1. Virginia's
Five
Geographic
Regions

2. into five geographic regions
Virginia is divided
into five geographic regions

3. What are the characteristics of the Coastal Plain?
Also known as Tidewater
Located near the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay
Includes the Eastern Shore, a peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay
Flat land
East of the Fall Line
Major product: seafood
Major industries: shipbuilding, tourism, federal military installations

4. The Coastal Plain is east of the Fall Line.
This satellite image clearly shows the fall line. Can you see it?
The Fall Line
Coastal Plain
Piedmont

5. Characteristics of the Coastal Plain
The land is flat. There are many waterways. There is easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. People make their livings from fishing, shipbuilding, US military installations, shipping, and tourism.
This is what the Atlantic Ocean looks like, right on the beach.

6. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Rivers in the Coastal Plain are wide and flow slowly. They empty into the Chesapeake Bay. The place where the river joins the Chesapeake Bay, is the mouth of the river.
Sunset on the mouth of the James River at Newport News

7. Can you tell how big this freighter is?
Many people make their living in the shipping industry.
This is a freighter near the mouth of the James River in the Hampton Roads area of Tidewater. A freighter carries manufactured goods and raw materials to be sold.
Can you tell how big this freighter is?

8. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Shipbuilding is an important industry.
This is the Newport News Shipyard, where a huge ocean-going ship is being built.

9. A federal military installation is often called a military base.
Another major industry of the Coastal Plain is federal military installations.
A federal military installation is often called a military base.

10. Do you know someone who is in the military?
A federal military installation belongs to the United States government. The military includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. Many people in the Coastal Plain region work for the military.
Do you know someone who is in the military?
An air traffic controller
Cutting the ribbon for a new Navy base building

11. Seafood is the major product of the Coastal Plain.
The fishing industry produces seafood. People fish for a living. They sell their catch to seafood companies that process, package, and distribute the seafood. This means many jobs for workers in the Coastal Plain. Here we see shrimp boats at the dock.
Do you like fish and shrimp? How about oysters?

12. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Many people make their living from tourism.
This is Virginia Beach, where many tourists go for vacations.
Do you like to go to the beach?

13. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
The Chesapeake Bay, in the Coastal Plain, borders Virginia on the east.
Here is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which connects Hampton Roads with the Eastern Shore.
Is this a big bridge, or what!

14. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
The Chesapeake Bay is a source of seafood for Virginia and the United States. Water sports contribute to the economy of the region.
What is the name of this water sport?

15. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Maryland
Delaware
The Chesapeake Bay is very large. It is several miles from one side to the other. The bay has 12,000 miles of shoreline.
Virginia
Chesapeake Bay

16. Here is a photo of the Chesapeake Bay, taken from a satellite.

17. The Chesapeake Bay gets very high waves, just like the ocean, when the wind blows hard.

18. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
The James River
The James River, in the coastal plain, is the southernmost river that empties into the Chesapeake Bay. Huge freighters can come up the James River to the natural barrier at the Fall Line.

19. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
The mouth of the York River is north of the James River, in the Coastal Plain.
The York River
Atlantic Ocean
This is a bridge over the mouth of the York River, at Yorktown.
The James River

20. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
The mouth of the Rappahannock River is in the Tidewater, or the Coastal Plain, emptying its waters into the Chesapeake Bay.

21. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Fredericksburg is an old city on the Rappahannock River, at the Fall Line.

22. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
The mouth of the Potomac River is also located in Virginia’s Coastal Plain. The Potomac is Virginia’s northernmost river. It is a border of Virginia. It divides Virginia from Maryland and from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Maryland
Potomac River
Virginia
Chesapeake Bay

23. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Alexandria, an old city, is located on the Potomac River. This is an old painting of Alexandria in the old days of sailing ships.

24. Here is a modern-day view of Alexandria, on the Potomac River.
This river is really wide in the Coastal Plain, isn’t it?

25. The Coastal Plain (Tidewater) contains the Eastern Shore.
Atlantic Ocean
The Eastern Shore is a peninsula. A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered on three sides by water. A peninsula sticks out into the water.
Virginia’s Eastern Shore
Here is a road map of the Eastern Shore. See all the water? There aren’t many roads, are there?

26. The Eastern Shore is bordered by the Chesapeake Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
The Eastern Shore gets its name because it is is the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

27. There are no major cities on the Eastern Shore
There are no major cities on the Eastern Shore. People live in small towns and fish for a living. Wildlife is plentiful, including wild ponies.

