Virginia Geography

Ms. Stephanie HooksVirginia Studies

Adapted and Edited By Mark Saunders

What is a geographic region? A geographic region is an area that

can be defined by certain (natural) physical characteristics such as mountains, rivers, and valleys.

The Five Regions of Virginia Coastal Plains (Tidewater) Piedmont Blue Ridge Mountains Ridge and Valley Appalachian Plateau

Each of these five regions can be characterized (described) by a geographic feature.

Coastal Plain (Tidewater) The Coastal Plain

(Tidewater) Region can be characterized by flat land, as well as rivers, bay, beaches, and oceans.

*The Yellow Area*

ATLANT I C OCEAN

Products of the Coastal Plain (Tidewater)

Products Seafood Shipbuilding Military and Naval

Installations Farming

Piedmont “OUR REGION” The Piedmont

region can be characterized by rolling hills. Piedmont is a French word that means “foot of the mountains.”

Piedmont The Piedmont

region can be characterized by rolling hills. Piedmont is a French word that means “foot of the mountains.”

*The Red Area*

ATLANT I C OCEAN

Blue Ridge Mountains

This region of Virginia has old rounded mountains and caves. It is also the source of many rivers. *The Blue Area*

ATLANT I C OCEAN

Ridge and Valley Region This region has

ridges (small mountains) and Valleys. The Shenandoah Valley is located in this region. A

TLANT I C OCEAN

The Green Area*

The Appalachian Plateau is an area of elevated land that is flat on top. The major product found in this region is coal.

ATLANT I C OCEANThe Purple

Area*

1. What region of Virginia is characterized by low flat land?2. Which region means land at the foot of the mountains in French?3. Which region is the source ofmany rivers?4. Who can name all 5 regions?

What bodies of water border the coast of Virginia?

A. Atlantic and Chesapeake BayB. Pacific and JamesC. James and YorkD. Mississippi and York

Atlantic Ocean is on the east coast of Virginia

Crossing over and under open waters where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Bridge-Tunnel provides a direct link between Southeastern Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula.

What state borders Virginia on the north?

A. West VirginiaB. MarylandC. North CarolinaD. Kentucky

Maryland bordersVirginia to the north.

What are the cities located on the Fall Line in Virginia?

A. Petersburg, Yorktown, Alexandria, and Bowling GreenB. Alexandria, Fredericksburg,

Richmond, and PetersburgC. Bedford, Chesapeake, Danville,

and FairfaxD. Hopewell, Norfolk, Richmond,

and Suffolk

Alexandria, Virginia

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

Petersburg during the Civil War

Where is the Fall Line located?

A. Between the Piedmont and Blue Ridge RegionsB. Between the Tidewater (Coastal Plains and Piedmont RegionsC. Between the Appalachian and

Ridge and Valley RegionsD. Between the Ridge and Valley and Piedmont Regions

The Fall Line is located between The Tidewater (Coastal Plains) and the

Piedmont Regions.

What Virginia region has rolling hills and is west of the Fall Line?

A. Blue Ridge RegionB. Piedmont RegionC. Tidewater (Coastal Plains)D. Ridge and Valley

The Piedmont Region of Virginia has rolling hills and farm land and is west of the Fall Line.

Which region is east of the Fall Line in Virginia?

A. PiedmontB. Tidewater (Coastal Plains)C. Blue Ridge D. Appalachian Plateau

The Tidewater (Coastal Plains) region is east of the Fall Line and has flat, low land.

What is the region with elevated land in southwest Virginia known as?

A. Tidewater (Coastal Plains)B. Blue RidgeC. Ridge and ValleyD. Appalachian Plateau

The Appalachian Plateau is in the southwestern part of Virginia.

What Virginia city is located on the Potomac River?

A. FredericksburgB. AlexandriaC. RichmondD. Petersburg

Alexandria is located on the Potomac River is northern Virginia.

What is the term for a piece of land bordered by water on three sides?

A. StraitB. IslandC. PeninsulaD. Continent

A peninsula is land bordered on three sides by water.

What group of Virginia Indians spoke the Siouan language?

A. AlgonquianB. PowhatanC. Iroquoian D. Monacans

The Monacan Indians spoke the Siouan language.

What language did the Powhatan Indians speak in the Tidewater (Coastal Plains) region?

A. SiouanB. IroquoianC. AlgonquianD. Powhatan

The Powhatan Indians lived in the Tidewater (Coastal Plains) and spoke

Algonquian.

What language did the Cherokee Indians speak and where did they live in Virginia?

A. Algonquian and PiedmontB. Iroquoian and Tidewater (Coastal

Plains) C. Siouan and Blue Ridge

D. Iroquoian and Appalachian Plateau

The Cherokee Indiansspoke the Iroquoian language and lived in

the Appalachian Plateau region.

The End