Geography of Virginia

Geography of Virginia Review

​Did you know?

• ​Virginia is located along the East Coast

• ​It is next to the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay

• ​Virginia is home to many harbors

• ​It is located in North America's Coastal Plain Region

​Virginia's Neighboring States

• ​Maryland

• ​West Virginia

• ​Kentucky

• ​Tennessee

• ​North Carolina

Multiple Choice

Which state is Number 5?

• Kentucky

• Tennessee

• West Virginia

• North Carolina

• Maryland

Multiple Choice

Which state is Number 1?

• Maryland

• Tennessee

• West Virginia

• North Carolina

• Maryland

Multiple Choice

Which state is Number 4?

• Maryland

• Tennessee

• West Virginia

• North Carolina

• Maryland

Multiple Choice

Which state is Number 3?

• Maryland

• Tennessee

• West Virginia

• North Carolina

• Maryland

Multiple Choice

Which state is Number 6?

• Maryland

• Tennessee

• Virginia

• North Carolina

• Maryland

Multiple Choice

Which state is Number 2?

• Maryland

• Tennessee

• Virginia

• Kentucky

• Maryland

Quick Break Time​

​Go grab a snack, or get some water!

​Virginia has 5 geographic regions.

• ​Coastal Plain/Tidewater Region

• ​Piedmont Region

• ​Valley and Ridge Region

• ​Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• ​Appalachian Plateau Region

The Tidewater Region​

• ​Where the four major rivers connect with the Chesapeake Bay

• ​Eastern most region in Virginia

• East of the Fall Line

• Mostly low, flat land​

• ​Wide, sandy beaches along coast

​(AKA The Coastal Plains Region)

The Tidewater Region​

• The soil is rich in the region

• This region produces peanuts, cotton, and soybeans

• ​Industries include shipbuilding, fishing, and tourism

• ​Home to many amazing harbors

• ​Some points of interests include Virginia Beach, and Chincoteague Island

​(AKA The Coastal Plains Region)

​Fall Line

​The natural border between the Tidewater (Coastal Plain) Region and the Piedmont Region. This line is marked by waterfalls that prevent further travel along the four major rivers.

Multiple Choice

What is the Fall Line?

• The natural trail in between the Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge Regions.

• The natural border between the Tidewater and the Piedmont Regions.

• The manmade river in between the Tidewater and Piedmont Regions.

The Piedmont Region​

• Located West of the Fall Line

• ​East to the Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• ​A low plateau that is mostly rolling plains

• Many rivers, streams, waterfalls, and rapids

• ​Many grassy meadows, farmlands, and forests

​(AKA The Foot of the Mountain)

The Piedmont Region​

• Farming and horse industries are major in this region

• ​The various waterfalls, rapids, and government buildings attract many tourists

​(AKA The Foot of the Mountain)

Multiple Choice

How many geographic regions are in Virginia?

• 5

• 7

• 6

• 4

Multiple Choice

Which region is East of the Fall Line, and touches the Chesapeake Bay?

• The Tidewater Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

Multiple Choice

Which region is home to many harbors, such as Hampton Roads?

• The Tidewater Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

_________ is known for it's low, flat lands and wide, sandy beaches.

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

Which region is west of the Fall Line, and known for it's farming and tourist industry?

• The Tidewater Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

_________ is known as a low plateau with rolling plains, and water features like rapids, waterfalls, rivers, and streams.

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

Which region is in between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Tidewater Region?

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

The Blue Ridge Mountains Region​

• They are part of the Appalachian Mountains

• ​A forest covered, mountainous landscape

• ​Many valleys

• ​Filled with rich soil, perfect for growing crops

The Blue Ridge Mountains Region​

• The main industry is tourism

• ​Sites attracts tourists with orchards, fields, wineries, and hiking trails

• ​The mountains are filled with national parks, hiking trails, camp grounds, and museums

The Valley and Ridge Region​

• West of the Blue Ridge Mountains Region and east to the Appalachian Plateau

• ​Filled with hills and long ridges/valleys between them

• ​All of the hills and mountains are covered in forests, meadows, and farmland

The Valley and Ridge Region​

• The low valleys are rich with soil

• ​The farming industry specializes in producing poultry, apples, dairy, and beef.

