our special state

xiv Georgia and the American Experience

Unit 1: Our Special State 1

elcome to our Georgia! You may be a native Georgian. Oryou may have arrived here from Mexico, Vietnam, India, Ja-pan, Korea, or other nations and U.S. states. We are glad youare here and hope you enjoy learning more about your home.

In the two chapters of this unit, you will learn about our geographic regions,our climate, our waterways, and other natural resources of the state. You willalso read about the many plants and animals you can see as you walk aroundyour neighborhood, visit a public park, or travel on Georgia’s back roads.

A special feature in this unit takes you on a visual trip to “Georgia’s Won-ders,” seven unique places in our state that are the result of nature, time, andgeography. But before we begin studying about the state we call home, let uslook at what geography means.

Our SpecialStateOur SpecialState

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Geography affects where people live and how they make a living. In theBlue Ridge region, most farms (left) are small. The geography of central andsouthern Georgia is good for growing peaches (above).

GEORGIA TODAY

Where in theWorld is Georgia?Where in theWorld is Georgia?

2 Georgia and the American Experience

Chapter PreviewChapter PreviewGeorgia character word:ResponsibilityGeographic Terms: geography,relative location, absolutelocation, hemisphere, axis,equator, parallels, latitude,meridians, prime meridian,longitude, region, precipitation,wetland, barrier island,continental shelf, Fall Line,climate, weather, verticalclimate, drought, wind current,trade winds, prevailingwesterlies, ocean currents,hurricane, nor’easter, tornado,El Niño, La Niña, global warmingPlaces: Appalachian Plateauregion, Ridge and Valley region,Blue Ridge region, PiedmontPlateau, Coastal Plain region,Okefenokee Swamp

Section 1 What is Geography?Section 2 Geographic Regions of

GeorgiaSection 3 Georgia’s Climate

ave you ever wondered whyGeorgia summers are so hot andsticky? Perhaps the local weatherforecaster predicted snow, but

you woke up to see nothing but a little froston the ground. What would life be like if youlived on the beach or in the mountains? Toanswer these questions, we need to under-stand the six essential elements of geographyand the role of geography in our lives.

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Above: The Atlantic Ocean,seen here from Jekyll Island,brought European explorersand settlers to Georgia. Left:From a vantage point nearHiawassee, the Blue RidgeMountains stretch off intothe distance. The Blue Ridgeare part of the AppalachianMountains and run fromnortheastern Georgia upthrough Virginia.

Chapter 1: Where in the World is Georgia? 3

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1764Mason-Dixon Lineestablished toseparate Northand South

1811New Madrid, Missouri,

earthquake

1816Blizzards in northeastern U.S. in June and August

1872Acid rain firstacknowledged

1896“Greenhouse effect” first discovered

1980Mt. St. Helens volcano erupted

1984First hole in ozone layerdiscovered in Antarctica

1989San Francisco earthquake

1972Cumberland Island established as national seashore

1998Severe flooding in southeastern part of state

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000

1893Deadly hurricane

hit Savannah1850s

Providence Canyon began forming due to erosion

1940Georgia record low of

–17°F

1952Georgia record high of 112°F

Figure 1 Timeline: 1750–2000

4 Chapter 1: Where in the World is Georgia?

Location:Latitude and longitude: 30°–35°N Latitude,

80°–85°W Longitude

Location within United States: South

Location within South: Southeast

East-West divider: Fall Line

Geographic center of state: Twiggs County

Driving time: 10 hours from northwest corner of

state to southeast corner

Vital Statistics:Land area: 58,910 square milesInland water: 854 square milesNumber of bordering states: 5Major bodies of water: 1Number of islands: 18Number of physiographic regions: 5Number of counties: 159Highest point: Brasstown BaldLowest point: Atlantic coastline

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The term geography comes from the Greek word geographia and means “Earth’sdescription.” Geography is the science of studying Earth as the home ofhumans. Geography helps us understand ourselves, the places where we live,our relationships with the natural environment, and our interdependencewith other places and people in the United States and throughout the world.Studying Georgia’s geography helps us answer such questions as why theIndians lived in certain areas of the state, why early settlers moved to par-ticular areas, how the location of a town affects its economy, and even whydepartment stores carry certain kinds of clothing.

Now that you can define the word geography, what do you need to knowto become a “geographically informed” person?

Understand the world in spatial terms: Be able to use maps and othertools to acquire, process, and report information; use mental mapsto organize information about people, places, and environments; analyzethe spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth’ssurface;Understand places and regions: Comprehend the physical and humancharacteristics of places; realize that people create regions to interpretEarth’s complexity; know how culture and experience influence people’sperceptions of places and regions;Understand Earth’s physical systems: Know the physical processes thatshape the patterns of Earth’s surface; understand the characteristics andspatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth’s surface;Understand the human systems of Earth: Know the characteristics,distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth; understandEarth’s cultural mosaics, the concept of economic interdependence, theprocess, patterns, and functions of human settlement, and the influenceof the forces of cooperation and conflict;Understand environment and society: Comprehend how human actionsmodify the physical environment, how physical systems affect human sys-tems, and the changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, andimportance of resources; and, finally,Understand the uses of geography: Realize how to apply geography tointerpret the past, to understand the present, and to plan for the future.

Location, Location, LocationWhen we talk about studying geography, we are simply describing a par-

ticular part of Earth—Georgia. So, as geographers, where are we?One basic geographic skill is the ability to describe where a place is located.

Location is either relative or absolute. Relative location describes where a place

As you read, look for:• six uses of geography,• the difference betweenrelative and absolute location,• use of latitude and longitudeto describe location, and• vocabulary terms: geogra-phy, relative location, absolutelocation, hemisphere, axis,equator, parallels, meridians,prime meridian, and longitude.

What is Geography?Section PreviewSection Preview

Section1Section1

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Section 1: What is Geography? 5

?On a map, you need to know

where the cardinaldirections—north, south,

east, and west—are. It is alsoimportant to know the

intermediate directions—northwest, northeast,

southwest, and southeast.One symbol on a map helps

you locate those directions. Itis a compass rose (below).

is located compared with other places. For example, Darien is located nearBrunswick; Dalton is located eighty-eight miles northwest of Atlanta; FortBenning is southeast of Columbus. You might describe your school’s loca-tion by saying that it is near a certain mall or a particular business. Now, youtry it. What is the relative location of your house or apartment to your school?

Absolute location identifies a precise position on Earth’s surface. In yourhometown, your street address designates a local location and defines theabsolute location of your home. To find the absolute location of states orcountries, we use maps and globes and we need markers more precise thanstreet addresses.

Globes are round in shape like a sphere and are scale models of Earth.Spheres can be divided into two halves called hemispheres. If you examinethe globe in your classroom, you will see that the globe turns on an axis, animaginary straight line around which an object rotates. The north end ofthe axis is called the North Pole. The south end of the axis is called the SouthPole. The line that goes around the globe exactly halfway between the twopoles is called the equator. It divides Earth into two hemispheres. Somethingthat may surprise you is that right this minute you are actually moving about1,000 miles per hour. That is because Earth, which is about 25,000 milesaround at the equator, is moving on its axis every twenty-four hours. Now,that’s something to think about!

