N.C. Regions
How many basic geographic regions are there in North Carolina?
What are they called?
3
Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
The Coastal Plain is home to some of NC’s most fertile farmland. What major economic sector is most prominent in ENC because of this soil?
agriculture (various kinds)
What physical feature creates a geographic barrier in WNC?
mountains
This term refers to natural features of the Earth, such as mountains, rivers, soil types, and climate.
physical features/characteristics
We use coordinates (latitude and longitude) to find what kind of location?
absolute location
Describe the Coastal Plain region.
By the ocean, biggest chunk, good for agriculture and tourism, protected by Outer Banks, etc.
Besides trails, what could people in the lower parts of N.C. use as "highways" before paved roads were really a thing?
How did Hurricane Helene affect WNC?
Floods, fallen trees, storm-related destruction, etc.
This term refers to man-made features of the Earth, including population density, cities, roads, and cultural landmarks.
human features/characteristics
What region of the United States do we live in?
Southeast
Describe the Peidmont region.
"Foot of the mountain", hilly, good for agriculture, most of our main cities are here, separated from Coastal Plain by fall line, etc.
What about central/Piedmont N.C. is beneficial for cities?
More accessible to western and eastern ends of the state, accessible transport, good land for building, etc.
North Carolina lacks deep-water harbors, which made what difficult (impacting their money-making ability)?
trading/shipping
The study of Earth's surface and features is called what?
topography
What tribe dominated precolonial WNC/the Mountains region?
the Cherokee
Describe the Mountains region.
Mountains, colder, kind of cut off from the rest of the region, last to be settled, where we live, etc.
WNC tourism is a big industry. What features is that tourism based around?
The mountains, forests, rivers, etc.
What is the transition point between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain called, that features sudden drops in elevation and waterfalls, preventing early colonial ships from traveling further inland?
fall line
What is the term for the basic systems that exist to help communities function (ex. hospitals, roads, schools, public transportation, etc.)?
infrastructure
Which of the 3 colonial regions do we live in?
Southern
Which region was/is least populated and why?
WNC (Mountains) because they're kind of cut off from the rest of the state, they have more geographic issues that make it difficult to live, etc.
What material is commonly found around rivers in the Piedmont area and was used by the Catawba to make pottery (be specific about the kind)?
red clay
What is the nickname for the Outer Banks, because of their dangerous shoals?
Graveyard of the Atlantic
What does "adapting" or "adaptation" mean?
To change to suit something.
What is an example of people adapting to their geography?
Building bridges, building roads, blasting tunnels through mountains, growing native plants, using hydropower, building houses on stilts, etc.