5 Physiographic Regions5 Physiographic Regions

Coastal PlainsCoastal Plains PiedmontPiedmont Blue RidgeBlue Ridge Ridge & ValleyRidge & Valley Appalachian PlateauAppalachian Plateau

Coastal PlainCoastal Plain

Central to Southern GACentral to Southern GA 60% of the state60% of the state Boundary is marked by the Fall LineBoundary is marked by the Fall Line FL=Marks the prehistoric ocean shorelineFL=Marks the prehistoric ocean shoreline Rivers pick up speed b/c elevation dropsRivers pick up speed b/c elevation drops Soil consists of sand and claySoil consists of sand and clay

PiedmontPiedmont

North to central GANorth to central GA Means “foot of the mountains”Means “foot of the mountains” Hilly region with valleysHilly region with valleys Makes up 30% of the stateMakes up 30% of the state Cotton, soybeans, & wheatCotton, soybeans, & wheat Bedrock (granite, gneiss, & marble)Bedrock (granite, gneiss, & marble) Streams & rivers flow N to SStreams & rivers flow N to S Most populated Most populated

Blue RidgeBlue Ridge

Central to Eastern portion of North GACentral to Eastern portion of North GA Blue Ridge Mtns. (highest in the Blue Ridge Mtns. (highest in the

Appalachians)Appalachians) Brasstown Bald (4784 feet)Brasstown Bald (4784 feet) Chattahoochee & Savannah begin here Chattahoochee & Savannah begin here

(due to great amt. of rainfall)(due to great amt. of rainfall) Steep slopes & high rainfall lead to high Steep slopes & high rainfall lead to high

levels of erosionlevels of erosion

Valley & RidgeValley & Ridge

Northwestern areaNorthwestern area Long, parallel ridges overlooking valleysLong, parallel ridges overlooking valleys Mostly forestsMostly forests Valley used for farming & pasturesValley used for farming & pastures Corn, soybeans, wheat, & cottonCorn, soybeans, wheat, & cotton

Appalachian PlateauAppalachian Plateau

Northwestern section of GANorthwestern section of GA Part of the Cumberland Plateau, which Part of the Cumberland Plateau, which

consists of 300 sq. miles of GAconsists of 300 sq. miles of GA Lookout MountainLookout Mountain Coal, corn, and soybeansCoal, corn, and soybeans

Other Areas---Coastal WetlandsOther Areas---Coastal Wetlands& Barrier Islands& Barrier Islands

Coast is less than 100 miles longCoast is less than 100 miles long Swamps, rivers, streams, estuaries, & Swamps, rivers, streams, estuaries, &

islandsislands Saltwater marshes (estuary) because of Saltwater marshes (estuary) because of

the tide & riversthe tide & rivers Wetland= area of low-lying land covered Wetland= area of low-lying land covered

by water most of the time, where plants & by water most of the time, where plants & animals are foundanimals are found

Okefenokee SwampOkefenokee Swamp

Barrier IslandsBarrier Islands

Chain of sea islands that form a barrier from Chain of sea islands that form a barrier from waves hitting the mainlandwaves hitting the mainland

““Golden Isles”Golden Isles” Millionaires owned many as winter retreatsMillionaires owned many as winter retreats State & federal authorities control most now as State & federal authorities control most now as

wildlife reserveswildlife reserves National island= Cumberland Island- largest National island= Cumberland Island- largest

(Carnegies)(Carnegies) Most visited=Tybee, St. Simons, & JekyllMost visited=Tybee, St. Simons, & Jekyll Other islands are accessed by helicopter or boatOther islands are accessed by helicopter or boat

Jekyll IslandJekyll Island

““Millionaires’ Village” (Rockefellers, Millionaires’ Village” (Rockefellers, Pulitzers, Astors, Vanderbilts, Morgans, Pulitzers, Astors, Vanderbilts, Morgans, Goulds, & Jennings)Goulds, & Jennings)

State park in 1947; owned by Jekyll Island State park in 1947; owned by Jekyll Island AuthorityAuthority

Today, residents own home but lease land Today, residents own home but lease land from the statefrom the state

11stst transcontinental telephone call in 1915 transcontinental telephone call in 1915 11stst brewery in GA (barley, hops, & cotton) brewery in GA (barley, hops, & cotton)

Other IslandsOther Islands

Ossabaw Island- used by Creek Indians Ossabaw Island- used by Creek Indians as a hunting ground; as a hunting ground; Chatham CtyChatham Cty.; now .; now NWRNWR

Sapelo Island - Sapelo Island - McIntosh CtyMcIntosh Cty.; UGA .; UGA research center; Hog Hammock research center; Hog Hammock