The northern hemisphere extends from the equator to the North Pole,and the southern hemisphere extends from the equator to the South Pole.The United States is located in the northern hemisphere, but there is moreto the absolute location of our state.

Map 1The Hemispheres

Map Skill: What othercountries in North America liein the northern hemisphere?

North Pole

PrimeMeridian

0°

Equator 0°

90°

North Pole

PrimeMeridian

0°

Equator 0°

90°

Northern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

Eastern Hemisphere

Western Hemisphere


Equator 0°

North Pole

PrimeMeridian

0°

Equator 0°

90°

Latitude and LongitudeExamine the globe and you will find lines that run east and west side by

side with the equator. These lines are called parallels. They are used to de-scribe latitude, which is the distance north or south of the equator. Sincethere is only one equator, there is only one line on a globe which is 0° lati-tude. All of the other lines or parallels mark distances north (N) or south (S)of the equator.

These distances are measured in units called degrees. The North Pole islocated at 90° N, and the South Pole is found at 90° S. Each degree can bedivided into smaller measurements called minutes so that each degree con-tains 60 minutes. Each minute can be divided into even smaller measure-ments called seconds, so that each minute contains 60 seconds. Locationsare usually written in just degree and minute designations. In expressing

latitude, you must always add theletter N or S to the number of de-grees. For example, the port of Sa-vannah is located at latitude 32° 02'N. Georgia is located between 30° 21'and 35° N latitude. However, that isonly one of the pieces of informa-tion needed for an absolute location.

Examine the globe again andyou will find lines that run from onepole to the other. These lines run-ning north and south are called

Map 2Georgia in theUnited States

Map Skill: Without using theexamples already used,describe Georgia’s relativelocation.

Did You Know?Did You Know?

Section 1: What is Geography? 7

?The geographic center of

North America is located inRugby, North Dakota. Rugby

is 1,500 miles from thePacific Ocean, the Atlantic

Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, andthe Gulf of Mexico.

It’s Your TurnIt’s Your Turn

Map 3Latitude andLongitude

Map Skill: What Georgiacity is located at 33° 57' Nlatitude and 83° 19' Wlongitude?

meridians. The starting point forthe meridians is the prime merid-ian, a line running from the NorthPole through England and part ofAfrica to the South Pole. Meridiansmeasure degrees of longitude,which tells how far east or west ofthe prime meridian a place is lo-cated. The prime meridian is locatedat 0° longitude. All locations west ofthe prime meridian are numberedand labeled with the letter W, and alllocations east of the prime meridianare numbered and labeled with theletter E. Georgia is located between80° 50' and 85° 36' W longitude.

If you wrote a pen pal in Austra-lia and described where you lived,how would you describe Georgia’srelative location? You might say thatGeorgia is located in the northernhemisphere, or in North America,or in the southeastern corner of theUnited States. You might add thatfive other states touch Georgia bor-

ders—Florida on the south, Alabama on the west, Tennessee and North Caro-lina on the north, and South Carolina along the Savannah River on thenortheast. You can include that Georgia is also bordered by the Atlantic Oceanon the east.

However, if you wanted to shareGeorgia’s absolute location with yourpen pal, you would have to say thatGeorgia is located between 30° 21'and 35° N latitude and between 80°50' and 80° 36' W longitude.

In terms of land area, Georgia isthe largest state east of the MississippiRiver. Its greatest length is 315 miles,and its greatest width is 250 miles.There are 58,910 square miles of landand 854 square miles of inland wa-ter in Georgia. The state has almostas much land as all of the New En-gland states combined. The geo-graphic center of the state is locatedat a point 18 miles southeast of Ma-con in Twiggs County.


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1. What is your relative,absolute, and locallocation? Can youdetermine your absolutelocation from the map onthis page?

2. Define latitude andlongitude.

3. If you go to five differentInternet sites, you willprobably find five differentfigures for Georgia’s landarea. Why would that bethe case? Check it out.

As you read, look for:• the five regions of Georgia,• the Fall Line, and• vocabulary terms: region,precipitation, wetland, barrierisland, continental shelf, andFall Line.

Map 4Georgia’sGeographic Regions

Map Skill: In whichgeographic region do youlive?

Section PreviewSection PreviewSection2Section2Geographic Regionsof GeorgiaA region is the basic unit of study in geography. It is an area on Earth’ssurface that is defined by certain unifying characteristics. These characteris-tics may be cultural, human, or physical. A region may be defined by a gov-ernment (such as the United States), a common language, climate, situation,or even landforms or the physical topography. We live in several regions—in North America, in the UnitedStates, in the South, in thesoutheastern United States, inGeorgia, and even in a particu-lar region or section of the state.

The people who call Georgiahome enjoy a wide range of geo-graphic areas. There are twenty-four physiographic patterns(natural characteristics of Earth’ssurface) in Georgia. These natu-ral divisions differ both in areaand in their land base, whichmay be limestone, clay sedi-ment, shale, or marsh. There areenough similarities among thetwenty-four patterns, however,that they can be combined intofive major physiographic re-gions: (1) the Appalachian Pla-teau region, (2) the Ridge andValley region, (3) the Blue Ridgeregion, (4) the Piedmont Pla-teau, and (5) the Coastal Plain.

Section 2: Geographic Regions of Georgia 9

The Appalachian Plateau RegionThe smallest of the physiographic areas, the Appala-

chian Plateau region is a maze of limestone caves, deepcanyons, and interesting rock formations. Many peoplerefer to this region in the far northwestern corner of thestate as the “TAG Corner” because it is the point at whichTennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet. Also sometimes

called the Cumberland Plateau, the region has the broad, flat-topped, 100-mile-long Lookout Mountain on one side and Sand Mountain on the other,separated by ridges of limestone. In between these two mountains is a long,narrow valley. Soils in this region are a mixture of limestone, shale, and sand-stone and are well suited for the region’s hardwood forests and pastures.

With an elevation (the height above sea level) of up to 2,000 feet, thisregion is one of the most scenic but least traveled parts of the state. CivilWar buffs frequent the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National MilitaryPark, the site of historic Civil War battles. Cloudland Canyon, located be-tween Trenton and Lafayette, has two beautiful waterfalls that cascade overlayers of sandstone, dolomite, and shale millions of years old.


Cloudland Canyon (below)in Dade County is one of theSoutheast’s most beautifulnatural sights. The steep,1,980-foot canyon was cut bySitton Gulch Creek (oppositepage, below) over millionsof years. Cloudland CanyonState Park is a favoritedestination for hikers.


Visitors to the Chickamaugaand Chattanooga NationalMilitary Park will see CivilWar cannon (left) andmonuments to the units thatfought there (above).

The Ridge and Valley RegionBetween the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appala-

chian Plateau lies the Ridge and Valley region. This areaof the state has low open valleys and narrow ridges thatrun parallel to the valleys. Elevation ranges from 700 to1,600 feet above sea level. Most of the soil in the region isa mixture of shale and sandstone on the ridges and lime-

stone and clay in the valleys. Forests and pastures dominate the region, butthere are flat and fertile farmlands with fields of grain, pastures for cattle,and rows of apple orchards near Ellijay. The valleys are divided by steep andnarrow ridges capped with limestone. The rocks that make up the ridges arevery resistant to erosion. Ridges include Taylor Ridge and Pigeon Mountain.

