GEORGIA GEOGRAPHY

Georgia on my mind…

Location• Relative Location - The location of one place in relation to

another

• Absolute Location - the exact spot on the earth’s surface

where a place is located.

• Latitude - measures location north and south of the

Equator

• Longitude - measures location east and west of the Prime

Meridian.

Using Latitude and Longitude• Hemisphere – any half of the Earth - North,

South, East, or West• Equator – divides the Earth into northern

and southern hemispheres (0o latitude)• Prime Meridian – divides the Earth into

eastern and western hemispheres (0o longitude)

• Lines of latitude and longitude divide the Earth into hemispheres

THE HEMISPHERES

Where in the World is Georgia?

• In the Northern and Western hemispheres• In the continent of North America• In the country of the United States• In the Southeastern Region of the United

States• In the Eastern time zone.

GeorgiaRivers

Label the following rivers on your river map1.Savannah River2.Chattahoochee River3.Flint River4.Ocmulgee River5.Oconee River6.Altamaha River7.Ogeechee River

Geographic Regions of Geographic Regions of GeorgiaGeorgia

-- Appalachian Plateau

-- Ridge and Valley

-- Blue Ridge

-- Piedmont

-- Coastal Plain

Coastal Plain Region

•In prehistoric times, this area was completely covered by an ocean which made the land flat

•Agriculture: pine trees along the coast and further inland is famous for peanuts, peaches, and pecans

Coastal Plain Region Continued

• Industry – agriculture, seafood gathering and processing, naval stores (products for ship building)

• Deep water ports – Savannah and Brunswick

• Rivers in this region are wide, straight, and easily navigable

Coastal Plains

            

Georgia Wetlands in the Coastal Plain

• Okefenokee Swamp – “Land of trembling earth”

• Freshwater swamp home to wildlife such as bears, snakes, alligators, deer, fish, herons

• Saltwater Marshes along the coast support an ecosystem for egrets, fiddler crabs, and other wildlife

Georgia’s Coast• Georgia’s coast is along the Atlantic Ocean• Barrier Islands along the coast are a chain of

islands that form a wall blocking waves and wind from directly hitting the mainland

• Tybee, Jekyll, and St. Simons are tourist locations

• Cumberland and Sapelo are wildlife refuges

http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/photogallery/htmpages/cockspur.htm

Golden Isles

Piedmont Region

• Land is fertile rolling hills • Most heavily populated region of Georgia and

the industrial center of the state (Atlanta in this region)

• Rivers in the region are fast moving and narrow with water falls

• Agriculture - Cotton, soybeans, wheat, chicken, cows

Piedmont

Chattahoochee River

            

Fall Line• Fall Line – boundary between the Coastal Plain and

Piedmont• It is the shoreline of a prehistoric ocean.• Land north of the Fall Line is hilly and to the south is

flat.• Rivers pick up speed as they “fall” through this

region and waterfalls form where the land drops to the flat Coastal Plain.

• Settlements and industry developed along the Fall Line because swift rivers and waterfalls provided a source of power.

• The cities of Columbus, Macon, and Augusta were industrial cities that formed along the Fall Line.

Blue Ridge Region

• Part of the Appalachian Mountain chain.• Named for the smoky blue color of the

mountains.• Appalachian Trail begins here. • Brasstown Bald - highest point in Georgia• Production of rainfall is the main

importance of the region.• Apples are the main crop.

Blue Ridge Region

Brasstown Bald

Tallulah Gorge

Amicalola Falls

            

Ridge and Valley Region

• Long ridges overlooking fertile valleys.• Sandstone ridges are forest covered and the

valleys are used for farming and pasture.• Best known for the carpet industry.

Ridge and Valley

Appalachian Plateau

• Georgia’s smallest region.• A plateau is flat elevated land with surrounding

valleys. • Many limestone caves, deep canyons, rock

formations.• Lookout Mountain, Sand Mountain, and Cloudland

Canyon are located here.• Georgia’s only source of coal.

Appalachian Plateau

Georgia Cities to Locate

• Atlanta – Capital• Athens – Home of University of Georgia• Savannah – Oldest city and largest deep water

port• Brunswick – Large deep port

Rocks and Minerals

• Georgia is the world’s leading producer of kaolin.

• Kaolin is a type of clay used to make pottery

• Georgia is first in the nation in marble production.

Georgia’s Climate

• Georgia’s location creates a long growing season with mild winters.

• For this reason Georgia developed as an agricultural center.

• The mild climate also attracts industry to Georgia.

• Can you think of reason why this would be the case?

Four Transportation Systems

• Hartsfield-Jackson Airport• Interstate Highways• Deep water ports• Railroads• All these attract people and industry to

Georgia and provide jobs.