Geography of GeorgiaGeorgia Studies

Key terms

• Geography

• Absolute location

• Relative location

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

Spatial Geography

How do we organize the land?

• 159 counties

• 5 bordering states– What are they??? (label your map)

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

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

Human systems

Where Georgians migrated and settled

• Atlanta – capital

• Twiggs County – geographic center

• Port of Savannah – first major settlement

• Brasstown Bald – highest geographic point

Environment & Society

Actions of humans that modified the environment

• Suburban sprawl (Metro Atlanta)

• Interstates & highways

• Urban population centers

• Rural farmlands & agricultural regions

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

Absolute Location

• A places precise location on the earth’s surface– Latitude– Longitude

• GA: 30 – 35 N latitude, 80 – 85 W longitude

Relative Location

• Where is GA located compared with other places– North America– Southeastern United States– Atlantic Coast

GA’s Physiographic Regions

• How would you describe the Geographic Regions of Georgia?

Key terms & places

Fall line

Region

Precipitation

Wetland

Barrier Island

Continental Shelf

Appalachian Plateau

Ridge & Valley

Blue Ridge

Piedmont Plateau

Coastal Plain

Okefenokee Swamp

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 formationsLookout Mountain, Sand Mountain, Chickamauga

• Soil: Limestone, shale, & sandstone

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)

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

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 riversAtlanta, Athens, Stone Mountain, Kennesaw MTN

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

Okefenokee Swamp

• 681 square miles

• Located south of Waycross

• Largest swamp in North America

• Freshwater wetland

• Water lies close to the surface

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

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

Georgia’s Climate

What do I need to know?

• Difference between weather & climate

• Effect of weather conditions on state

• Different types of weather phenomena

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

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

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

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