28. Let’s review the Coastal Plain:
Also called Tidewater
Flat land
Location near the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay
Includes the Eastern Shore, a peninsula east of the Chesapeake Bay
East of the Fall Line
Product: seafood
Industries: shipbuilding, tourism, federal military installations

29. into five geographic regions
Virginia is divided
into five geographic regions

30. What are the characteristics of the Piedmont?
Footbridge over the Dan River in Danville, VA

31. What are the characteristics of the Piedmont?
THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
Means “land at the foot of the mountains”
Rolling hills
West of the fall line
4. Products: tobacco products and information technology
5. Industries: technology, federal and state government, farming, and textiles
What city is this?

32. The Piedmont region is between the Coastal Plain and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

33. The Piedmont Region is separated from the Coastal Plain by the Fall Line.
This satellite image clearly shows the fall line. Can you see it?
The Fall Line
Coastal Plain
Piedmont

34. The Fall Line got its name because that’s where the waterfalls start
The Fall Line got its name because that’s where the waterfalls start. There are no waterfalls in the Coastal Plain because the land is too flat. The land rises sharply at the Fall Line. There are small waterfalls in the Piedmont because the Piedmont has hills for the water to fall down. Waterfalls are bigger in the mountains, because the mountains are steeper and higher.

35. The Piedmont Region has rapids.
Rapids are places in a river where rocks and the downward slope of the land make the river run very fast. Rapids make the river dangerous for boats. River traffic cannot move past the rapids.

36. This is the Rappahannock River, near Fredericksburg
This is the Rappahannock River, near Fredericksburg. See the rocks in the river? You are looking at rapids on the Fall Line, between the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont regions.

37. The Piedmont region is west of the Fall Line.
Danville
Fall Line
Danville is also west of the Fall Line. There are rapids in the Dan River. Have you seen them?

38. Piedmont means “land at the foot of the mountains.”
From this view, in the Piedmont, you can see the mountains. You are at the foot, or the bottom, of the mountains.
Pied means foot. Mont means mountain.

39. The Piedmont Region has rolling hills.
Have you ridden your bike up and down the Piedmont’s rolling hills? Which do you like better, up or down?

40. The Piedmont region is famous for growing tobacco
The Piedmont region is famous for growing tobacco. Tobacco is a major product of the Piedmont.

41. Information technology is another product of the Piedmont.
Information technology means the technology we use to get and send information. Computers and satellites are part of this industry. Many technology companies are located in Northern Virginia.
What is this? How is it part of information technology?

42. Northern Virginia, in the Piedmont, is also famous for federal government jobs.
Many northern Virginians work for the Federal government, because Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, is just across the Potomac River. They go across the Potomac River every day to work. There are also some federal government buildings in northern Virginia itself, where Virginians are employed. Federal government jobs are a major industry of the Piedmont.

43. Why is state government a major industry of the piedmont?
Richmond is in the Piedmont. Many people in Richmond work for the state government. State government is a major industry of the Piedmont.
Why is state government a major industry of the piedmont?
Virginia’s state capitol building, where state senators and delegates meet to make our state’s laws.

44. Have you ever helped to do farm work? Is it easy or hard?
Many people in the piedmont farm. Farming is a major Piedmont industry.
Have you ever helped to do farm work? Is it easy or hard?

45. Textiles are also a major industry of the Piedmont
Textiles are also a major industry of the Piedmont. The textile industry is found in and near Danville.
Here we see, on both sides of the Dan River, the factory buildings of Dan River, Inc., Danville’s textile mill. This picture was taken about 50 years ago, but some things still look exactly the same. Do you recognize anything in this picture?

46. Danville
is in the
Piedmont
Region.

47. Lynchburg is also in the Piedmont region.
This is a postcard of Lynchburg. Do you think the card is old or new? Why do you think that?

48. Let’s review the Piedmont:
Land at the foot of the mountains
Rolling hills
West of the Fall Line
Products: tobacco products and information technology
Industries: technology, federal and state government, farming, and textiles

49. into five geographic regions
Virginia is divided
into five geographic regions

50. What are the characteristics of the Blue Ridge Mountains?
Old, rounded mountains
Part of the Appalachian mountain system
Located between the Piedmont and the Valley and Ridge regions
Source of many rivers
Product: apples
Industry: recreation

51. The Blue Ridge Mountains are located between the Piedmont and the Valley and Ridge Region.

52. The Blue Ridge Mountains are old, rounded mountains.

53. The Blue Ridge Mountains are part of the Appalachian mountain system.
The Appalachian mountain system stretches from Maine to Georgia.
Recreation is a major business in the Blue Ridge Mountains. People come to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and look at the beautiful views.

