GOG - Unique Climate and Physical Features (Lesson)

Unique Climate and Physical Features 

Introduction

Photograph of a small waterfall in North Georgia. Georgia has the same latitude as China, India, Persia, and Palestine; because of this England expected the Georgia colony to produce wine, silk, tea, olives, oranges, cotton, and indigo in comparison to these locations. Climate influences types of homes, industries, clothing, and crops grown. The geographic location of Georgia allows its climate to consist of hot summers, mild winters, and sufficient rainfall.

Georgia has numerous natural resources. Water is plentiful in the form of surface water. The state has built over 28 reservoirs since 1910. There are 20,000 miles of rivers and streams. Quartz, kaolin, marble, and granite are plentiful in the state as well as our natural rocks and minerals. 

 

Weather and Climate

Weather is the day to day atmospheric conditions, while climate is the average weather conditions over time. Climate is important to a state as it will influence the type of homes, industries, clothing, and crops grown. Georgia’s geographic location influences our climate. We are located near the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico on the east coast of the continent. We are also close to the equator. This means that Georgia benefits from hot summers, mild winters, and plenty of rainfall.

Maps illustrating the average temperatures of Georgia in July and in January 

 

Physical Features

Georgia has numerous natural resources such as water, rocks and minerals. A fall line is an area where an upland region and the coastal plain meet; and it’s usually where major rivers cross with either rapids or waterfalls. Water south of the fall line comes primarily from underground due to sedimentary beds of sand and porous rocks that can store large supplies. North of the fall line water comes from primarily surface water, such as streams and rivers.

Left-photograph of a stream. Right-Diagram of the fall line - shown situated between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.  

Georgia’s lakes (reservoirs) are unique. Twenty-eight major reservoirs have been built since 1910. Lakes develop when rivers are dammed to convert flowing water into electricity. Georgia is home to 20,000 miles of rivers and streams. Because of the elevation they flow north to south.

Quartz, kaolin, marble and granite are plentiful in Georgia. Native Americans used quartz and other stones to make arrowheads. Georgia is the number one producer in the world for kaolin. Georgia is also the first in the United States for marble and granite production. The Lincoln Memorial is made from Georgia marble! Unfortunately, Georgia lacks energy-related resources. We have very little coal and no oil or natural gas. Historically, Georgia experienced the first gold rush in American history in the early 1800s.

 

Review

Review what you've learned by completing the activity below.

 

 

Think About This

 

 

Climate and plentiful resources allow Georgia to stand out from other states in the United Sates. Check out the article, “Georgia’s Climate is Peachy,” for further information on our unique climate.

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  IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS