Physiographic Regions

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Physiographic Regions

• Within the U.S., geographers have identified
  over 30 natural regions.
• These regions, called physiographic provinces are
  based on similarities in land formations,
  elevation, location, and use of the landamong
  other things.

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Coastal Plain

• Largest region in Georgia
• During prehistoric times, this region was covered
  by ocean
• As the water moved inland, it created hills and
  other landforms
• The seashells and other aquatic life sank to the
  seafloor, creating soft rock called limestone

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Coastal Plain (cont.)

• Over time, rivers and streams deposited rocks and
  clay that eroded from the mountains.
• As a result, thousands of feet of sediment
  -settled deposits - covered the ocean floor
• Ocean retreated leaving limestone, clay and
  sediment deposits
• This region is known as

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The Coastal Plain!

• It extends from along the Atlantic and Gulf
  Coasts from Massachusetts to Mexico

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• The interior boundary of the coastal plain is
  marked by the Fall Line.
• This line is actually a zone - the prehistoric
  shoreline
• The land north of it is higher in elevation,
  causing rivers and streams to pick up speed as
  they move south
• Home to Okefenokee Swamp - largest swamp in North
  America.

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THE COASTAL PLAIN
Relative Location Physical Features Land Use Elevation
60 of GA Atlantic Gulf Coasts from Mass to Mexico 200 miles inland -flat, low lying gentle slope -Okefenokee Swamp -barrier islands agriculture, pasture, pine trees 1 - 500 feet above sea
level
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The Piedmont

• Georgias 2nd largest province
• French word for foot of the mountains
• 500 - 1700 feet above sea level

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• Rolling hills with many valleys
• Hills can be tall and mistaken for mountains
• Hardwood and pine trees found here
• Land will support crops like cotton, soybeans and
  wheat

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• - While the Coastal Plain has Limestone, the
  Piedmont has bedrock (granite,gneiss,
  marble,etc)which is very hard.
• - Bedrock is easy to be seen when the soil is
  washed away.

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• Piedmont has many streams and rivers
• Because of bedrock, they have shallow beds
• Exposed rocks create frequent rapids, making
  navigation impossible for large boats

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Piedmont
Relative Location Physical Features Land Use Elevation
-2nd largest So. Of Blue ridge -30 of GA Hills Valleys Streams and rivers Hardwood and pines Cotton soybeans wheat Granite Marble 500-1700 feet above sea level
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Blue Ridge
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Georgias most beautiful physiographic province

• The Blue Ridge Mountainsthe highest in the
  Appalachian Highlands
• The Blue Ridge region stretches from Georgia to
  Pennsylvania

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Georgias Highest Mountain

• Brasstown Bald is 4,784 feet above sea level

Springer Mtn (3782 ft) is the beginning of the
Appalachian Trail
The App. Trail is 2158 miles long.
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Blue Ridge

• The height of the mountains cools the warm air
  currents coming from the Gulf of Mexico. This
  produces rain throughout the year!
• Less than 1 of Georgias farm land
• Apples, corn, and timber

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Blue Ridge
Relative Location Physical Features Land Use Elevation
NE Georgia to So. Penn. Many rivers, high mts, valleys Apple Corn Hardwood 1 of GA farmland 4784 Brasstown Bald
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Ridge and Valley Region

• In Georgia, located west of Blue Ridge
• Stretches 1,200 miles from NY to Alabama
• Long parallel ridges over looking valleys

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• From the ground, the ridges look like mountains

But the highest point is only 700-1600 feet from
the base
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Tell me about this region

• The Ridge and Valley province is located between
  the Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Plateau regions.
• Consists of softer sedimentary rocks like
  sandstone (ridges) and limestone and shale
  (valleys)
• Ridges covered in forest, Valleys used for
  pastures and farming

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Farming in forests???

• Well, the valleys actually are not covered in
  forest, making it moderately suited for farming!
• Average growing season of 210-220 days
• Variety of crops can be grown (corn,soy beans,
  wheat, cotton)

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Ridge and Valley
Relative Location Physical Features Land Use Elevation
1200 miles from NY to Alabama Ridges and valleys Soft rock farming 700-1600
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Appalachian Plateau

• This is the smallest of the physiographic regions
  in Georgia.
• Located in the far northwestern corner of
  Georgia.
• Has the only source of coal in Georgia.
• Known as TAG Corner

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Appalachian Plateau
Relative Location Physical Features Land Use Elevation
Northwest corner of Georgia -TAG Corner Caves, canyons, rock formations hardwoodforests and pastures Up to 2000 feet