The region runs from Polk and Bartow counties northward to Chattanooga,Tennessee. It is known for its industry, particularly textile and carpet manu-facturing. Dalton, known as the “carpet capital of the world,” leads the way.

A famous story told by the late Bernice McCullar in her This Is Georgiaexplained the northwest Georgia location of Plum Nelly reached over a wind-ing two-lane road. People would refer to it as “plum outa Tennessee and nellyouta Georgia.” Today Plum Nelly also the name of a well-known Appalachianfolk art center.



Opposite page, above:Gilmer County in the Ridgeand Valley Region is Georgia’s“Apple Capital.” Oppositepage, below: Ten milesnortheast of Dalton isPrater’s Mill, built in 1855.Left: Shinbone Valley inChattooga County is one ofthe many valleys in thisregion. Above: There aremore than seventy carpetmanufacturing plants inDalton. Pictured is ShawIndustries.

The Blue Ridge RegionThe Blue Ridge region of Georgia is known for its rug-

ged beauty. Located in the northeastern part of the state,it is part of the Appalachian Highlands that stretch fromNew York to Alabama. The Blue Ridge region is a hundredmiles wide and has an area of about two thousand squaremiles. The highest and largest group of mountains in

Georgia is in this region. These mountains are important to the rest of thestate because they are the first barrier to warm, moist air rising from the Gulfof Mexico. When that air makes contact with the high mountains, it cools.The precipitation (rain, hail, sleet, or snow) that results provides water forthe entire state. Here, precipitation can exceed 80 inches per year.

The region has a mixture of sandy loam (a blend of clay, sand, and or-ganic matter) and clay. The shallow soil is easily eroded, and the steep slopesadd to the erosion problems in the region. The area is well suited for hard-wood forests, vegetable farming, and apples.

Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in the state, is located in this region. (Inthe South, high mountains that are treeless on top are often called “balds.”)The peak is almost 5,000 feet high. If you climb to the top of the observationtower there, you can catch a glimpse of three surrounding states: North Caro-lina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The Ridge and Valley region marks the beginning of the AppalachianTrail at Springer Mountain, northeast of Dahlonega. Every year, outdooradventurers begin the 2,144-mile hike, hoping to arrive at its end in Maine.


Above: SpringerMountain marksthe southern endof the 2,015-mileAppalachian Trail.Above right: Markers likethese guide hikers along theTrail. Right: NortheastGeorgia’s Blue Ridge Moun-tains draw visitors from allaround the world. Oppositepage, above: Helen’s alpinevillage is a favorite touriststop. Opposite page, below:The observation tower atopBrasstown Bald offers a 360-degree vista of North Georgiaand neighboring states.

Travelers to this region can also visit other well-known Georgia landmarksincluding beautiful Amicalola Falls, which drops 729 feet; the 1,000-foot-deep Tallulah Gorge in Raburn County; and the alpine community of Helenin White County. In addition, this region is known for its many recreationalopportunities.

Georgia’s three northern regions are all part of the Appalachian Moun-tains. The story of the Appalachians began over 900 million years ago whenthe continents collided and created one giant continent. This collision alsocreated the Appalachians. Over millions of years, the continents split apartand slowly moved away from each other. The first Appalachian Mountainseroded into what later became the Atlantic Ocean.

About 500 million years ago, the continents once again began to moveback together. As the continents moved together, they pushed the sedimentfrom the ocean floor back up and created the second Appalachian Moun-tains. Once again, the continents collided. The force of the collision causedEarth’s crust to fold and more mountains to form. Each time the continentscollided and formed more mountains, the existing mountains were pushedfurther west. That is why the Appalachians have several sets of parallel ridges.

About 200 million years ago, the continents began to drift apart again.Over the past 200 million years, the Appalachian Mountains have erodedfrom their original height. At times ice glaciers covered the mountain chain.The weight of the glaciers pushed down the mountains underneath. The icecarved valleys and pushed the eroded rock sediments as far south as the south-eastern corner of the United States.


?Before one hundred millionyears of erosion wore awaythe Blue Ridge Mountains,they were 75 percent taller

than they are today.


The Piedmont PlateauThe Piedmont Plateau begins in the mountain foot-

hills of northern Georgia and goes to the central part ofthe state. It has gently sloping hills and valleys in thenorth and flatlands in the south. The region has well-drained soils, primarily sandy loam and clay, which aresuitable for hardwood timber, pine, and agriculture.

Some Georgians refer to the gently rolling hills and southern flatlands asthe “heartland” of the state. The term Piedmont means “foot of the moun-tain,” but the plateau is so long that it actually runs from Alabama north-ward to Delaware. This granite-based landform makes up about one-third ofthe state’s land area. In addition to the granite base, there is another familiartype of soil: clay. People new to the region often seem perplexed after a heavyrain and ask, “What is that red stuff?” Long-term residents usually simplysmile and respond, “Well, that is our famous Georgia red clay.”

About one-half of the state’s population lives in the Piedmont region. It wasthe cotton belt during the period before the Civil War. Today, it is known forthe production of wheat, soybeans, corn, poultry, and cattle. Business andindustry also flourish throughout the area. The cities of Atlanta, Athens, Madi-son, and Milledgeville are among some of the densely populated areas criss-crossed by the Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Oconee rivers.



Top: Stone Mountain is theworld’s largest mass ofexposed granite, whichunderlies much of this region.Above: This gondola takesvisitors to the top of StoneMountain. Right: The regionis characterized by gentlyrolling hills. Opposite page,above: Atlanta is theregion’s, and the state’s,largest city. Opposite page,below: Erosion often exposesGeorgia’s famous red clay.

The Coastal PlainThe Coastal Plain, which occupies about three-fifths

of the state, is the largest region. There are actually twoparts of Georgia’s Coastal Plain: the Inner Coastal Plainand the Outer Coastal Plain. The Inner Coastal Plain hasa mild climate and a good supply of underground water.It is the major ag-

ricultural region of the state, withsoil that varies from limestone toclay. The Vidalia Upland has becomeworld famous for the unique sweetonions that grow there. The south-western corner around Bainbridgeand Albany is called the DoughertyPlain, in whose rich soil grow pea-nuts, corn, and pecan trees.

The Outer Coastal Plain does nothave drained soil to provide fertilefarmlands, but it is the center of na-val stores and pulp production in thestate. As you travel along the flatcoastline area, which in some places



Above: This monument at theEarly County Courthouse inBlakely honors the impor-tance of the peanut to thearea’s economy. Below:Georgia poet Sidney Lanierwas inspired to write “TheMarshes of Glynn” aftervisiting the marshlands nearBrunswick. Opposite page,above: The Inner CoastalPlain is the major agriculturalregion of the state.

?Living on the Outer CoastalPlain does have one uniquedisadvantage—sand gnats.When the elements are justright, these tiny nuisances

love flying around yourhair and face, and they canbite. But there is a cure—take a fresh clothes dryer

sheet and rub it on your hairand face. It works to keep

those pests away.

