GEORGIA REGIONS

Geographic Regions of Geographic Regions of GeorgiaGeorgia

-- Appalachian Plateau

-- Ridge and Valley

-- Blue Ridge Region

-- Piedmont Plateau

-- Coastal Plain Region

Vocabulary

• estuary• salt marshes• barrier islands• Fall Line• Okefenokee Swamp

Coastal Plain Region

• Largest region, three-fifths of state• In prehistoric times, this area was completely

covered by ocean• Freshwater wetlands - Okefenokee Swamp

located in this region.• Grows pine along the coast and further inland

is famous for peanuts, peaches, and pecans

Coastal Plains

            

Georgia’s Coast• Georgia’s coast is in the eastern Coastal Plains

region• The coast consists of swamps, rivers, salt marshes,

estuaries, and islands• Salt Marshes – wetlands covered by salt water all or

most of the time that form a unique ecosystem• Estuary - the area around the river’s mouth where

fresh and salt water mix• Barrier Islands - a chain of islands that form a wall

blocking waves and wind from directly hitting the mainland. St. Simons and Tybee are two of the Georgia barrier islands.

Golden Isles

http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/photogallery/htmpages/cockspur.htm

Okefenokee Swamp

• Located in Ware County near the Florida border. Locate on your map.

• Largest freshwater wetland in Georgia.• Home to a wide variety of wildlife including

alligators, black bears, wildcats, venomous snakes.

Fall Line

• Fall Line - boundary between the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions

• Fall Line marks the prehistoric ocean shoreline• Rivers pick up speed as they “fall” through this

region and waterfalls are formed• Settlements and industry developed along the

Fall Line because swift rivers and waterfalls offered a source of power

Piedmont Region• Consists of rolling hills with many valleys• Red clay and granite base make up this region.• Georgia is the largest source of granite in the

U.S• Most heavily populated region of GA (Atlanta

in this region)• Rivers in this region are fast moving with

rapids and water falls• Farms growing cotton, soybeans, wheat,

chicken, cows are in this region

Piedmont

Chattahoochee River

            

Blue Ridge Region

• Located in the Northeastern corner of Georgia• Brasstown Bald - highest point in Georgia is in this

region• Appalachian Trail begins here and ends in Maine• Largest amounts of rainfall in the state are in this

region• Apples are the main crop• Chattahoochee and Savannah Rivers start here

Blue Ridge Region

Brasstown Bald

Tallulah Gorge

Amicalola Falls

            

Ridge and Valley Region

• Long parallel ridges overlooking wide fertile valleys

• Sandstone ridges are forest covered and the valleys are used for farming and pasture

• Region is known for the carpet industry

Ridge and Valley

Appalachian Plateau

• Georgia’s smallest region located in the northwestern corner of the state

• A plateau is flat or sloping elevated land with surrounding valleys

• Lookout Mountain and Cloudland Canyon are here.• Georgia’s only source of coal is in this region.

Appalachian Plateau