St. Catherine’s Island-St. Catherine’s Island- Liberty Cty.; Liberty Cty.; privately owned & undevelopedprivately owned & undeveloped

Skidaway Island-Skidaway Island- Chatham Cty.; suburb of Chatham Cty.; suburb of Savannah & research center of UGASavannah & research center of UGA

Forests & AgricultureForests & Agriculture

Forests cover 65% of GAForests cover 65% of GA Pinetrees, hardwood trees, &Pinetrees, hardwood trees, & live oak trees live oak trees

(state tree)(state tree) Farms cover 1/3 of the landFarms cover 1/3 of the land One of the leading states for egg and “broiler” One of the leading states for egg and “broiler”

production (NE)production (NE) Hogs (SE), beef (NE), & dairy (N)Hogs (SE), beef (NE), & dairy (N) Cotton (1Cotton (1stst)(SE & NE), Peanuts & pecans (2)(SE & NE), Peanuts & pecans (2nd-nd-

leads U.S.; SW) leads U.S.; SW) Tobacco (SE) & Peaches (S-Peach County) Tobacco (SE) & Peaches (S-Peach County)

MiningMining

Leads US in clay productionLeads US in clay production Leading producer of kaolin (S) & fuller’s Leading producer of kaolin (S) & fuller’s

earthearth Granite (NE & N Central)Granite (NE & N Central)

ManufacturingManufacturing

Manufacturing= $60 billion annual industryManufacturing= $60 billion annual industry processed foods & beverages (1processed foods & beverages (1stst)) Baked goods, beer, chicken, soft drinks, & Baked goods, beer, chicken, soft drinks, &

PBPB Textiles (2Textiles (2ndnd)-carpet & cotton fabrics)-carpet & cotton fabrics Chemicals (3Chemicals (3rdrd), Transportation Equipment ), Transportation Equipment

(4(4thth), & Paper products (5), & Paper products (5thth) )

How GA’s Climate Played A How GA’s Climate Played A Role In Its SettlementRole In Its Settlement

Same latitude as China, India, Same latitude as China, India, Persia, & Palestine (similar crops)Persia, & Palestine (similar crops)Some crops would not grow b/c Some crops would not grow b/c of humidity & diseases of coastal of humidity & diseases of coastal

climateclimate

LakeOconee

Lake Lanier

Lake Allatoona

Flint River

Lake Hartwell

ChattahoocheeRiver

OcmulgeeRiver

Savannah River

St. Mary’s River

Factors That Cause GA’s Climate & Factors That Cause GA’s Climate & The EffectsThe Effects

Relative closeness to EquatorRelative closeness to Equator Near bodies of waterNear bodies of water (Gulf of Mexico & (Gulf of Mexico &

Atlantic Ocean)Atlantic Ocean) Near eastern edge of continentNear eastern edge of continent Results= hot summers, mild winters, & Results= hot summers, mild winters, &

usually, abundant rainfall usually, abundant rainfall (avg. 50 inches (avg. 50 inches annually)annually)

Mild winters have led to a migration to GAMild winters have led to a migration to GA Also, attracted military (13 bases)Also, attracted military (13 bases)

Why So Much Rain?Why So Much Rain?•Gulf Water evaporates & is blown northeast

•Warm Gulf air meets the colder current that blows down from Canada

•Rainiest months are July & August; driest are October & November

Prevailing Westerlies & Gulf Prevailing Westerlies & Gulf Stream Stream

Explorers, traders, & merchants realized that Explorers, traders, & merchants realized that they could use the air & ocean currents to go they could use the air & ocean currents to go from North America to Europefrom North America to Europe

PW= between 35-60 degrees N, cold high PW= between 35-60 degrees N, cold high pressure from the polar region influences wind pressure from the polar region influences wind that blows from W to NE that blows from W to NE

GS= warm water current that helps to have mild GS= warm water current that helps to have mild climate (flows from Caribbean to just S of climate (flows from Caribbean to just S of Greenland)Greenland)

““Sea winds” were replaced with “trade winds” Sea winds” were replaced with “trade winds” (traders)(traders)

Highway SystemHighway System*Google Maps**Google Maps*

East-West highways (raise in number from East-West highways (raise in number from South to North; I-10, I-20, I-30, I-40, etc.)South to North; I-10, I-20, I-30, I-40, etc.)

North-South highways (raise in number as North-South highways (raise in number as the highways move West to East; I-5, I-15, the highways move West to East; I-5, I-15, I-25, I-35, I-45, etc.)I-25, I-35, I-45, etc.)

Created for defense purposes by Created for defense purposes by President Eisenhower (during Cold War)President Eisenhower (during Cold War)

Federal Highway Act of 1956Federal Highway Act of 1956