By the Side of the RoadBy the Side of the RoadOne of Georgia’s most well-known and best-loved writersis poet Sidney Lanier. Born inMacon, Lanier often visitedBrunswick and enjoyed the quietbeauty of the marshes that sepa-rated the Glynn County city fromthe barrier islands of Jekyll and St.Simons. To find out who he visitedand how the marshes affectedhim, read the Historical Marker.

Want to see more? You can visit the LanierCottage in Macon where he was born. There you willsee the desk where he worked, along with manypersonal items belonging to the poet. And, if you driveto Lakeland through Lanier County in southwestGeorgia, you can learn even more about his life. Lanierwill be discussed in greater detail later in yourtextbook. Watch for him!


Map 5Georgia’s BarrierIslands

Map Skill: How many barrierislands does Georgia have?

Right: Sapelo Island’s coastalsalt marshes are a nursery forfish and shellfish.

is fairly swampy and marshy, you are in the territory firstvisited by early explorers. One of the major features of theOuter Coastal Plain is the 681-square-mile OkefenokeeSwamp located south of Waycross. The Okefenokee, thelargest swamp in North America, is a freshwater wetland.A wetland is a low-lying land area where water lies close tothe surface creating sloughs, swamps, bogs, ponds, andfreshwater marshes. A wetland can also be a lowland that isinfluenced by tidal water flows to create salt marshes. Geor-gia ranks fourth in the nation in the number of acres of wet-lands found in the state.

Along the coast, the deep harbors and barrier islands of-fer recreational facilities, seafood gathering and processingindustries, and major shipyard ports. Here, for example, arecities such as Savannah, Darien, and Brunswick with theirenduring, genteel beauty.

The coast is an interlocking chain of marshes, rivers, andtributaries that eventually flow into the Atlantic Ocean. TheSpanish explorers called this subtropical region “Islands ofGold.” Along the one-hundred mile shoreline is a group ofbarrier islands, so called because they protect the beachesby blocking much of the wind, sands, and water that coulderode the mainland. Even today, this chain of islands of-fers much in terms of beauty, recreation, and tourism. JekyllIsland is primarily a state park, and Cumberland Island is anational seashore. Perhaps the greatest legacy of the barrier

island group is that two-thirds of the land remains wilderness sanctuaries.The continental shelf is the portion of the continent or the coastal plain

that extends into the ocean. The continental shelf’s outer edge, called thecontinental slope, drops away gradually. The continental slope is the actualedge of the continent. It falls into deep plateaus and eventually into the oceandepths two miles down.

Tybee Island

Little Tybee Island

WassawIsland

OssabawIsland

St. CatherinesIsland

Blackbeard Island

Sapelo Island

Wolf Island

Little St. Simons Island

Sea IslandSt. Simons Island

Jekyll Island

Little Cumberland Island

Cumberland Island

St. Marys R.

Satilla R.

Altamaha R.

OgeecheeR.


Map 6The Fall Line

Map Skill: Rivers above thefall line are fast moving, whilerivers below the Fall Line areslower moving. Why do youthink that is so?

Above: Fall Line waterfallsprovide a source of power forbusinesses located along theFall Line, including this textilemill in Columbus.


The Fall LineThe Coastal Plain region is separated from the Piedmont Plateau by a

natural boundary known as the Fall Line. The Fall Line is the point at whichhilly or mountainous lands meet the coastal plain. This line runs from Co-lumbus on the western side of the state, through Macon and intoAugusta on the eastern side. Other cities located on the Fall Line areMilledgeville, Roberta, Thomson, and Warrenton. Rivers and creeks flowingfrom the rocky hill country cut deep channels in the softer soil of the plains.This drops the elevation and creates waterfalls. As early settlers began to leavethe coastal regions and explore inland, many were forced to stop at the FallLine because they could not travel over the steep and rushing falls. Theseearly settlers, as well as Indians and traders, found the waterfalls an excel-lent power source and built settlements there.

Atlantic Ocean

Fall Line

Piedmont

Coastal Plain


t1. What are Georgia’s five physiographic regions?2. Which are Georgia’s largest and smallest regions?3. What is the difference between the Inner Coastal Plain and the

Outer Coastal Plain?4. What is the Fall Line and why is it important?5. What are some of the cities located along the Fall Line?

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of Georgia’s geographic re-gions is the climate of each area. But, what does that really mean? Climaterefers to the type of weather a region experiences over a long period of time.Weather refers to the day-to-day conditions and changes in the atmosphere.While weather varies constantly, a region’s climate remains stable. The cli-mate of an region influences the types of homes built, the types of indus-tries that develop, the clothing styles, and even what crops are grown.Weather extremes can produce devastating results—destruction of propertyand the environment, injuries, and deaths.

Look out of a window for a minute. What do you see? If the leaves areturning red, orange, and gold, it is probably fall regardless of which regionyou call home. However, the weather outside can differ tremendously basedon where you are located. For example, in the north Georgia mountains,those beautiful autumn leaves indicate that snow is just around the corner.In south Georgia, however, fall leaves are an indicator to keep the umbrellahandy as residents hope that hurricane season is finally ending and they canprepare for a dry month.

As you read, look for:• the difference betweenweather and climate,• the effect of weatherconditions on the state,• different types of weatherphenomena, and• vocabulary terms: climate,weather, vertical climate,drought, wind current, tradewinds, prevailing westerlies,ocean currents, hurricane,nor’easter, tornado, El Niño, LaNiña, and global warming.

Section PreviewSection PreviewGeorgia’s Climate

Section3Section3


Below: Snowfall is rare inAtlanta. This photograph wastaken at Piedmont Park.

Map 7Average JanuaryTemperatures

Map Skill: What is theJanuary temperature forwhere you live?

TemperatureAs a result of Georgia’s latitude and longitude (and our nearness

to the equator), the climate in our state overall is mild with a sub-tropical feel along the coast. We experience four distinct seasons:spring, summer, fall, and winter. In most places, summers are hotand humid while winters are mild. However, there is a narrow bandacross the north Georgia mountains that has warm summers andmoderately cold winters because mountainous terrain also influencestemperature. The higher the elevation, the colder the temperature.This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as vertical climate.

The highest temperatures in the state usually occur in July, andthe coldest readings are normally in January. The average tempera-ture for the year is 65°F (Fahrenheit). However, the mercury can fallbelow 0°F in the northern sections and rise above 100°F in the middleand southern regions of the state.

Several unlikely records have been set in the state. For example,on July 24, 1952, the town of Louisville had a temperature of 112°F. At theother end of the scale, Floyd County shivered on January 27, 1940, whenthe temperature plunged to -17°F.

Generally, though, temperatures are relatively comfortable through mostof the year, which is one of the reasons why so many companies move intoour state. Industries tend to favor mild climates because such weather equalslower costs for heating and air conditioning and fewer weather-related absences. Equally important, our mild climate generates longergrowing seasons for a variety of crops. Even in today’s modern Geor-gia, one in six Georgia jobs relates to agriculture or agri-business.

PrecipitationPrecipitation is vital to Georgia’s economy. Snow, which gener-

ally falls only in the mountain regions, melts and runs off intostreams and lakes. Rainfall aids the growth of crops and forests. In anormal year, Georgia receives an average of 40 to 52 inches of rainin central and southern regions and 65 to 76 inches in the northernmountains, some of which is in the form of snow. July is the wettest

month of the year, and Oc-tober is the driest. Interest-ingly enough, all five areasof Georgia, including theOuter Coastal Plain, haveexperienced ice or snow, so a snowday from school really can happeneven in Savannah, Brunswick, or theSt. Marys area.