54. Have you seen one of Virginia’s caverns? Which one?
The Blue Ridge Mountains are located between the Piedmont and the Valley and Ridge regions.
Have you seen one of Virginia’s caverns? Which one?
Tourists come to the Blue Ridge Mountains to see the interesting underground caverns there.

55. The Blue Ridge Mountains are the source of many rivers.
Trout fishing is another recreational attraction that brings tourists to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The many streams where the trout are found, are sources of many of Virginia’s rivers.
Source: the beginning
Do you like fishing for recreation?

56. The major industry in the Blue Ridge Mountains is recreation.
Skiing is a popular recreation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ski Resorts are part of the tourist industry.

57. Recreation brings many tourists to the Blue Ridge Mountains
Recreation brings many tourists to the Blue Ridge Mountains. People like to hike the mountain trails and climb on the rocks. This is Natural Bridge, which many tourists come to see.

58. Apples are the major product of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Workers climb ladders to pick the apples at harvest time in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

59. Apples are the major product of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The apples are packed in wooden crates and shipped all over the world.
Do you eat apples from the Blue Ridge Mountains?

60. Let’s review the Blue Ridge Mountains:
Old, rounded mountains
Part of the Appalachian mountain system
Located between the Piedmont and the Valley and Ridge regions
Source of many rivers
Product: apples
Industry: recreation

61. into five geographic regions
Virginia is divided
into five geographic regions

62. What are the characteristics of the Valley and Ridge Region?
Fog hangs over the valley, as the surrounding ridges peek through the clouds.

63. The Valley and Ridge Region is west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

64. The Valley and Ridge Region includes the Great Valley of Virginia and other valleys separated by ridges.
Water rushing over rocks, tumbling downhill, is a common sight along the Valley and Ridge Region’s numerous creeks.

65. The Valley and Ridge Region contains the Great Valley of Virginia and other valleys.
Roanoke is a major city in Virginia’s Valley and Ridge Region. Roanoke grew because it became a railroad center.

66. The Valley and Ridge Region
Another city of the Valley and Ridge Region is Harrisonburg. This is a bed and breakfast hotel in Harrisonburg. Can you see that the Valley and Ridge Region gets quite a bit of snow in the winter?

67. Farming is the important industry in the Shenandoah Valley, in the Valley and Ridge Region.

68. Poultry is an important farm product in the Shenandoah Valley.
Chickens and turkeys are poultry. Much of the chicken you eat is raised in the Valley and Ridge.
What is this person holding?

69. Apples are also an important farm product of the Valley and Ridge.

70. Let’s review the Valley and Ridge:
Includes the Great Valley of Virginia and other valleys separated by ridges
The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Valley and Ridge regions are part of the Appalachian mountain system
Located west of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Products: poultry and apples
Industry: farming

71. into five geographic regions
Virginia is divided
into five geographic regions

72. What are the characteristics of the Appalachian Plateau?
What is a plateau?
A coal mining town in the Appalachian Plateau, around 1900

73. A plateau is an area of elevated (up high) land that is flat on top.
What is a plateau?
A plateau is an area of elevated (up high) land that is flat on top.
Would you like to go four-wheeling in the Appalachian Plateau?

74. The Appalachian Plateau is located in southwest Virginia.
The Appalachian Plateau extends into other states, like Kentucky and Tennessee. Only a small part of the Appalachian Plateau is in Virginia.

75. The major product of the Appalachian Plateau is coal.
This is what coal looks like. It is a “seam” of coal in between other rock.

76. Here a coal seam has caught fire and burns in the mountain.
Coal is a mineral found in the earth. It is like a rock, but it will burn, giving off very hot heat.

77. People used to use coal a lot to heat their houses.
Today, however, its major use is in coal-fired power plants, where electricity is generated.

78. The major product of the Appalachian Plateau is coal.
This railroad car will carry coal from the mine to the power plant.
Have you seen coal cars like this on the train tracks?

79. The major product of the Appalachian Plateau is coal.
Coal miners use very heavy, dangerous equipment. You have to be very careful.

80. The major industry of the Appalachian Plateau is coal mining.
Here we see miners in the mine in 1901.

81. The major industry of the Appalachian Plateau is coal mining.
Inside a coal mine today, a miner checks a roof for safety. Why are mines still very dangerous today? Do you see any safety equipment?

82. Let’s review the Appalachian Plateau:
Plateau: an area of elevated (high) land that is flat on top
Only a small part of the Appalachian Plateau is located in Virginia
Located in southwest Virginia
Product: coal
Industry: coal mining

83. into five geographic regions
Virginia is divided
into five geographic regions