Search results
pinterest.com
- North Carolina extends across three major physiographic regions of the United States—the Coastal Plain (or tidewater area), the Piedmont, and the Appalachian Mountains. In addition to producing a spectacular landscape, this regional variation has influenced the state’s climate, soils, plant life, and human geography.
www.britannica.com › place › North-Carolina-stateNorth Carolina | Capital, Map, History, & Facts | Britannica
People also ask
How many states are in North Carolina?
What is the geography of North Carolina?
Where is North Carolina located?
What are the 4 bordering states of North Carolina?
FUN STUFF. —The pirate Blackbeard called North Carolina home, and spent time ransacking ships off the coast in the early 1700s. In 1799 a shiny nugget twinkled in Little Meadow Creek, North Carolina and became the first gold discovered in what is now the United States. —Fast forward about a century to see brother inventors Wilbur and ...
- Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh
- Overview
- Relief
- Drainage and soils
North Carolina, constituent state of the United States of America. One of the 13 original states, it lies on the Atlantic coast midway between New York and Florida and is bounded to the north by Virginia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by South Carolina and Georgia, and to the west by Tennessee. The terrain of North Carolina is among the wettest in the country, with vast marshlands in the coastal tidewater area and numerous lakes in the Piedmont and Appalachian regions. These three physical regions account for much of the diversity in lifestyles and cultures within the state’s boundaries. The capital is Raleigh.
North Carolina’s beginnings were tied closely to the earliest attempts at English colonization of North America. Roanoke Island in the northeast, a part of the heavily indented and island-fringed coast, was the site of the famous “lost colony” that vanished sometime after the original landing in 1587. This eastern region retains some of the flavour of colonial life, while the Piedmont region, centred at Charlotte and Raleigh, has become the state’s hub of industry and population. The mountains of the west remain the focus of a lively rural culture, including that of an indigenous Cherokee community that has lived in the region for centuries.
North Carolina extends across three major physiographic regions of the United States—the Coastal Plain (or tidewater area), the Piedmont, and the Appalachian Mountains. In addition to producing a spectacular landscape, this regional variation has influenced the state’s climate, soils, plant life, and human geography.
Britannica Quiz
USA Capitals and Nicknames Quiz
As the land reaches westward from sea level, it rises gradually to the fall line, a zone some 30 miles (50 km) in width that separates the Coastal Plain from the Piedmont. In the latter region, the topography becomes irregular, and the land rises about 5 feet (1.5 metres) per mile to the base of the Appalachians, a distance of about 140 miles (225 km). The mountains have a worn, rounded appearance, reflecting a geologic origin earlier than that of the rugged peaks of the American West. Mount Mitchell, rising to 6,684 feet (2,037 metres), is the highest peak east of the Mississippi.
Composing nearly half the state, the Coastal Plain consists of a gently rolling, well-drained interior and a swampy tidewater area close to the coastline. The latter region was the first to be explored and settled. A long chain of islands, the Outer Banks, extends from Virginia to South Carolina, generally consisting of sand dunes that can reach 100 feet (30 metres) or more in height. Three capes—Hatteras, Lookout, and Fear, the first two within national seashores—jut into the ocean in an area known as the “graveyard of the Atlantic,” a reference to the many ships that have sunk in its dangerous waters. The elevation of the entire area averages less than 20 feet (6 metres) above sea level. Only small-craft navigation is possible, because of silting and the shallow sounds and estuaries.
Students save 67%! Learn more about our special academic rate today.
North Carolina has some 3,820 square miles (9,890 square km) of inland water, the third largest such area of any state. Lake Mattamuskeet, covering some 63 square miles (162 square km) in the state’s eastern tidewater area, is North Carolina’s largest natural lake. Lakes are especially abundant in the Catawaba River basin of the state’s southwest Piedmont and Appalachian region; the river itself is largely a chain of man-made reservoirs. The Catawba is the most densely populated river basin in the state. The Cape Fear River basin, which occupies much of North Carolina’s southeastern quadrant, is the largest. The Roanoke River drains the state’s northeastern corner, flowing southeast from Virginia into the ocean at Albermarle Sound. Bisecting North Carolina from north to south is the Yadkin–Pee Dee River. The Little Tennessee and French Broad rivers flow northwest from the mountains of North Carolina into Tennessee. Raleigh is drained by the Neuse River, which empties into the Atlantic at New Bern.
Soils in North Carolina are commonly grouped according to regional variations. Coastal soils are rich and humus-laden, while farther to the west the hills consist mostly of sand and have almost no organic materials. The Piedmont region is predominately clayey, and mountain soils are a combination of clay, sand, and silt, commonly called loam. All of North Carolina’s soils are affected by excessive leaching, which causes high mineral loss, and successful agriculture depends on large additions of lime and fertilizers.
Jan 18, 2024 · Key Facts. North Carolina is a state in the southeastern United States. It borders Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, and Georgia and Tennessee to the west. The state covers a total area of approximately 53,819 mi 2 (139,390 km 2 ).
- A state with multiple nicknames. North Carolina has many nicknames, the most common being the ‘Tar Heel State.’ It is believed that the name has its origin in the state’s early history.
- North Carolina was once home to dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. It can be said with certainty that three different species of dinosaurs — two duck-billed vegetarian and one large carnivore — once inhabited the state of North Carolina.
- Pepsi was invented here. A drugstore clerk named Caleb Bradham from the city of New Bern invented a syrupy drink in the year 1893 that he claimed helped with digestion.
- Home to the tallest lighthouse in the United States. Cape Hatteras, at 210-feet-tall, is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States and the second tallest in the world.
Jul 15, 2022 · Geographically, North Carolina is designated as a southern state. Its geographic location confirms this. In addition to being a southern state, North Carolina sits at America’s Atlantic Coast. According to NOAA’s calculations, North Carolina has the 6th longest coastline in the USA, measuring 3,375 miles long.
Mar 18, 2024 · Facts About North Carolina’s Geography (Physical and Political) With a total area of 53,819 square miles (139,391 sq km), North Carolina is the 28th largest state in the US. There are 100 counties within North Carolina’s borders.
Kids learn facts and geography about the state of North Carolina including symbols, flag, capital, bodies of water, industry, borders, population, fun facts, GDP, famous people, and major cities.