From 1998 through 2002, Georgia,like many other parts of the country,experienced a severe drought, withrainfall far below average. A drought

Below 42 42-46 46-50 Above 50 Degrees Fahrenheit

Map 8Average JulyTemperatures

Map Skill: What is the Julytemperature for the areawhere you live?

Below 78 78-80 80-81 Above 81 Degrees Fahrenheit


Section 3: Georgia’s Climate 23

?According to weather

observers, if birds fly for coverwhen it starts raining, the

rain will only last for ashort time. But if they start

flying around as usualin the rain, forget about the

family picnic.

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¢Spotlight on the EconomySpotlight on the Economy

Droughts impact us environmentally, socially, and eco-nomically. Businesses, industries, and home users are allaffected by having less water. There is not as much wateravailable to produce hydroelectric power. Forest fires be-come a constant threat, especially in heavily wooded ar-eas of the state. Shortages of rainfall also mean fewerwater-related recreational opportunities. Conservationbecomes very important. But the most damaging impactof prolonged droughts is on agriculture.

Droughts limit agricultural production, so there is lessharvest to sell to farmers’ markets, food production com-panies, and grocery stores. Droughts also mean less grainfor livestock. This affects beef, dairy, and poultry farms. Pro-duction goes down and prices go up. Everyone pays for thedrought when they check out at their local supermarket.

To Georgia’s economy, rain means more than carrying anumbrella. Snow means much more than a day out of schoolfor students. Rain and snow mean economic survival. Some-times, however, too much of a good thing can be trouble-

DroughtsDroughts

some. In 1994, for example, all Georgia precipitation recordswere broken in most of the region from Bainbridge to Ma-con as over 23 inches of rain fell within a week’s time. Thirty-two counties were declared disaster areas by the federalgovernment. Officials in Albany, one of the hardest-hit areas,had to find shelter and food for 15,000 people. In Macon,150,000 people were without water, while the town ofMontezuma was virtually under water. Caring people alongwith various state and federal governmental agencies cameto the aid of these Georgia citizens, many of whom lost ev-erything they had worked so hard to attain.

Precipitation is also good or bad depending on the tim-ing of the rains. The very rainfall that helped Georgia pullout of a five-year drought in 2003 also arrived a bit earlierthan scheduled and damaged several major Georgia cropsincluding watermelon production.


Above: Even irrigation equipment cannot help farmers’crops when a drought strikes.

is a lack of precipitation over a period of time that results in watershortages. Lack of rainfall for even a short period of time can harmindustries, farmers, and homeowners alike. A few weeks without rainand lawns begin to turn brown, plants and shrubs shrivel, fire warn-ings become common, and water conservation actions run full speed.The most famous drought in U.S. history may be the 1930s Dust Bowlwhen 50,000,000 acres of land became useless for farming and ranch-ing. In the late 1980s, the country suffered the worst drought in 50years, affecting at least 35 states. Crops and livestock died, some farmareas became deserts, and forest fires destroyed over 4,100,000 acresin 1988 alone. Half of Yellowstone National Park was charred.

Wind and Water CurrentsWhen we think of Georgia and water, we certainly think of our

coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. We know that the Atlantic has aninfluence on our state. But we often do not think about the influ-ence the Gulf of Mexico has on Georgia since the Gulf is not directly on ourborder. Both have a strong influence on Georgia because of winds, windcurrents, and ocean currents.

WindsWinds influence the overall weather pattern of Georgia. Air masses that

begin over the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean control summer’s warmmonths. The winter months are controlled by air masses that start in thepolar regions of Alaska and Canada. Wind patterns can bring moderateweather or intense storms in the forms of tornadoes and hurricanes.

Map 9Average AnnualPrecipitation

Map Skill: What is theannual precipitation for thearea in which you live?

less than 48 48-52 52-56 more than 56 Inches


Barrier islands, such as Cumberland Islandshown here, are constantly changing due tothe effects of wind and water currents.

Map 10Wind Currents

Map Skill: In which directiondo the trade winds blow?

Wind CurrentsThe early explorers who traveled

to Georgia and the rest of the south-eastern area sought favorable windcurrents to shorten their trip and tomake for smoother sailing. A windcurrent is a continuous movementor flow of air. Surface winds from theequator to around 30° south latitudeflow from the southeast. Winds fromthe equator to around 30° north lati-tude generally flow from the north-east. These winds are known as tradewinds. The early navigators used thetrade winds to sail westward to theNew World.

Winds from around 30° to 60° lati-tude north and south of the equatorgenerally blow from the west to theeast. These winds, often called pre-vailing westerlies, were the windsused by explorers on their home-bound trips, usually traveling a routeslightly north of the trade winds.These areas are known as the middle

latitudes and are prone to produce cyclones, which can bring winds fromany direction as they pass. These westerly winds carry storms across theAtlantic, creating dangerous gales and heavy winds that are severe hazardsto shipping.

The wind currents were important to early explorers visiting Georgia be-cause they allowed ships to travel to the New World with settlers and withthe supplies the colonists needed. They also allowed ships to travel fromthe New World back across the Atlantic carrying goods produced in thecolonies.

Ocean CurrentsAbout 71 percent of Earth is covered with water. Most of that water is in the

oceans—the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian, the Arctic, and the Antarctic. Thewater in these oceans is constantly moving, and some of this movement formsrivers in the ocean. Oceanographers (scientists who study oceans) call these riv-ers of ocean water ocean currents. Strong ocean currents, especially the Ca-nary Current and the Atlantic Equatorial Current, combined with the tradewinds to push the explorers’ ships south and west to the New World. On theirhomeward voyage, the ships were pushed to the east by the Gulf Stream.

Ocean currents are caused by the uneven heating of Earth’s surface by thesun. Earth is hottest at the equator, where the sun shines most directly onEarth. Earth is coldest at the poles, where the sun shines less directly. Ocean


Map 11Ocean Currents

Map Skill: What currentruns along the east coast ofNorth America?

currents contribute to the move-ment of heat from the equator to thepoles, thus helping equalize Earth’ssurface temperatures. Ocean cur-rents affect not only the routes cho-sen by ships carrying people andgoods across the sea to the NewWorld; they also influence climateand living conditions for the plantsand animals on land.

Weather PhenomenaAs you have already discovered,

most of the time Georgia’s climate ispredictable—a few snow days fromAtlanta and Athens northward inthe winter, afternoon thunder show-ers and hot, hazy summer days inthe coastal areas. However, there arealso some unpredictable climatephenomena that occur with regular-ity in our state.

HurricanesHurricanes are spawned when

waters of 80°F or more transform the heat energy of tropical waters intostrong winds and heavy waves. In our section of the world, the beginningsof these storms occur off the coast of Africa as depressions. It may take sev-eral weeks for a depression to turn into a tropical storm and eventually ahurricane.

