REVIEW OF GEORGIA REGIONS

Virtual Bus Tour

Welcome to the Piedmont Region of Georgia!!!

General information

Located just north of the Fall Line and south of the mountain regions of north Georgia, the Piedmont is often referred to as the “heartland” of the state. The name for this region is based on its location and means “foot of the mountains.”

The Piedmont region is the second largest physiographic region in the state and contains about half of the state’s population.

Description

Looking out across the Piedmont there are sloping hills and valleys in the north. While in the southern part of the region flatlands can be found. This region was known as the cotton belt of antebellum days

Underneath the surface in the Piedmont, areas of bedrock (solid rock) consisting of granite, gneiss, & marble can be found . The soil in this region is clay.

Land Use

Land use in the Piedmont includes manufacturing, cropland, forestry, grazing and woodland as well as some mining.

Rivers

Chattahoochee River

Flint River

Ocmulgee River

Oconee River

Lakes in the Piedmont

Lake Lanier

Lake Sinclair

West Point Lake

Hartwell Lake

J. Strom Thurmond Lake

Lake Oconee

Lake Russell

Chattahoochee River

Strom Thurmond Lake

Hartwell Lake

Crops

Wheat Soybeans

Corn

Livestock Raised in Piedmont

Cattle Poultry

Natural Resources

Granite Feldspar

Climate

The Piedmont region has hot summers and mild winters. It is usually hot and humid during the summer months. The growing season is from 210 to 240 days. The annual rainfall in the Piedmont ranges from 48 to 56 inches.

Festivals

Dogwood Festival in Atlanta

Yellow Daisy Festival at

St. MountainOconee National Forest

Industry

Many industries have been founded in the Piedmont Region including the following:

Chick-fil-a Coca-Cola

Home Depot Rich’s Department

Store

Welcome to the Blue Ridge Region of Georgia!!!

General information

Located in the northeastern corner of the state, the Blue Ridge Region is known for its rugged beauty. This region contains Georgia’s highest and largest group of mountains and Georgia’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald. The beginning of the Appalachian Trail is found in Blue Ridge.

The Blue Ridge Mountains form the first barrier to warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, the highest annual rainfall in the state can be found here as well as Georgia’s highest erosion rate.

Description

The bluish tint of the mountain range is the first defining characteristic of this region. The mountains are heavily forested and filled with hardwoods such as hickory and oak trees. Many tourist landmarks can be found here.

Land Use

The Blue Ridge Region contains less than one percent of Georgia’s prime farmland. Most land is used for forestry, grazing, and woodland.

Rivers

Chattahoochee River

Chattooga River

Savannah River

Toccoa River

Lakes for Recreation

Blue Ridge Lake

Chattuge Lake

Lake Burton

Lake Rabun

Nottely Lake

Toccoa River

Skiing

Crops

Apples Corn

Natural Resources

Hardwood Timber Gold

Marble

Alpine Helen

Industry

Cabbage Patch Kids founded in Cleveland

Climate

The Blue Ridge Region has warm summers and moderately cold winters. The growing season is from less than 180 days to 210 days in some portions of the region. The annual rainfall in the Blue Ridge is over 56 inches.

Festivals

Apple Festival in Ellijay

Georgia Mountain Festival in

Hiawassee

Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega

Welcome to the Ridge & Valley Region of Georgia!!!

General information

Located between the Blue Ridge Region and the Appalachian Plateau in Region in north Georgia, the Ridge and Valley is known for its carpeting industry. The city of Dalton is found here and is known as “The Carpet Capital of the World.”

Description

The parallel ridges and open valleys of this region give rise to its name . Small farms can be seen on the valley floors while the ridges remain forest-covered.

The ridges are composed of sandstone. The valley floors were formed from limestone, shale, and other sedimentary deposits.

Land Use

Land use in the Ridge and Valley includes manufacturing, cropland, forestry, grazing and woodland.

Rivers

Coosa River

Etowah River

Oostanaula River

Lakes in the Ridge & Valley

Allatoona Lake

Carters Lake

Etowah Indian Mounds

Allatoona Lake

Etowah River

Crops

Corn Soybeans

Wheat Cotton

Livestock Raised in Ridge and Valley

Cattle Poultry

Natural Resources

Limestone Barite

Climate

The Ridge and Valley Region has warm summers and moderately cold winters. The growing season is from less than 180 to 210 days. The annual rainfall in the Ridge and Valley ranges from 52 to 56 inches.

Festivals

Prater’s Mill in Varnell

Wagon Train in Chatsworth

Chief Vann House

The Chief Vann House is known as the “Showplace of the Cherokee Nation.”

The home was the first brick home built within the Cherokee Nation in

1804.

Chattahoochee National Forest

Industry

Carpet Manufacturing

Welcome to the Appalachian Plateau Region of Georgia!!!

