Physiographic Regions of Georgia Region An area on Earths surface that is defined by certain unifying characteristics (cultural, physical, or human) An area on Earths surface that is defined by certain unifying characteristics (cultural, physical, or human) Appalachian Plateau Plateau Size/Location Elevation 300 square miles NW corner (TAG- TN,AL,GA Corner) of Georgia feet Landforms Broad flat topped mountains separated by ridges of limestone Limestone caves, deep canyons, interesting rock formations, waterfalls Soil/Rocks, minerals sandstone, shale, limestone Resources/Crops Appalachian Oak Forests cover most of it. pastures Coal the only source of coal in Georgia Cities/Places of Interest Sand Mountain Lookout Mountain Long narrow valley between these mts. Cloudland Canyon Chickamauga-civil war battle site How formed/Other features Plates under the earths crust collided causing the crust to fold and wrinkle causing hills and mountains Ridge and Valley Size/Location Elevation most of NW Georgia feet Landforms long, parallel ridges wide rolling valleys Soil/Rocks, minerals sedimentary rock sandstone ridges limestone and shale valleys Resources/Crops Forests, pastures Apple orchards, wheat, cotton, hardwoods, pines, 4% of Georgias farmland timber Cities/Places of Interest Taylor Ridge, Pigeon Mountain Dalton Carpet industry more than 70 carpet manufacturing plants How formed/Other features Plates under the earths crust collided causing the crust to fold and wrinkle causing hills and mountains Blue Ridge Size/Location Elevation most of NE Georgia 2000 square miles feet Landforms highest mountains in Appalachian highlands Rivers begin here. steep slopes waterfalls Soil/Rocks, minerals clay, sand erosion High precipitation provides water for the entire state Resources/Crops Hardwood forests apples Small vegetable farms Cities/Places of Interest Chattahoochee National Forest Brasstown Bald (treeless on top) 4,784 ft. Amicalola falls Tallulah Gorge Helen Other Features Springer Mountain start of the Appalachian Trail which stretches from Georgia to Maine (2,144 miles) How formed/Other features Plates under the earths crust collided causing the crust to fold and wrinkle causing hills and mountains Piedmont foot of the mountain Piedmont Size/Location Elevation 30% of state 30% of state between the Coastal Plain and the mountains between the Coastal Plain and the mountains feet feet Landforms Gently, sloping hills, flatlands Gently, sloping hills, flatlands valleys valleys many streams and rivers many streams and rivers ravines ravines Soil/Rocks, minerals red clay, sandy loam red clay, sandy loam fertile soil fertile soil bedrock bedrock large areas of solid rock just below the earths surface large areas of solid rock just below the earths surface often exposed where soil has washed away often exposed where soil has washed away granite, gneiss, marble granite, gneiss, marble Resources/Crops oak-hickory-pine forests oak-hickory-pine forests marble, granite marble, granite cotton, soybeans, wheat, poultry, cattle cotton, soybeans, wheat, poultry, cattle Cities/Places of Interest Athens Athens Atlanta Atlanta Milledgeville Milledgeville Six Flags Six Flags Zoo Atlanta Zoo Atlanta Stone Mountain Stone Mountain Other features 60% of Georgias population lives here. 60% of Georgias population lives here. Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee Rivers Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee Rivers Coastal Plain Size/Location Elevation 60% of state 60% of state lower half of the state lower half of the state feet feet Landforms Two parts Two parts Inner Coastal Plain Outer Coastal Plain flat with low relief flat with low relief gentle slopes gentle slopes wide, deep, slow rivers wide, deep, slow rivers Soil/Rocks, Minerals Limestone, sand, clay Limestone, sand, clay Outer coastal plain -- poorly drained Outer coastal plain -- poorly drained Inner Coastal plain -- fertile soil, underground water Inner Coastal plain -- fertile soil, underground water Resources/Crops Outer Coastal Plain Outer Coastal Plain some swampy areas Used for pasture and timber shrimp and fish Inner Inner crops such as peanuts, cotton, Vidalia onions, corn, soybeans, peaches, pecans timber timber Cities/Places of Interest Savannah, Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta Savannah, Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta Okefenokee Swamp freshwater wetland Okefenokee Swamp freshwater wetland once covered by ocean once covered by ocean Barrier Islands Barrier Islands protect beaches by blocking sand, wind, water tourism, recreation, wildlife sanctuaries Continental shelf Continental shelf very wide reduces the chance of hurricanes Other features Fall Line Point at which hilly or mountainous lands meet the coastal plain Columbus, Macon, Augusta Waterfalls provide a power source