’s beaches from storm erosion
Significant tourism in parks and wilderness sanctuaries
Protect/form Intracoastal Waterway

11. Fall line Natural boundary that separates Piedmont from Coastal Plain
Elevation of land drops significantly
Water drops and speeds up creating good sources of power
Numerous settlements on Fall Line (Columbus, Macon, Augusta)
Shoreline of prehistoric sea.

12. Okefenokee Swamp
Swamp/wetland located in outer coastal plain in extreme southern part of state
Largest freshwater wetland in U.S.
Home to diverse population of wildlife
Federal/national park
Indian name meaning “land of trembling earth”

13. Chattahoochee River
Runs south through Atlanta and forms part of southern border with Alabama

14. Savannah River Forms border between South Carolina and Georgia.
Important commercial waterway.
Entry to port of Savannah
First permanent settlement (1733) at mouth of river.

15. Deepwater ports Savannah and Brunswick
Brunswick – construction port during WWII building Liberty Ships
Two inland barge terminals: Bainbridge and Columbus
Economic impact: about 2 billion dollars per year.
More than 80,000 jobs
Over 90 steamships lines serve Georgia
Serviced by two interstates (95 and 16) and a railroad hub
5th busiest port in the nation
Large amounts of imports flow through these ports
Supports idea of world market/provides us with access to international markets

16. Interstate highways Facilitates flow of goods and services
Commuter traffic
Atlanta, interstate hub, serviced by I-20, I-75, and I-85

17. Hartsfield-jackson international airport
One of the busiest airports in the world
One of the largest employer in the state
Connects state with rest of the world
Named for William Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson

18. railroads
Atlanta developed as result of railroad -First city not developed along a waterway (Terminus).
Important to state’s economy today moving goods in and out of state.
Dominated by CSX and Norfolk Southern

19. Summaries 1. Write 3-5 sentence paragraph s summarizing the following:
A. The regions and physical features of Georgia.
B. The four transportation systems that comprise Georgia’s transportation infrastructure.