General information

Located in the northwestern corner of the state, the Appalachian Plateau is the smallest physiographic region in Georgia. It is known as the Cumberland Plateau. The TAG Corner can be found in this region and is where Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet.

Description

Limestone caves, deep canyons, and unique rock formations can easily be seen in this region. Waterfalls over layers of sandstone and shale millions of years old can be viewed here.

Land Use

Land use in the Appalachian Plateau consists of forestry and grazing and woodland.

Mountains & Canyons

Lookout Mountain

Sand Mountain

Cloudland Canyon

Cloudland Canyon

Crops

Corn Soybeans

Natural Resources

Coal (Ga.’s only known source)

Climate

The Appalachian Plateau Region has warm summers and moderately cold winters. The growing season is less than 180 days. The annual rainfall in the Appalachian Plateau ranges from 52 to 56 inches.

AttractionsChickamauga & Chattanooga

National Military ParkThe oldest and largest National Military Park

in the country, Chickamauga &

Chattanooga was the site of the second

bloodiest battle during the Civil War.

Rock City

Welcome to the Coastal Plain (Inner) Region of Georgia!!!

General information

Located in the southern part of the state, the Coastal Plain is the largest physiographic region in the state. During prehistoric times, it was completely covered by the ocean. The beginning of this region is marked by the Fall Line. It is divided into the Inner Coastal Plain and the Outer Coastal Plain.

Description

Flat land with low relief and flat to gentle slopes is the first noticeable difference in this region. Rivers flow more slowly in this region and generally become wider as they flow toward the coasts due to the flat land.

This is the major agricultural region in the state and contains the Vidalia Upland (where ideal soil for growing Vidalia onions is found) and the Dougherty Plain (where ideal soil for growing peanuts, pecans, and corn is found).

Land Use

Land use in the Inner Coastal Plain includes manufacturing, mining, cropland, grazing, and woodland.

Rivers

Alapaha River

Altamaha River

Flint River

Ogeechee River

Ocmulgee River

Oconee River

Satilla River

Savannah River

St. Mary’s River

Lakes in the Inner Coastal Plain

Lake Seminole

Walter F. George Reservoir

Ocmulgee River

Savannah River

Crops

Peanuts Pecans

Peaches Corn

Onions Cotton

Watermelon

Livestock Raised in Coastal Plain (Inner)

Cattle Poultry

Natural Resources

Sand and Gravel Kaolin (clay)

Fuller’s Earth (clay) Limestone

Bauxite

Climate

The Inner Coastal Plain has hot summers and mild winters. It is usually hot and humid during the summer months. The growing season is from 240 to 270 days. The annual rainfall in the Inner Coastal Plain ranges from less than 48 inches to 56 inches in the southwestern corner.

Festivals

Big Pig Jig in Vienna

Cherry Blossom Festival in

Macon

Georgia Peach Festival in

Fort Valley

Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival

in Perry

Industry Founded in Inner Coastal Plain

Welcome to the Coastal Plain (Outer) Region of Georgia!!!

General information

Located on the Atlantic Coast, the Outer Coastal Plain is the center of naval stores and pulp production in the state. The Okefenokee Swamp can be found here and is the home for hundreds of varies plant and animal species.

Description

Large swamplands, marshy areas, interlocking rivers and tributaries, and sandy beaches are primary features in the Outer Coastal Plain. It is the home to many endangered species and much of the land is used as wilderness sanctuaries.

Major shipyard ports (Savannah, Brunswick) and barge terminals (Bainbridge, Columbus) can be found in this region. Many tourists come for the scenery and relaxation the Outer Coastal Plain has to offer, and seafood gathering and processing take place there.

Land Use

Most of the land in the Outer Coastal Plain is poorly suited for agriculture The land is used for pasture and growing pine tress for timber, pulp, turpentine, & other products. There is some pulp manufacturing located here.

Rivers & and the Ocean

• Atlantic Ocean

• Altamaha River

• Savannah River

• Satilla River

• St. Mary’s River

Okefenokee Swamp Animals

Alligator Egret Gopher Tortoise

Coastal Wetland

Georgia’s Coastal Wetland is an are of low-lying land that is covered by water all or part of the time. It is home to many species of animal and plant life. These wetlands also serve as a buffer for the mainland during storms as well as a filter of pollutants from some of Georgia’s rivers.

Barrier Islands:

The islands that block the wind and sand and help protect the mainland from erosion are known as barrier islands. These are found off of the coast of the Outer Coastal Plain. These islands were once referred to as the “Islands of Gold” by Spanish explorers. The islands include

Cumberland Island

Jekyll Island

St. Simons Island

Tybee Island

Natural Resources

Sand and Gravel Forestry

Climate

The Outer Coastal Plain has hot summers and mild winters. It is usually hot and humid during the summer months. The growing season is over 270 days. The annual rainfall in the Outer Coastal Plain ranges from 48 to 56 inches.

Festivals

St. Patrick’s Day Festival in

Savannah