• ​Tourists visit sites such as the Natural Hot Springs, George Washington National Forest, Mount Vernon and more!

The Appalachian Plateau Region​

• ​A series of gaps, ridges, and valleys on a raised plateau

• ​Very hilly with many streams going through it

• ​Has a coal mining industry, as well as museums and parks sharing the history of coal

​(AKA The Toe of the Boot)

Multiple Choice

_________ is known for its mountain range that looks blue from a distance away.

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

_________ is known for its low valleys filled with hills, ridges and valleys.

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

_________ is known for its coal mining industry.

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

Which region is located in between the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge regions?

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

Multiple Choice

Which region is located in between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Plateau regions?

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

Which region is located west of the Valley and Ridge region?

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

Multiple Choice

This region's main industry is tourism, and has many orchards, vineyards, fields, as well as hiking trails, campgrounds and museums.

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

This region is the smallest of all the regions, and located in Southwest Virginia.

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

Multiple Choice

This region has a low valley filled with rich soil, perfect for their dairy, poultry, apple and beef industries.

• The Coastal Plains Region

• The Blue Ridge Mountains Region

• The Appalachian Plateau Region

• The Piedmont Region

• The Valley and Ridge Region

​Each region has unique characteristics, that help shape the livelihood of the people living in them.

Quick Break​

You're about to enter the last part of the lesson.​

Water Features of Virginia

• Atlantic Ocean

• ​Chesapeake Bay

• ​4 Major Rivers (Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James)

• ​Dismal Swamp and Lake Drummond

Open Ended

Name two of the water features in Virginia.

Atlantic Ocean

• Provides access to Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean

Chesapeake Bay

• Provides access to the Atlantic Ocean

• ​Separated from the ocean by a peninsula called the Eastern Shore

• ​Gives ships a safe place to harbor

• ​A source of food and transportation

​Virginia's 4 Major River

These rivers flow into the Chesapeake Bay.

​Many early cities developed near these rivers,

and used them as a source of food.

​Virginia's 4 Major Rivers are...

• Potomac River

• ​Rappahannock River

• ​York River

• ​James River

​(ordered from north to south)

Potomac River

• ​Located north of the Rappahannock River

• ​Separated from the Rappahannock by a peninsula

• ​Alexandria is located along its shores

​Rappahannock River

• ​Located north of the York River, and south of the Potomac River

• ​Separated from the York River by a peninsula

• ​Fredericksburg is located along its shores

​York River

• ​Located north of the James River, and south of the Rappahannock River

• ​Separated from the James River by a peninsula

• ​Yorktown is located along its shores

​James River

• ​Located in the southern part of the state

• ​Water flows down from the Blue Ridge Mountains

• ​Richmond, Williamsburg, and Jamestown are located along the shores of the James River

Dismal Swamp

• ​Located in the Tidewater Region

• ​Home to a variety of wildlife

• ​Was explored and surveyed by George Washington

• ​Surrounds Lake Drummond (a shallow, natural lake)

Multiple Choice

The Chesapeake Bay connects Virginia to which ocean?

• Atlantic Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

• Arctic Ocean

• Southern Ocean

Multiple Choice

The four major rivers flow into the _________.

• Atlantic Ocean

• Chesapeake Bay

• Dismal Swamp

Multiple Choice

This river has the cities of Richmond, Williamsburg, and Jamestown along its shore. It is also the river located farthest south.

• Potomac River

• Rappahannock River

• York River

• James River

Multiple Choice

This river has the city of Yorktown along its shore. This river is located above the James River.

• Potomac River

• Rappahannock River

• York River

Multiple Choice

This river has the city of Alexandria along its shore. This is also the river located the furthest north.

• Potomac River

• Rappahannock River

• York River

• James River

Multiple Choice

This river has the city of Fredericksburg along its shore. This river is south of the Potomac River.

• Rappahannock River

• York River

• James River

Multiple Choice

This water feature was explored and surveyed by George Washington. It is also home to a variety of wildlife.

• James River

• Chesapeake Bay

• Dismal Swamp

• York River

Multiple Choice

This water feature is a shallow, natural lake surrounded by the Dismal Swamp.

• Rappahannock Lake

• Potomac Lake

• Lake Drummond

​Each water feature is important because it provided early settlers with food and transportation.

​Good job completing the lesson!