The term hurricane comes from the Spanish word huracan, which means“big wind” and which was derived from the Indian word huracan, a refer-ence to the evil spirit of storms. The season for these fierce storms is fromthe beginning of June to the end of November, and their devastation can befrightening. The devastation results from both wind and storm surge. Themovement of water inland from coastlines, tidal rivers, and marsh areas can

be as damaging as the fierce winds.Georgia’s most damaging hurri-

cane-like storm in terms of loss of lifecame ashore in Savannah on August27, 1893. Although the winds werenot strong, 1,000 people died fromflying debris and other storm-relatedcauses. At that time, there wereno reliable weather alerts for hurri-canes, save word of mouth. Manypeople were simply unaware and


?The costliest hurricane to hitthe East Coast was Hurricane

Andrew in 1992, which hit landin Dade County, Florida. Dam-ages from this Category Four

hurricane were over $25 billion.


Map 12Hurricane Paths

Map Skill: What areaappears to be the most activefor hurricanes?

unprepared for the 72-mile-per-hourstorm.

Hurricane strength is registeredon a score from one to five. A Cat-egory One hurricane has top windsof 74 to 95 miles an hour. A CategoryFive hurricane has winds of over 155miles an hour and a water surge ofmore than 18 feet. Hurricanes aregiven names by the National Hurri-cane Center in Miami, Florida. Thecenter usually chooses one name,either male or female from each let-ter of the alphabet, although occa-sionally a letter is skipped. Throughyears of experience, residents alongthe coast of the eastern United Stateshave learned to pay close heed totropical storm reports. The more youknow about the various weatheremergencies, the safer you and yourfamily will be.

Nor’eastersA nor’easter (“northeaster”) has

the look of a hurricane. But it is re-ally a gale wind that blows from thenorthern Atlantic and is often ac-companied by large amounts of rain-

fall. Between October and April, areas of low pressure develop off the EastCoast. The storm picks up warm air and moisture from the relatively warmAtlantic Ocean water. Strong northeast winds blow and pull the storm northalong the Atlantic coast. At the same time, those northeast winds move coldair south. The combination of warm and cold air can produce a storm ofsnow, sleet, freezing rain, or heavy rains. When such storms move inland,they can produce rain or snow over coastal areas. The nor’easter is not, how-ever, normally as strong or as devastating as a hurricane.

Figure 2 Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Scale Number or Class 1 2 3 4 5

Wind Speeds (miles per hour) 74–95 96–110 111–130 131–155 Over 155

Storm Surge in Feet 4.0-4.9 5.0-7.9 8.0-11.9 12.0-18.0 Over 18.0

Expected Damage Minimal Moderate Extensive Extreme Catastrophic


TornadoesAlthough Oklahoma has the most tornadoes in the United States, Geor-

gia also has these funnel-shaped whirlwinds. When we see action movies orread about the excitement of storm chasers, we sometimes forget that theseare dangerous, life-threatening cyclones. The word tornado comes from theSpanish word tronada, which means “thunderstorm.” When warm, moistair mixes with a rapidly moving cold front, severe thunderstorms are pos-sible. In the southeastern United States, these storms can produce tornadoes.Tornadoes are swirling cyclonic winds that, in our hemisphere, move in fromsouthwest to northeast and spin in a counterclockwise motion. As the spin-ning increases, a column works itself down from the clouds. As it touchesthe ground, the tornado literally pulls debris up into the air.

Georgia has an average of twenty-one tornadoes a year, resulting in oneto three deaths. Most tornadoes occur from March to May, but they canhappen in any month. A tornado can last for a few minutes and travel aslittle as one-half mile with wind speeds up to 100 miles per hour. Larger tor-nadoes, called maxis, may travelover 200 miles during a three-hourperiod, with wind speeds of a shat-tering 250 miles per hour.

Tornadoes can cause extensiveproperty damage, injuries, and lossof life. And they are unpredictable.Both large and small tornadoesseem to have minds of their own.They can move in a straight line,loop, hop over places, and evendouble-back on themselves. If youhave seen pictures of damage aftera tornado, you know that a line ofhouses can be totally crushed—withthe single exception of one housein the middle of the storm path that


Figure 4 Fujita Intensity Scale for Tornadoes_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Rating Wind Speeds (mph) Expected Damage

F-0 40–72 Light: Loose Debris

F-1 73–112 Moderate: Broken Windows and Doors

F-2 113–157 Considerable: Trees Broken

F-3 158–206 Severe: Outer Walls Collapse

F-4 207–260 Devastating: Structural Damage

F-5 261–318 Incredible

Figure 3 Tornadoes in Georgia (1884–1998)

JanuaryFebruary

MarchAprilMayJuneJuly

AugustSeptember

OctoberNovemberDecember

0 50 100 150 200 250 300Number of Tornadoes (1884–1998)

Above: When tornadoestouch down, the destructioncan be horrific.

stands without so much as a crackedwindow.

Georgia’s most devastating tor-nado came on April 6, 1939. when atornado touched down at 8:27 a.m.in Gainesville and Hall County. Overtwo hundred people were killed andover sixteen hundred were injured inthat storm; much of downtownGainesville was destroyed.

Changes in WeatherPatterns

Much research is being conductedto determine how El Niño and LaNiña affect Georgia’s weather pat-terns. El Niño, which means “LittleBoy,” is warmer-than-normal PacificOcean surface temperatures. La Niña,

which means “Little Girl,” is colder-than-normal Pacific Ocean surface tem-peratures. El Niño seems to occur unusually strongly about once a decade, usu-ally in December before Christmas. Both El Niño and La Niña bring climatehavoc. For example, in the early 1980s, El Niño was 7°C (Celsius) warmer thannormal and pumped heat energy into the atmosphere, altering weather pat-terns across three-fourths of the globe. There was flooding in North and SouthAmerica and droughts in Africa, South Asia, and Australia.

Another phenomena influencing Georgia’s climate is global warming.Global warming is the term that de-scribes the raising of the average tem-perature on Earth due to an excessof carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.Researchers are finding rising tem-peratures and precipitation increasesresulting from global warming.

A Final NoteRegardless of where you live in Geor-gia, people always talk about theweather. It is either too hot or toocold, too rainy or too dry. The nexttime you are tempted to complain,think about life in Antarctica. Thecoldest temperature is -126.0°F. Anaverage summer day is 1°F. The av-erage daily temperature of the six-month winter is -70°F. It’s somethingto think about!

Because of the danger of tornadoes, it is important to know what todo if there is a tornado “warning.” Schools practice tornado alerts eachyear, but what if you are home alone? Sometimes the sky will turn a darkgreen shade or large hail will begin to fall.

1. Stay away from windows.

2. Seek a safe shelter immediately. A basement is best or move toan interior room of your home. If necessary, wait out the storm inan interior bathroom (the plumbing helps strengthen walls).

3. If you hear a loud noise that sounds like a train, seek cover undera table, put a mattress over your head, or get inside the bathtubor shower and wait until the storm has passed and the sky bright-ens again.

Figure 5What to Do During a Tornado


t

1. Why is Georgia’s climaterelatively mild?

2. Define the term drought.3. Why is Georgia’s limited

annual snowfall soimportant?

4. How did wind and oceancurrents influence thesettlement of the NewWorld?

5. Where do Atlantic coasthurricanes originate?

6. What is the differencebetween El Niño and LaNiña?


• Geography helps us understand the world in spatial terms, places andregions, Earth’s physical systems, the human systems of Earth, andenvironment and society.

