UNIT 2
BLUE RIDGE
Introduction to the Blue Ridge
Location:
Located in the Northwest corner of
South Carolina
Landforms:
Mountainous area ranging in elevation
between approximately 1200’ to 3500’
Highest peak in SC is here: Sassafras at 3554’
Rock Types:
The Blue Ridge consists of crystalline rock.
The two major types are granite gneiss
and amphibole schist
Age of rock can vary, but average age is about
1 Billion years old
This area was the most highly deformed during
the building of the Appalachians
The Blue Ridge is the oldest of the 5 landform regions in SC
BLUE RIDGE
Very sparsely populated
Only Mountainous region in SC
Diverse and Unique plants and animals
(more than 50 rare or endangered plant and animal species)
LANDSCAPE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BLUE RIDGE
Many streams with fast moving water and waterfalls
Streams have straight sections with approximately 90°
Bends and turns. This is due to the fractures in the rocks.
The water will follow the path that it can most easily erode.
The streams in the Blue Ridge do not typically have large floodplains.
There is a lot of rock outcropping in the Blue Ridge. The rock is resistant
to erosion. The soil will erode from the rock, leaving the rock exposed
There are many Reservoirs that have been created in the Blue Ridge.
(Example: Lake Jocassee was constructed for Electric Power Generation)
Land Use
Tourism
Hunting and Fishing
Lodging
Power Generation
Logging
Too steep for much farming
***Tourism has surpassed Logging as the Top
Industry in the Blue Ridge***
PERFORMANCE TASK ALPHA
Determine area of the Blue Ridge
Materials:
Soils Map
Geologic Map
Wipe-Off Pen
Grid Overlay
Directions:
1. Use the grid overlay to measure the area designated as
Blue Ridge on the Soils Map (overlay and count squares),
2. Use the scale bar and record your answer in square miles,
3. Repeat with the Geologic Map. Record answer in mi2,
4. Why do these measurements not agree?
5. Which map closely resembles the Blue Ridge in SC MAPS?
6. Geologically, what % of SC is the Blue Ridge? SC = 31,113 mi2.
PERFORMANCE TASK ALPHA
Determine area of the Blue Ridge
Answers:
1. Soils Map Blue Ridge = 78 little squares,
2. Soils Map Blue Ridge = 428 mi2.
3. Geologic Map Blue Ridge = 9 little squares and 140 mi2,
4. Soils and rock people used different criteria,
5. Soils Map more closely resembles Blue Ridge in SC MAPS,
6. Geologically, Blue Ridge is 0.45% of South Carolina.
PERFORMANCE TASK #2 Pg. 2A-3
Locate features and place names
Addresses 8th grade Science Standard lll.B.3.l
Materials:
Table Rock Topographic Map
Table Rock Lithograph
Wipe-Off Pen
Directions:
1. Use the topo map to locate the following:
Table Rock, Ceasar’s Head, The Stool, Pinnacle Lake,
Pumpkintown, Saluda River, and the Oolenoy River,
2. Which ones can be seen on the lithograph?
3. Find the high and low points on the topographic map,
4. How far is the Stool from Table Rock (in ft)?
5. Find the approx. area of T. Rock St. Park (in mi2).
PERFORMANCE TASK #2 Pg. 2A-3
Locate features and place names
Addresses 8th grade Science Standard lll.B.3.l
Answers:
1. We found Table Rock, Ceasar’s Head, The Stool,
Pinnacle Lake, Pumpkintown, the Saluda River,
and the Oolenoy River on topographic map,
2. Easy to find = T. Rock, Pinnacle L., Saluda R.,
Harder to find = The Stool, Oolenoy River,
Off the map = Pumpkintown, and Ceasar’s Head,
3. Highest is Pinnacle Mt. at 3425 ft.,
Lowest is Pumpkintown at 967 ft.,
5. Stool toTable Rock is 3000 ft.
6. The Park is about 30 in2 or 4.3 mi2
PERFORMANCE TASK #10 Pg. 2A-5
Calculate slope of Table Rock Mt.
Materials:
Table Rock Topographic Map
Wipe-Off Pen
Directions:
1. Use the topographic map to find the following:
Elevation of Table Rock Mt. and Table Rock Reservoir
Distance between peak of T. Rock Mt. and West shore of lake,
2. Use the formula rise/run to determine the slope,
3. Repeat these steps for slope of T. Rock to Pinnacle Lake,
4. Compare your results.
PERFORMANCE TASK #10 Pg. 2A-5
Calculate slope of Table Rock Mt.
