Georgia’s Geographic Regions

What makes a region?

• A region is the basic unit of study in geography• A region can be defined by common characteristics

that are usually- cultural, human or physical• The five regions in Georgia include:– Appalachian Plain– Ridge and Valley – Blue Ridge– Piedmont Plateau– Coastal Plain

Can you name a region that you

studied in 7th grade social

studies? What made it a region?

Appalachian Plateau Region• Located in the Northwest corner• Smallest of the 5 regions• AKA: The TAG region because it

connects the states of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia at one point.

• Includes Dade and Walker counties • Includes: Cloudland State Park,

Lookout Mountain, and the site of a major Civil War battle (Tennessee)

• Economy:– Activities included mining, but

limited agriculture (farming) due to poor soil.

– Coal was an important product.

Appalachian Region

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/videos/geology_of_georgia

The Ridge and Valley Region

• Characterized by low open valleys and narrow ridges.

• Includes: The cities of Cartersville, Calhoun, and Dalton

• Economy: Dalton has a large textile and carpet industry.

• Other: Major battle ground for the Civil War and a major transportation route between Georgia and Tennessee.

Ridge and Valley Region

The Blue Ridge Region

• Located in the northeastern part of Georgia• Geography: Location of Georgia’s largest

mountains including Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest point. Also the source of Georgia’s rivers.

• Includes the southernmost point of the Appalachian Trail and the city of Dahlonega, site of America’s first Gold Rush.

• Economy: mining was once the primary industry, but today it is tourism.

• Receives the states most precipitation with 80 inches of rain annually.

The Blue Ridge Region

The Piedmont Region

• Located in the middle of the state

• Georgia’s most populous region with more than half of the state’s population

• Includes: Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, and Stone Mountain

• Economy: Industry, manufacturing and agriculture (mostly poultry). With large amounts of granite, mining has also been important.

The Piedmont Region

The Coastal Plain Region• Largest region in Georgia.• Divided into two areas:

– Inner Coastal: • agricultural heartland of the state

with peaches, peanuts, cotton, and Vidalia Onions

– Outer Coastal: • Home to Georgia’s oldest city,

Savannah. • Due to the abundance of pine

trees, naval stores were an important industry in the state. Today, the trees are used in pulp and paper products.

• Being on the Atlantic Coast, tourism, shipping, and seafood are also important industries.

What’s a Naval Store?

• http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/naval_stores

Lesson Two (SS8G1b) – Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge,

Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

What do you remember about… Georgia’s

physiographic regions???1. Contains GA’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald

A. Piedmont2. Contains most of GA’s peanut and

cotton farmsB. Valley & Ridge

3. The smallest physiographic region

C. Coastal Plain

4. Has GA’s highest amount of annual rainfall

D. Blue Ridge

5. The most populated of GA’s regions.

E. Appalachian Plateau

6.Contains mountain ridges with valleys between

7.Contains GA’s only source of a fossil fuel (coal)

8.The location of GA’s capital and largest city

9. The largest of GA’s regions, in terms of land area

SS8G1 – The student will describe Georgia with regard to physical features and location.

D.

C.

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A.

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B.

A.

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E.