Physiographic
Regions of Georgia
5 Physiographic Regions of Georgia:
Plateau
Ridge and Valley
Blue Ridge
Piedmont
Coastal
Each is described in terms of location, soil,
history, farming/mining, and vegetation
Physiographic
Regions of Georgia
Blue Ridge Mountains
1: northeast corner of GA
2: location of the tallest point in
GA, Brasstown Bald
3: This area provides rain for the
entire state when warm air from
Gulf of Mexico is cooled by the
mtns
4: location of Tallulah Gorge
5: Mostly hardwood and pine trees
6. Land is mostly used to grow
apples and vegetable farming
7. Its soil is easily eroded, made
of sandy loam and clay
Blue Ridge Mountains
Sky Valley in
winter, ready for
skiers!
Brasstown Bald,
the highest point
in the state.
Party Talk!!
Did ya know…
the red, yellows, and oranges of fall
leaves are actually in the leaves all year
long? We just can’t see them in the
spring and summer through the green
chlorophyll.
Tallulah Gorge
Physiographic
Regions of Georgia
Ridge and Valley Region
1: located between the Plateau and
Blue Ridge regions
2: has low, open valleys and narrow
ridges that run parallel to the valleys
3: fertile farmland, pastures, and apple
orchards, soybean crops
4: known for textile and carpet
industries, and Dalton as the “Carpet
Capital of the World”
5. Its soil is limestone, clay, and
sandstone
6. Where this region ends and the Blue
Ridge begins is the start of the
Appalachian Trail at Springer Mtn.
Ridge and Valley Region
Physiographic
Regions of Georgia
Plateau Region
1: smallest of the regions
2: far northwest corner of GA
3: includes the two flat-topped mtns of
Lookout Mtn and Sand Mtn, also
includes Cloudland Canyon
4: Known as the TAG corner (TN, AL, and
GA)
5: only known location of coal in the state
6: hardwood and pine trees
7. Its soil is limestone, shale, and
sandstone
8. Land is used for timber for furniture
Plateau Region
Lovers’ Leap??
Many versions of the story exist, particularly
in areas with this kind of landscape. The
legend tells of two lovers who are forbidden
to be together by their families…sometimes it
is a financial decision, other times it is
because the two lovers are from opposite
backgrounds. In every legend, though, the
two star-crossed lovers go to the edge of the
plateau and jump to their deaths…choosing
to die together than live apart.
Physiographic
Regions of Georgia
Piedmont Region
1: piedmont means “foot of the mountains”
2: gently sloping hills and valleys in the
north, flatlands in the south
3. Located in the middle of the state and
takes up 1/3 of the state
4: known for its red clay soil and granite
5: holds half of the state’s population
6: produces wheat, soybeans, corn, poultry,
and cattle
7. Includes Stone Mountain and Lake Lanier
8. Vegetation is mostly pines and
hardwoods
9. Land is used for agriculture and
businesses
10. 50% of state’s population lives here
Piedmont Region
Party Talk…
Did ya know…
John W. Beauchamp was the first person to claim
ownership of Stone Mountain when he traded with
Indians for possession. Later, he traded the
mountain to Andrew Johnson and Aaron Cloud for
a muzzle-loading gun and twenty dollars. Because
half of Georgia and part of North Carolina rest on
the mountain's base, it is widely believed that Stone
Mountain may be formed like some icebergs--larger
underneath the ground's surface than it is above
ground
Physiographic
Regions of Georgia
Coastal Plains Region
1: largest region, covers three-fifths of the state,
located in the southern part of the state
2: divided into 2 areas…inner coastal and outer
coastal
3: inner coastal:
a) rich soil, some clay
b) location of Providence Canyon and Flint
River
c) major agricultural area…peanuts,
corn, and Vidalia Onions
d) mostly pine trees
4: outer coastal:
a) poorly drained, sandy soil: much is marshy
and swampy
b) deep harbors, Barrier islands, and
Okefenokee Swamp
c) known for naval stores (material for ship
building or roofing) and pulp production as
well as seafood
Coastal Plains Region
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Wetlands in South
Georgia
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Marshlands near
the coast of
Georgia
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Sea Oats and
Beaches of St
Simon’s
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Savannah Port
Party Talk!!
In the Okefenokee National
Wildlife Refuge, there are 39 kinds
of fish, 37 types of amphibians, 64
sorts of reptiles, along with 235
varieties of birds and a collection
of 50 different mammals.
Physiographic
Regions of Georgia
Barrier Islands:
Located off the coast of GA
between the Intercoastal
Waterway and the Atlantic
Ocean
* protect the beaches by
blocking winds, sand and
water that could erode
mainland
* called “Islands of Gold” by
Spanish explorers
* most are wilderness
sanctuaries
*excellent source of seafood
and popular vacation spot
Fall Line
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Separates the Piedmont and Coastal regions
The inner most boundary of the prehistoric
ocean
Runs from Columbus to Macon to Augusta
Elevation drops sharply between the two
regions, causing water to flow more quickly
Fast flowing water was a good power source,
made the area excellent for industry during early
settling of the state
GA’s Climate
Climate: the average weather in a region over a period of about 20 years
GA: mild climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters
provides a long growing season which makes GA great for agriculture
avg. temp in GA for the year is 65 degrees
our weather is influenced by the Gulf of Mexico in the warmer months
and Canada in the colder months
Our most dangerous weather are tornadoes, but we occasionally suffer
from the effects of hurricanes
Because of GA’s mild weather, it easily attracts businesses to move
here as well as tourists
GA’s Natural Resources
Natural resources: found in our state naturally, not man-made
Best known resource: marble, found in Gilmer, Hall, and Pickens counties
Tate, GA has a school and hotel made of marble
Granite: Found in Dekalb and Elbert counties, used for building and concrete
Fuller’s earth: very profitable for GA…used for kitty litter, in soaps, and in
absorbents for oil or grease
Kaolin: coating for paper, filler for paint, plastics and rubber, and cement.
Mined in areas along the Fall line
Other natural resources that GA has are the wildlife and plant life in the state.
All of GA’s natural resources provide money to the economy as businesses are
developed to handle the resources and the resources are sold to other
businesses
Can you tell me…
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Which region is the smallest?
Which region we live in?
Which region is largest?
Which region is where the highest point in GA is
located?
Which region is known for apples?
Which region is the only known source of coal in
GA?
Which region has areas of flat land surrounded by
mountains?
Which region has the barrier islands in it?