• Latitude and longitude are used to locatea specific place on Earth. Georgia’s abso-lute location on the globe is between31°21' and 35° N latitude and between80°50' and 80°36' W longitude.

• Georgia borders five other states—Florida,Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, andNorth Carolina—and it has 100 miles ofcoastline on the Atlantic Ocean.

• Georgia is the largest state east of the Mis-sissippi River. It includes 58,910 squaremiles of land and 854 square miles of in-land water.

• The geographic center of the state is lo-cated in rural Twiggs County, 18 milessoutheast of Macon.

• Georgia’s lowest point is sea level on theAtlantic coastline; the highest point isBrasstown Bald in Towns County with anelevation of 4,784 feet.

• Georgia contains five major physiographicregions: Appalachian Plateau region, BlueRidge region, Ridge and Valley region,Piedmont Plateau, and Coastal Plain..

• A Fall Line crosses the state, separatingthe coastal plain from the hilly or moun-tainous areas.

• Georgia’s average annual temperature is65°F.

• Georgia’s rainfall averages 40 to 52 inches in the central and southernparts of the state and 65 to 76 inches in the northern mountains.

• Wind currents, including trade winds and prevailing westerlies, providedpower for early explorers to sail to the New World and return to homesacross the Atlantic.

• Ocean currents also helped early explorers travel to the New World. Inaddition, they help stabilize Earth’s temperature by moving heat fromthe equator to the North and South Poles.

• Georgia experiences such weather phenomena as hurricanes,nor’easters, and tornadoes.

Chapter SummaryChapter Summary

The Official State Song of GeorgiaThe Official State Song of GeorgiaGeorgia, Georgia, the whole day throughJust an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.Georgia, Georgia, a song of youComes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.Other arms reach out to meOther eyes smile tenderlyStill in peaceful dreams I seeThe road leads back to you.Georgia, Georgia, no peace I findJust an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.Melodies bring memoriesThat linger in my heartMake me think of GeorgiaWhy did we ever part?Some sweet day when blossoms fallAnd all the world’s a songI’ll go back to Georgia‘Cause that’s where I belong.

Source: “Georgia on My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael and StuartGorrell Copyright © 1930 by Peermusic III, Lt. Copyright ©Renewed. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.

Of Special InterestOf Special Interest


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Reviewing People,Places, and Terms

Define, identify, or explain the importance of each of thefollowing as it relates to this state we call home.

1. absolute location

2. hemisphere

3. longitude

4. bald

5. geography

6. responsibility

Understanding the Facts

1. Which of Georgia's surrounding states touchonly two other states?

2. Identify one way each of the state’s fivephysiographic regions is unique.

3. What is the difference between the InnerCoastal Plain and the Outer Coastal Plain?

4. What are the barrier islands, and whatpurposes do they serve?

5. What do weather and climate have incommon? In what ways are they different?

6. How do ocean currents help equalize Earth’stemperature? Why is that necessary?

7. How many tornadoes does Georgia average ayear?

8. Using a Venn diagram, compare and contrastEl Niño and La Niña.

DevelopingCritical Thinking

1. Explain the different ways a prolonged droughtcan negatively impact the state’s economyand its individual citizens.

2. In your opinion, which of the following Georgiaregions is the most important to Georgia’sagricultural economy—the Coastal Plain (Innerand Outer) or the Piedmont? Defend yourchoice.

3. Explain how wind and ocean currentsinfluenced settlement in the New World.

Checking It Out

1. Earthquakes in Georgia? Oh yes, and theyoccur more often than you know. Check outthe when, where, and why using your researchskills. While you are there, check out the1811 New Madrid, Missouri, earthquake andsee how it changed the Mississippi River.

2. Atlanta and Athens have also experiencedsome of a tornado’s wrath. Use your researchskills to find out more about these weatherevents. A clue to help you: the key phrase is“state of Georgia tornadoes.” Also, check outwhat you need to do if you are in a car and seea tornado in the distance bearing down on you.

3. Research global warming and find one thingthat you can do to help.

4. The United States has a “tornado alley.”Identify the states in the alley and describehow your life might change if you lived there.


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Writing Acrossthe Curriculum

1. The date is December 15th, and you are aweather forecaster living in Athens. Everyonewants to know if there will be snow duringwinter break. Research the average monthlytemperature and the average monthlyprecipitation for Athens. Based on what youhave learned in your text and your research,write your weather forecast.

2. Develop a home safety booklet for your familyto use during tornado season.

3. Your local Chamber of Commerce has askedyou to write a brief ad proclaiming yourgeographic region the best place to live.Based on what you have read thus far, writethat ad.

Exploring Technology

1. Using your favorite search engine on theInternet, look up the National GeographyStandards. Decide which of the eighteenstandards you think are the most important foryoung people to know. Explain your choices.

2. Check out the following statements todetermine if they are true. Explain each.

a. In 10 minutes, a hurricane can release moreenergy than all of the world’s nuclearweapons combined.

b. Lightning strikes about 6,000 times perminute on our planet.

3. There are all sorts of long-held folklore aboutthe weather. Use the search words “weatherfolklore” to find three or four beliefs that youthink are most interesting. Then determinethrough observations, interviews, or websearches if any of those beliefs are actuallytrue.

Applying Your Skills

1. Research one of the historical sites found inthe region in which you live. Interview localresidents about their knowledge of the site.Use local library or media center resources tofind out more about the site.

2. Research your area’s weather patterns. Graphthe weather of your hometown or communityover the period of one year. (Note, thisinformation is available from the University ofGeorgia.) What is the average temperature ofyour community? What are the coldest andhottest months? What are the wettest anddriest months? What is the record precipita-tion for your community? Has your communityexperienced any weather problems in the pastfive years? What impact did these problemshave on the people and the economy? Shareyour findings in a report to your classmates.

Just for Fun

You have heard the expression “It’s raining cats and dogs.”But did you know that it is possible? Research the expres-sion to find out more.

Photo Question

In which one of Georgia’s geographic regions are peanutsa major crop?

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If you have taken a world history class, you may remember readingabout the “Seven Wonders of the World,” which included the HangingGardens of Babylon, the Great Pyramid, and the Colossus of Rhodes.

But what you might not realize is that our state also has its own “sevennatural wonders.”

As you know, climate affects the natural features of a state over the centu-ries. Winds and water have eroded and shaped the state’s topography (physi-cal features such as mountains or plateaus). Among the many natural featuresof Georgia’s topography, seven have been designated as natural wonders: theOkefenokee Swamp, Tallulah Gorge, Radium Springs, Warm Springs, StoneMountain, Providence Canyon, and Amicalola Falls.

The Okefenokee Swamp, which was once part of the Atlantic Ocean floor,received its name from the Indian word o-wa-qua-phenoga, which means “land

Georgia’s SevenWondersGeorgia’s SevenWonders

I

Special SectionSpecial Section

Okefenokee Swamp (below)is the largest swamp in NorthAmerica. Cypress trees(above) are known for their"knees," which help anchorthem in unstable ground.


