The Five Geographic Regions of Virginia

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In the following presentation you will find
information about the five geographic regions of
Virginia.
Read and enjoy!
Try the multiple choice questions. Refer to
your Virginia History SOL booklets for help!
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The Five Geographic Regionsof Virginia
Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Blue Ridge Mountains

Piedmont
Valley and Ridge
Appalachian Plateau
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Distinctive Characteristicsof each region

• Coastal Plain(Tidewater)
• low, flat land
• sandy soil
• located near the Atlantic Ocean and the
  Chesapeake Bay
• located east of the Fall Line
• Our peninsula, the Northern Neck, is located in
  this region.

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The Peninsulas and their bordering bodies of
water

• Northern Neck bordered by the Potomac and the
  Rappahannock rivers
• Middle Peninsula bordered by the Rappahannock
  and the York rivers
• The Peninsula bordered by the York and the James
  rivers
• The Eastern Shore Peninsula bordered by the
  Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean

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Piedmont

• The word Piedmont means (land at the foot
• of the mountains)
• rolling hills (Look at the picture on page 61 in
  your textbook)
• located west of the Fall Line
• This is Virginias largest region. It is also
  called the Plateau.
• ( A plateau is a large, raised ,level piece of
  land)
• Our state capital, Richmond,is located here.

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The Fall Line

• This is part of the Piedmont region.It has many
  waterfalls and rapids.The waterfalls prevented
  further travel on the rivers during Colonial
  Virginia and this cause towns to
• spring up. The towns later became cities like
  Richmond, Fredericksburg,Alexandria,
  Petersburg,and later Emporia.They are all Fall
  Line cities because they grew up along major
  Virginia rivers.

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Fall Line cities and the Rivers they developed
along
Alexandria was developed along the Potomac River.
Fredericksburg was developed along the
Rappahannock River.
Richmond was developed along the James River.
Petersburg was developed along the Appomattox
River.
Emporia was developed along the Meherrin River.
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Alexandria
Potomac River
Rappahannock River
James River
Petersburg
Emporia
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Lets Review
Look at the previous slide if you need help at
any time.
A. On what river was the Fall Line city of
Alexandria developed?
Thats right! Potomac!
B. On what river was our state capital,
Richmond, developed?
Well, James River, of course!
C. Name the Fall Line city thats located
directly south of Petersburg.
Did you say Emporia? Good!
D. On what river did this city develop ?
Meherrin River!
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Lets imagine that you are one of the early
settlers traveling on the Potomac River. Youre
now approaching a sudden drop in the way that
your ship was moving. What do you think could
have happened?
Go to the next slide and look closely! Click the
back-arrow to come back to this slide!
Now. Lets go back. Did you see how difficult it
would be to continue your journey. You would
actually have to get out of your boat and
barter, or trade your goods in order to walk
around the falls and then get back in your boat
once it has gotten around the falls.
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Waterfalls and Rapids
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Look again!
Would it be possible for a boat to travel
with ease on water like this?
No, I didnt think that you would like it!
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Blue Ridge Mountains

• Old, rounded mountains(stretching from
  Pennsylvania to Georgia)
• part of the Appalachian Mountain system
• (This mountain system stretches from Canada
  to Alabama.
• ridge a line of hills or mountains
• located between the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge
  regions
• Source of many rivers

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Valley and Ridge

• Includes the Great Valley of Virginia and other
  valleys separated by ridges (the Great
• Valley lies between the Allegheny and the
• Blue Ridge Mountains)
• It is rugged due to many high and rocky peaks.
• The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Valley and Ridge
  Regions are part of the Appalachian Mountain
  system.
• Located west of the Blue Ridge Mountains

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Appalachian Plateau

• Plateau an area of elevated land that is flat
  on top
• located in Southwest Virginia
• bordered by the states of Tennessee and Kentucky

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(Tidewater)
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(No Transcript)
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Virginias Products and Industries
Shipbuilding, tourism, federal military
installations
Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Seafood
Tobacco products, information technology
Technology, federal and state government,farming,t
extiles
Piedmont
Blue Ridge Mountains
Apples
Recreation
Farming
Valley and Ridge
Poultry, apples
Coal mining
Coal
Appalachian Plateau
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Facts about some Virginia cities
Norfolk home to the largest Naval Base in
Virginia There are a lot of
people working in military jobs
here.
Newport News home to the largest shipbuilding
yards in the United
States
Virginia Beach well known resort city
This city helps Virginias
tourism industry.
This is Virginias most populated independent
city.
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Federal and State Government
The state government is led by the governor.
Our former governor of the state of Virginia is
James Gilmore.
He stayed in Richmond, our state capital, in the
house known as the Governors Mansion.
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Virginias First African - American Governor
Lawrence Douglas Wilder was the first African-
Ameri- can to be governor of Virginia. He was
also the first African - American governor in the
U.S. since Reconstruction.
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Which of these isnt one of Virginias five
geographic regions?

• A. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
• B. Piedmont
• C. Valley Ridge
• D. Rocky Mountains
• E. Appalachian Plateau

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Which region is farthest west?
N
A. Appalachian Plateau B. Atlantic Ocean C.
Coastal Plain (Tidewater) D. Eastern Shore
W
E
S
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Which region is directly west of the Fall Line?
A. Appalachian Plateau B. Piedmont C. Valley
Ridge D. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
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In which region is Richmond located?
A. Coastal Plain (Tidewater) B. Piedmont C.
Eastern Shore Peninsula D. Northern Neck
Peninsula
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Which of Virginias regions isthe largest?
A. Piedmont B. Coastal Plain (Tidewater) C.
Appalachian Plateau D. Blue Ridge Mountain
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Which rivers border the NorthernNeck Peninsula?
A. Pamunkey River, James River B. Chesapeake
Bay, Atlantic Ocean C. Rappahannock River,
Potomac River D. James River, York River
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Which two geographic regions are separated by the
Fall Line?
A. Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont B.Valley
Ridge, Appalachian Plateau C.Coastal Plain
(Tidewater), Piedmont D.Valley Ridge,Blue
Ridge Mt.
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(Tidewater)
In which of Virginias regions would you live?
A. Valley Ridge
B. Piedmont
C. Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
D. Appalachian Plateau
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Which of Virginias regions is closest to the
state of Kentucky?
A. Blue Ridge Mountains B. Appalachian Plateau
C. Valley Ridge D. Piedmont
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Which peninsula is bordered by the Atlantic
Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay?
A. Piedmont B. Eastern Shore Peninsula C.
Valley Ridge D. Northern Neck Peninsula
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Which of Virginias geographic regions is known
for having rolling hills as one of its
characteristics?
A.Coastal Plain (Tidewater) B. Shenandoah
Valley C. Piedmont D. Valley and Ridge
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Which of the following wouldve contributed a lot
to the development of early Fall Line towns?
A. pathways B. rapids and valleys C.
highways D. waterfalls and rapids
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How were the rivers useful to the early colonists
of Colonial Virginia?
A. They provided a place for gathering rocks and
jewels. B. They provided pathways for
exploration and were a source of food to all
who wanted some. C. They were a good source of
food for all animals. D. They provided pathways
for exploration and sail.
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Which of the following is a major characteristic
of a plateau?
A.hills and valleys B. ridges and valleys C.
elevated land that is flat on top D. mountainous
land
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C h e s a p e a k e B a y
Northern Neck Peninsula
Potomac River
Eastern Shore
Middle Peninsula
Rappahannock River
The Peninsula
Atlantic Ocean
The Southside