Warm-UpWarm-UpDefine:Define:

• Geography

• Absolute Location

• Relative Location

• Fall Line

• Region

• Precipitation

• Wetland

• Barrier Island

• Continental Shelf

• Climate

Unit 1Unit 1GeographyGeography

SS8G1SS8G1The student will describe Georgia with The student will describe Georgia with

regard to physical features and regard to physical features and locationlocation

What is Geography?What is Geography?• Geographica (Greek origin) means

“earth’s description”.

• Science of studying Earth as the home of humans.

• Geography helps us understand why Georgia’s native peoples and later settlers chose certain parts of the state for their home.

Understanding Georgia: Understanding Georgia: Spatial GeographySpatial Geography

• Spatial: How Georgians organize their space and environment: – 159 counties – five bordering

states

Understanding Georgia: Understanding Georgia: Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions

• Places and Regions: People create regions to understand Earth’s complexities

• Georgia has five physiographic regions

• 18 islands

• 58, 910 square miles

• 854 square inland water miles

Understanding Georgia: Understanding Georgia: Human SystemsHuman Systems

• Human Systems: Where Georgians migrated and settled

• Atlanta (Fulton County) is the capital • Twiggs County (geographic center)• Port of Savannah (first major settlement)• Brasstown Bald (highest geographic point)

SS8G1 a.SS8G1 a.

Locate Georgia in relation to Locate Georgia in relation to region, nation, continent, and region, nation, continent, and

hemisphereshemispheres

Understanding LocationUnderstanding Location

• Absolute location: A precise position on Earth’s surface

• Georgia is located at 30°– 35°N latitude, 80°– 85° W longitude

• Georgia borders Florida (south), Alabama (west), Tennessee and North Carolina (north), and South Carolina (east).

Understanding LocationUnderstanding Location

• Relative Location: Where Georgia is located compared with other places

• Western/Northern Hemisphere• North America • Southeastern United States• Atlantic coast

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• Largest state east of the Mississippi River

• Part of the Sunbelt

• Bordered by 5 states—Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina

• Bordered by Atlantic Ocean.

SS8G1 b.SS8G1 b.Describe the five geographic Describe the five geographic

regions of Georgia; include the regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and

Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal PlainPiedmont, and Coastal Plain

SS8G1 c.SS8G1 c.

Locate and evaluate the Locate and evaluate the importance of key physical importance of key physical

features on the development of features on the development of Georgia; include the Fall Line, Georgia; include the Fall Line,

Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian Mountains, Chattahoochee and Mountains, Chattahoochee and

Savannah Rivers and barrier Savannah Rivers and barrier islandsislands

Five Geographic RegionsFive Geographic Regions• Appalachian

Plateau-5

• Ridge and Valley-1

• Blue Ridge-3

• Piedmont-2

• Coastal Plains-4

Appalachian Plateau RegionAppalachian Plateau Region• Georgia’s smallest

physiographic region • Many limestone caves,

deep canyons, rock formations

• Cumberland Plateau (Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain separated by limestone ridges)

• Limestone, shale, and sandstone soils

AppalachianAppalachian• TAG Corner

• Appalachian Plateau—Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain meet.

• Appalachian Trail begins…runs 2,144 miles all the way to Maine

Ridge and Valley RegionRidge and Valley Region• Between Blue Ridge

Mountains and Appalachian Plateau

• Low open valleys parallel to narrow ridges

• Elevations ranges from 700 to 1600 feet above sea level

• Forests and pastures dominate the region

• Limestone and clay soils in the valley

• Shale and sandstone on the ridges

Blue Ridge RegionBlue Ridge Region • Northeastern part of state• Contains state’s highest

and largest group of mountains

• Brasstown Bald, Georgia highest mountain is here

• Mountains provide much precipitation (water) for the state

• Sandy loam and clay soils• Hardwood forests,

vegetable farming, and apples

Blue RidgeBlue Ridge• Brevard Fault—separates Blue Ridge

from Piedmont• Chattahoochee River

Piedmont Piedmont • Means “at the foot of

the mountains”

• Gently sloping hills in north, flatlands in the south

• Hardwood timber, pine, and agriculture

• Red clay and granite base

• Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Oconee rivers

• Stone Mountain--granite

• Lots of Business and Industry

• Atlanta, Athens, Milledgeville

Shelves and LinesShelves and Lines• Georgia’s continental shelf is portion of

coastal plain that extends into the ocean• The Continental slope falls into deep

plateaus and into the Atlantic Ocean depths

• The Fall Line, a natural boundary, separates the Coastal Plain from the Piedmont Plateau

Fall LineFall Line• Fall Line-marks transition from

Piedmont region to Coastal Plain region

• Stretches from Augusta to Columbus

Fall Line FeaturesFall Line Features

• Hilly or mountainous lands meet the coastal plain

• Runs from Columbus (west) through Macon to Augusta (east)

• Many waterfalls caused by water from the hills cutting channels into the softer soil of the plains

• Fall Line waterfalls provide power source for several Georgia communities

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Coastal Plain RegionCoastal Plain Region

• Largest region, three-fifths of state• Inner Coastal Plain: Mild climate, good

underground water supply, state’s major agriculture region

• Outer Coastal Plain (southwest corner): rich soil for peanuts, pecans, corn, and pulp production

• Low-lying freshwater wetlands

Okefenokee SwampOkefenokee Swamp• 681 square miles

• Located south of Waycross

• Largest swamp in North America

• Freshwater wetland

• Water lies close to the surface

Tidewater RiversTidewater Rivers• Rivers that flow

into Oceans

• Freshwater mixes with salt water-estuary

• Different Sea Life-oysters

• Good for growing Rice

Islands of GoldIslands of Gold• Spanish explorers

called the barrier islands “islands of gold”

• Protect beaches by blocking sand, winds, and water that could erode the mainland

• Two-thirds remains wilderness areas

• Much recreation, seafood gathering

• Deep water ports for shipping

Georgia’s ClimateGeorgia’s Climate

SS8G1 a.SS8G1 a.

Evaluate the impact of climate on Evaluate the impact of climate on Georgia’s developmentGeorgia’s development

Georgia’s TemperatureGeorgia’s Temperature

• Mild climate, subtropical feel along the coast

• Hot, humid summers and mild winters• Four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer,

Fall, and Winter• Vertical climate (higher elevation in

mountains causes colder temperatures) • July is hottest month; January is coldest

Georgia’s PrecipitationGeorgia’s Precipitation

• In normal year, Georgia gets 40-52 inches of rain in central and southern regions and 65-76 inches in the northern mountains

• July is wettest month; October is driest• From 1998 to 2002, Georgia experienced

a major drought (extended lack of precipitation)

Winds and CurrentsWinds and Currents

• Air masses from Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean control summer’s warm months.

• Air masses from polar regions of Alaska and Canada control Georgia’s winters.

• Ocean currents, trade winds, and prevailing westerlies aided travel for early explorers and settlers to Georgia.

Storms over GeorgiaStorms over Georgia

• Georgia averages 21 tornadoes each year, resulting in one to three deaths

• Most tornadoes in Georgia occur from March to May

• Georgia’s most hurricane-like storm (in terms of lives lost) occurred in Savannah in 1893

• Called the “Sea Islands Hurricane,” the storm resulted in 1,000 deaths.

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