Above: Spectacular vistasinto Tallulah Gorge havedrawn millions of visitors tothis state park over the years.

of the trembling earth.” The Okefenokee isfilled with a shallow “black water” stained bythe tannic acid of decaying vegetation. Theswamp covers a half million acres (about sevenhundred square miles) and is located in theOuter Coastal Plain near Waycross andFolkston. This primitive wetland is home tohundreds of species of plants, animals, and rep-tiles, many of whom are endangered. Through-out the area are about seventy “piney woods”islands, once home to Seminole Indians andsettled by pioneer Georgians in the 1850s.

If you visit, you will enter a world of giant,80-foot cypress trees draped with moss over-hanging dark, murky waters filled with alli-gators, herons, egrets, and cranes. The swampis also home to Georgia’s native black bears—and the comic strip character “Pogo.” So, ifyou like snakes, turtles, armadillos, otters,birds, deer, alligators, and frogs, take a guidedtrip on a tour boat and enjoy the sights andsounds. Oh, make sure you say hello to 15-foot, 900-pound “Oscar,” the alligator.

Tallulah Gorge, located on U.S. 441, spansthe border between Habersham and Rabuncounties. One of the most spectacular gorgesin the eastern United States, Tallulah Gorgeis 3 miles long and nearly 1,200 feet deep. Thehard granite walls form steep cliffs. The roarof the waters that cut the gorge could oncebe heard for miles and led to the nicknamethe “Niagara Falls of the South.” Today theTallulah River is silent because it was dammed to provide hydroelectric powerfor Atlanta’s continuing growth. Because of the dam, you can now vacationon manmade Lake Raburn or Lake Burton.

Tallulah Gorge reached national prominence several times. In 1886, “Pro-fessor Leon” tightwalked across the gorge; 84 years later, Karl Wallenda re-peated that walk. Wallenda stopped twice in crossing the falls to stand onhis head.

Today, visitors are returning to the area to enjoy the many displays at theJane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center or to shop for handmade mountain handi-crafts. Those who like hiking or mountain climbing can request special per-mission to practice those skills on the gorge.

Radium Springs, located near Albany in Lee County, is another ofGeorgia’s wonders. First opened in 1927 as a resort casino, the springs fea-ture sapphire-blue water flowing through a crystalline pool. Indians believedthat this water had healing powers. Today, Radium Springs has largely dried

Special Section: Georgia’s Seven Wonders 35

Top: Franklin D. Rooseveltbuilt this six-room cottage inWarm Springs. It later cameto be called the “Little WhiteHouse.” Above: FDR StatePark in Warm Springs is oneof the most beautiful of thestate’s parks.

up due to drought and algae. But there are four-teen other “blue holes” and caves hundreds of feetbelow Albany courtesy of the Flint River. They pro-vide the city with clear, purified 68° water.

Radium Springs is no longer in operation al-though there is interest in converting it to a statepark. And there has been some interest in restor-ing the former casino. What do you think?

Another site close to Radium Springs is an areaof sand dunes. If you look closely, you may findsharks’ teeth in the sand. Why? Many geologistsbelieve that this area was the northern edge of theGulf of Mexico millions of years ago. That is awonder in itself.

In Meriwether County, near Pine Mountain, is one of Georgia’s most fa-mous natural wonders—Warm Springs. The warm mineral springs flow fromthe hillsides of Pine Mountain. The temperature of the pools of mineral springsaverage 88°, and the springs flow at a rate of 914 gallons a minute. The Creekand Iroquois Indians brought their sick and wounded to the springs to be“healed,” much like those who visited Radium Springs.

Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun also visited the springs, but it was in 1924that the area gained fame. Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Warm Springs astreatment for his polio. The four-term president made so many trips to the


Top: Stone Mountain wasonce described as “very high,shining when the sun set likea fire.” Above: The Confeder-ate Memorial Carving islarger than a football field.

healing springs that he built a comfortable butsmall home there in 1932 . It eventually becameknown as the “Little White House.” Today, thesprings are part of a state rehabilitation center andare, along with nearby Callaway Gardens, a popu-lar resort attraction.

Probably the best known of Georgia’s sevenwonders is Stone Mountain near Atlanta. Thissolid granite mountain rises 750 feet above theGeorgia Piedmont and is 1,683 feet above sea level.It began to form over 300 million years ago whenmolten magma was pushed into existing rockabout 10 miles below the surface. The surround-ing rock layers eroded slowly, and the granite masswas uncovered about 15 million years ago. The 25-million-square-foot, 583-acre rock was a sacred place for the Creek Indians who settled the area.

Stone Mountain may be best known for its Confederate Memorial Carv-ing, which is the largest raised sculpture in the world. The carving is morethan 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42feet into the mountain. The figures are as tall as a 90-foot building. The carv-ing dates to 1912 when the United Daughters of the Confederacy acquiredthe north face of the mountain for a Civil War monument. The carvingdepicts Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and


Visitors to Providence Canyon(above and below) are amazedat the breathtaking colorsexposed in the canyon walls.

Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. It was begun by sculptor Gutzon Borgium(who went on to carve Mount Rushmore). Fifty-eight years and several othersculptors later the carving was completed.

Today, millions of visitors travel to the park each year to enjoy the lake,museums, and recreational facilities, to learn about unusual clams and fairyshrimp that lie in crater pools on the top of the mountain, or to see rare plantsand flowers. During summer nights, the park comes alive with the magic ofa laser light show unlike any in the world.

Providence Canyon near Lumpkin is Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon.”This 1,108-acre state park contains sixteen canyons that have eroded 150feet deep. The winding gullies display multicolored rock levels of tan, white,buff, pink, red, salmon, orange, and lavender hues (shades of color). Thebottoms of the canyons are an ancient ocean floor where fossils exist. Someof the canyons are over a half-mile long and 300 feet across. The canyonswere caused by the erosion that resulted when settlers cleared trees to farmthe land in the mid-1800s. The farmers grew cotton in the same soil yearafter year without giving the soil time to rest and rejuvenate. Soon, the landwas stripped of all vegetation. Then erosion—the enemy of all farmers—beganto creep into a ditch that started out only about 5 feet deep. Eventually thecanyons were created.

Today, trees and plants run throughout the state-operated park with sevenmiles of hiking trails. You can also wander through and explore the canyons.


Map 13Georgia’s SevenWonders

Map Skill: Which of Georgia'sseven natural wonders isclosest to where you live?

The last of Georgia’s seven natural wonders is Amicalola Falls nearDawsonville. It is located high in the watershed of a ridge known asAmicalola Mountain. In the Cherokee language, Amicalola means “tum-bling water.” A river runs along the western slope until it tumbles off. Thefalls provide an incredible 729-foot cascade of water, which drains into theEtowah River further south.

Amicalola is the southern end of the great Appalachian Mountain chain.The falls are just a few miles from the Southern Terminus Access Trail for theAppalachian Trail. Occasionally, you might see hikers leaving that point tobegin their walk to Maine. Now, that’s a hike! Can you guess the number ofmiles they must travel? Check it out.

AmicololaFalls Tallulah

Gorge

StoneMountain

Warm Springs

ProvidenceCanyon

Radium SpringsOkefenokeeSwamp

Left: Amicalola Falls is thehighest waterfall east of theMississippi.


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