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Flag of Georgia
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Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. Georgia was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. It declared its secession from the Union on January 21, 1861, and was one of the original seven Confederate states. It was the last state to be restored to the Union, on July 15, 1870 and the only among the 13 that is explicitly named after a monarch; King George II of England. With an estimated 9,829,211 residents as of July 1, 2009, Georgia is the ninth most populous state. From 2007 to 2008, 14 of Georgia's counties ranked among the nation's 100 fastest-growing, second only to Texas. Georgia is known as the Peach State. Atlanta is the capital and the most populous city. |
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Seal of Georgia |
Georgia is bordered on the south by Florida; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina; on the west by Alabama; and on the north by Tennessee and North Carolina. The northern part of the state is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a mountain range in the vast Appalachian Mountains system. The central piedmont extends from the foothills to the fall line, where the rivers cascade down in elevation to the continental coastal plain of the southern part of the state. The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald, 4,784 feet (1,458 m). With an area of 59,425 square miles (153,909 km2), Georgia is ranked 24th in size among the 50 U.S. states. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River in terms of land area, although it is the fourth largest (after Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin) in total area, a term which includes expanses of water which are part of state territory. |
Beginning from the Atlantic Ocean, Geirgia's eastern border with South Carolina runs up the Savannah River, northwest to its origin at the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers. It then continues up the Tugaloo (originally Tugalo) and into the Chattooga River. The border then takes a sharp turn around the tip of Rabun County. The state's western border then departs in another straight line south-southeastward, at a point southwest of Chattanooga, to meet the westernmost point of the Chattahoochee River near West Point. It continues down to the point where it ends at the Flint River, and goes almost due east and very slightly south, in a straight line to the origin of the St. Mary's River, which then forms the remainder of the boundary back to the ocean.
Each region of Georgia has its own distinctive characteristics. For instance, the Ridge and Valley, which lies in the northwest corner of the state, includes limestone, sandstone, shale and other sedimentary rocks, which have yielded construction-grade limestone, barite, ocher and small amounts of coal.
Climate
The majority of Georgia is primarily a humid subtropical climate tempered somewhat by occasional polar air masses in the winter. Hot and humid summers are typical, except at the highest elevations. The entire state, including the north Georgia mountains, receives moderate to heavy precipitation.
Agriculture and water
Georgia has almost eight million acres (32,000 km²) of prime farmland while over 60% of the land is made up of pine forests. Due to the great number of forested areas in the state Georgia produces more lumber and pulpwood than any other state east of the Mississippi river; from these forests come 74.4 percent of the U.S's resins and turpentines and over half of the world's supply. Both the agricultural areas and the waters of Georgia have created a thriving environment for hunting, fishing and game.
Georgia has 70,150 miles (112,900 km) of streams and rivers, 425,000 acres (1,720 km2) of lakes, and approximately 4,500,000 acres (18,200 km2) of freshwater wetlands.
Geological resources
The state of Georgia has much in the way of geological resources. Among these resources are marble, many types of minerals, manganese, iron ore, copper, coal, oil, clays, stone, kaolin, sand and gravel.
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State capital |
Atlanta |
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Largest city |
Atlanta |
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Governor |
Sonny Purdue Sonny Perdue (R) |
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Senator |
Saxby Chambliss (R)Johnny Isakson(R) |
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Official language |
English |
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Area: |
154,077 square kilometers |
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- Land |
150,132 square kilometers |
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- Water |
3,945 square kilometers（2.6%） |
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Population: |
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- Total |
8,186,453 (10th） |
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- Density |
54.59 /km2 (18th） |
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Width |
370 KM |
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Length |
480 KM |
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Altitude |
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- Max |
1,458 m |
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- Average |
180 m |
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- Minimum |
0 m |