In this tab, you will learn about some of the physical features of Georgia. These features will include the Fall Line, Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian Mountains,Chattahoochee and Savannah Rivers, and the barrier islands.
The Fall Line is a geological boundary that runs widely across Georgia in the intermediate direction of northeast. What it is is an immediate drop in elevation like a waterfall. An example of this explanation is when yo're canoeing. You would canoe one day and when you approach the Fall Line, you would just drop straight down. You will see many towns and buildings here because early settlers would row their boats and supplies upstream and then would stop here because of the great fall. If you tried to bring your horse and wood and other supplies up there, they would all be broken by the time you're up there. So they settled because they also believed that God wanted them to stop there.
The Fall Line is a geological boundary that runs widely across Georgia in the intermediate direction of northeast. What it is is an immediate drop in elevation like a waterfall. An example of this explanation is when yo're canoeing. You would canoe one day and when you approach the Fall Line, you would just drop straight down. You will see many towns and buildings here because early settlers would row their boats and supplies upstream and then would stop here because of the great fall. If you tried to bring your horse and wood and other supplies up there, they would all be broken by the time you're up there. So they settled because they also believed that God wanted them to stop there.
Next, we have the Okefenokee Swamp. The Okefenokee Swamp is located in the Coastal Plains and is the biggest swamp in Georgia. It is also the biggest freshwater wetland in Georgia. A wetland is a low-lying land area where water lies close to the surface creating sloughs, swamps, bogs, ponds, and freshwater marshes. It is home to 621 species such as alligators, crocodiles, and frogs. The Okefenokee Swamp is nearly 7,000 years old and was once home to Native Americans before the Europeans came and killed them with steel weapons and diseases. Now you can take wildlife boat rides in order to see all of the vast biodiversity.
The Appalachian Mountains are very vast mountains that run across the eastern coastline of the United States. The mountains are mostly used for pioneering, engineering, minerals, etc. West Virginia uses the mountains for coal because these fossil fuels cost a ton of money. These mountains are very long, they are precisely 2,037 meters long. The Appalachian Plateau is the part of Georgia that is connected to the Appalachian Mountains. Georgia is actually the southern base of the mountains.
The Chattahoochee River is one of the most important rivers in Georgia. It provides us information about our prehistory from the Paleo times all the way to the Creek times. The river also provides 70% of metro Atlanta's drinking water. Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee are also arguing about the rights to use the river for their drinking supply. The water that runs through the river also provides some hydroelectricity for our economy and cities due to the dams we put in the river, but this is one of the reasons that we argue over the water because we keep getting asked to open up the dams more so that we can share the water. Georgia usually said no way.
The Savannah River acts as a border between Georgia and South Carolina. The river provides drinking water for the cities of Savannah and Augusta. As it goes downstream, the Savannah helps us by passing through that way. It would pass through forests, farms, and hydroelectric dams for us. Now how does all of this help us? It's simple. If the river passes through forests, it would water them and we would have some supplies. By passing through farms, it would help grow some crops by watering them. Finally, when it reaches those dams it would provide us hydroelectric power for all of us to use and share.
Last but not least, we have the barrier islands. The barrier islands got their name because they protected the mainland from eroding from natural causes such as wind, sand, and water. Today these islands make great tourist attractions for other people as they were rebuilt for recreational purposes. One of the most popular islands is known as Jekyll Island. Some of these islands have remained untouched in service of the wildlife there and for the respect of nature.