Answers:
1. We used the topographic map and found the following:
Elevation of Table Rock Mt. is 3124 ft.
Elevation of Table Rock Reservoir is 1250 ft.
Distance from T. Rock Mt. to West shore of lake is .75 mi.,
2. The calculated slope is 2500 ft per mile!
3. Elevation of Table Rock Mt. is 3124 ft.,
Elevation of Pinnacle Lake is about 1140 ft.,
Distance from T. Rock Mt. to Pinnacle Lake is 1.4 mi.,
The calculated slope is 1480 ft per mile,
4. Much less steep going from the south to T. Rock than going from the north.
PERFORMANCE TASK #7 Pg. 2A-4
Locate South Facing Cove
Addresses 7th grade Science standard lll.A.7.a
Materials:
Table Rock Topographic Map
Table Rock Lithograph
Wipe-Off Pen
Directions:
1. Use the Table Rock Topographic map and the Table Rock Lithograph to
locate a south facing cove or hollow in the mountains.
2. Why are such areas wetter, warmer and more protected than the
surrounding areas?
3. Why would this be important in an area like the Blue Ridge?
PERFORMANCE TASK #7 Pg. 2A-4
Locate South Facing Cove
Addresses 7th grade Science standard lll.A.7.a
Answers:
1. You identified a south facing cove in the mountains.
2. The Blue Ridge Mountains prevent the cold air coming from the north to
directly reach the southern facing coves.
3. Designed to spark a discussion! Answers will vary.
PERFORMANCE TASK #5 Pg. 2B-11
Analyze land use changes through time
Addresses 7th grade Science standard lll.A.7.f
Materials:
Lake Jocassee Region Topographic Map
Lake Jocassee Region Lithograph
Wipe-off Pen
Directions:
1. The purple on the topographic map represent new developments or changes
that have occurred since the map was originally printed in 1946. Using the
Topographic map, identify major new features that did not occur on the
original map.(mark them using the wipe-off pen)
2. What section of the map has experience the most change?
3. Why do you think these changes have occurred?
4. How will these changes affect the environment and the scenic features of the
Lake Jocassee Region?
5. How many of these changes can you recognize on the lithograph?
6. What year was the aerial photograph taken?
7. Locate any additional new features that appear on the lithograph that are not
present on the topographic map. (Changes that occurred between the time the
Topographic map was updated and the time that the aerial photograph was
taken).
PERFORMANCE TASK #5 Pg. 2B-11
Analyze land use changes through time
Addresses 7th grade Science standard lll.A.7.f
Answers:
1. Not originally there: Lake Keowee, Lake Jocassee, Bad Creek
Reservoir, all developments associated with the lakes, Highway 11
2. The southwest section has experienced the most change
3. Changes have occurred due to the need for power.
4. Change will destroy the environment and scenic features where
development occurs
5. Answers will vary.
6. Aerial photograph was taken in 1994
7. Development around Bad Creek Reservoir
PERFORMANCE TASK #12 Pg. 2B-19
Compare ease of identification of features on map and photo
Addresses 8th grade Science standard lll.B.3.l; l.A.7.c
Materials: Jocassee Hydro Station Lithograph
Lake Jocassee Region Topographic Map
Wipe-off Pen
Directions:
1. Use the Hydro Station Lithograph inset to identify the dam,
substation, parking lot, roads, power lines, and the peregrine
falcon cliff (shaded shoreline at the very top corner of the inset)
2. Locate the same features on the Lake Jocassee Region
Topographic Map
3. Which features are easier to identify on the aerial photograph?
4. Which features are easier to identify on the topographic map?
5. How deep is the lake at the base of the cliff?
6. What is unusual about the way that the cliff is illustrated on the
topographic map?
PERFORMANCE TASK #12 Pg. 2B-19
Compare ease of identification of features on map and photo
Addresses 8th grade Science standard lll.B.3.l; l.A.7.c
Answers:
3. Easier to ID on the aerial photograph: Dam, parking lot, roads, cliff
4. Easier to ID on the topographic map: power lines and substation
5. Depth is approximately 20 feet
6. Cliff is shown in purple with no closely spaced contour lines.