How well do you know Georgia?
Georgia runs from the Appalachian Mountains to Atlantic beaches and vast swamps. Six questions about the US state, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- Providence Canyon in southwest Georgia is nicknamed Georgia's Little Grand Canyon. Its colorful gullies, up to about 150 feet deep, formed mainly in the 1800s when poor farming methods let rain wash away the soil.
- Tallulah Gorge in northeast Georgia is about 1,000 feet deep and two miles long. In 1970, the high-wire walker Karl Wallenda crossed the gorge on a tightrope in front of thousands of spectators.
- Georgia's state tree is the live oak, whose wide, twisting branches can spread far beyond its height. Live oaks keep their leaves nearly all year, which is how they got their name.
From mountains to marshes
Georgia is the largest US state east of the Mississippi River by land area. Its north holds the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains, its middle is a region of rolling hills and farmland, and its south and coast are flat, warm and full of rivers, marshes and swamps. Atlanta, its capital, is one of the largest cities in the South.
Mountains in the north
North Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains are known for waterfalls, forests and small mountain towns. The famous Appalachian Trail begins at Springer Mountain in Georgia and runs about 2,200 miles to Maine.
The Fall Line
A natural boundary called the Fall Line crosses the middle of Georgia, where the hard rocks of the uplands meet the softer soils of the coastal plain. Rivers form rapids here, and cities such as Augusta, Macon and Columbus grew up along it.
A farming powerhouse
Besides peanuts, Georgia is a leading producer of pecans, blueberries and chickens raised for meat. Its warm climate and long growing season support a wide range of crops.
Savannah's historic district
Savannah's squares, shaded by live oaks hung with Spanish moss, form one of the largest historic districts in the United States. The city's early planning made it walkable long before modern urban design.
Barrier islands
Georgia's short Atlantic coast is protected by a chain of barrier islands, including Jekyll, St. Simons and Cumberland Island. Wild horses roam Cumberland Island, which is a national seashore.
The Okefenokee
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest intact freshwater wetlands in North America. Its dark, tea-colored water gets its color from tannins in decaying plants, and alligators, herons and black bears live there.
Atlanta's railroad roots
Atlanta began in the late 1830s as the end point of a railroad line and was first called Terminus. Its role as a transportation hub continues today, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world by passengers.