The state can be divided into five geographical regions:
- the Atlantic Coastal Plain,
- the Piedmont,
- the Blue Ridge,
- the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region and the
- Appalachian Plateau.
Where can I find a topographic map of Virginia?
It shows elevation trends across the state. Detailed topographic maps and aerial photos of Virginia are available in the Geology.com store. See our state high points map to learn about Mt. Rogers at 5,729 feet - the highest point in Virginia. The lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean at Sea Level.
Where is Virginia located on the map?
Covering an area of 110,784.7 sq. km, the State of Virginia is located in the South Atlantic Region of the United States. As observed on the map, the majority of Virginia is heavily forested land that is dominated by the Appalachian Mountain ranges which extend through the western half of the state.
What is the geography of Virginia known for?
Fertile soil fueled a prosperous economy, and the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers that feed it connected Virginia and its agricultural products to the world. The landscapes of the Piedmont, Valley, and Blue Ridge inspired Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a virtuous rural society.
What are the physical features of the Piedmont region of Virginia?
It slopes upward from elevations of 200 to 300 feet above sea level in the east and 800 to 900 feet above sea level in the west. It is Virginia's largest geographical land region. It covers most of central Virginia. In the northeast the Piedmont is about 40 miles wide. It is about 140 miles wide at the North Carolina border.
Is Virginia flat or hilly?
Topography of Virginia. Virginia is not flat. Elevation varies from sea level in Tidewater rivers east of the Fall Line to the tallest peak, Mount Rogers in Grayson County, at 5,729 feet.
How would you describe the geography of Virginia?
The Mean Elevation of the state of Virginia is 950 feet above sea level. Virginia, a southern state on the Atlantic Ocean, can be divided into five geographical regions; the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Piedmont, the Blue Ridge, the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region, and the Appalachian Plateau.
What is the major physical features in Virginia?
From west to east, the major physiographic divisions are the Appalachian Plateaus, the Ridge and Valley, the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont Plateau, and the Coastal Plain.
Does Virginia have mountains?
Mount Rogers is the highest mountain in Virginia at 5,729 feet. Virginia also has eight mountain ranges, with five peaks towering more than 5,000 feet.
Is Virginia tropical?
Virginia's weather has been described as a "Goldilocks Climate" – not too hot and not too cold – and is officially considered a humid, subtropical region due to winter frost.
What is Virginia most known for?
Since Virginia was the site of the first permanent English settlement, the state is known as “the birthplace of a nation.” As well as the “Mother of Presidents” Eight Virginia born gentlemen succeeded to the highest office in the land, including four of the first five presidents.
What's the climate like in Virginia?
Virginia has a humid climate with very warm summers and moderately cold winters. There is substantial regional variation in climate due to the state's diverse geographic elements, which include the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains in the west and the Atlantic coastal region in the east.
What are 5 interesting facts about Virginia?
10 Fun Facts About VirginiaThey Didn't Start Out Growing Tobacco. ... William & Mary Is The Second Oldest College In The Country. ... Virginia Gave Birth To West Virginia & Kentucky. ... Around Half Of The Civil War Was Fought In Virginia. ... The First Thanksgiving Was In Virginia.More items...
What kind of state is Virginia?
Since 1776, Virginia has been a "commonwealth." It associated with other colonies through a Continental Congress starting in 1775, and became part of a confederation with other former colonies in 1781. Virginia became one of the "united" states when the Constitution was ratified in 1788.
Does Virginia get snow?
So, does it snow in Virginia? Virginia has a humid subtropical climate where winters are cold and snowy. It snows heavily in the mountain areas of Virginia, and places such as the Appalachian Mountains can record up to 36.6 inches (929.64 millimeters) of snow in a typical winter.
Is Virginia a good place to live?
(WWBT) - Virginia has been ranked in the top 10 best states in the United States by the U.S. News and & World Report. U.S. News and & World Report uses thousands of data points to measure how well states measure in certain areas, such as health care, education, economy and much more.
What are the mountains in Virginia called?
The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are one of the most beautiful and iconic parts of the American landscape. The mountains are home to the Blue Ridge Parkway, known as America's Favorite Drive, and a portion of the Appalachian Trail, one of the most visited footpaths in the world.
What was the geography like in Virginia Colony?
The Virginia Colony's landscape included coastal plains, valleys, and mountains. The Virginia Colony was located in the Southern Colony, which was the warmest of the three colonies and due to its climate the spread of disease was higher than in the colder colonies to its north.
Which type of environment covered most of the land in colonial Virginia?
Environmental Connections: Forests, which had a variety of trees, cover most of the land. Virginia's Indians are referred to as Eastern Woodland Indians. Animal skins (deerskin) were used for clothing.
What is Virginia's climate?
Virginia has a humid climate with very warm summers and moderately cold winters. There is substantial regional variation in climate due to the state's diverse geographic elements, which include the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains in the west and the Atlantic coastal region in the east.
What was the climate like in Virginia Colony?
Summer in England had little humidity and few bugs. Summer in Jamestown, with tropical humidity and oppressively high temperatures, bred mosquitoes and biting flies. And winters, as the settlers soon discovered, were as cold as the summers were hot.
What is the purpose of Google Maps in Virginia?
This map of Virginia is provided by Google Maps, whose primary purpose is to provide local street maps rather than a planetary view of the Earth. Within the context of local street searches, angles and compass directions are very important, as well as ensuring that distances in all directions are shown at the same scale.
What is the value of Maphill?
The value of Maphill lies in the possibility to look at the same area from several perspectives. Maphill presents the map of Virginia in a wide variety of map types and styles.
What is the default map view?
The default map view shows local businesses and driving directions.
Can you take advantage of large discounts for hotels in all major cities of Virginia?
Thanks to our partnership with Booking.com you can take advantage of large discounts for hotels in all major cities of Virginia. Compare hotel prices in United States, book online and save money.
Do you think the maps are too beautiful not to be painted?
Do you think the maps are too beautiful not to be painted? No, this is not art. All detailed maps of Virginia are created based on real Earth data. This is how the world looks like.
What is the largest land area in Virginia?
Piedmont. The Piedmont is to the west of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. It slopes upward from elevations of 200 to 300 feet above sea level in the east and 800 to 900 feet above sea level in the west. It is Virginia's largest geographical land region. It covers most of central Virginia.
What is the climate like in Virginia?
The climate of Virginia is mild and allows for a long growing season for farmers. The soil varies greatly throughout the state, ranging from very fertile in the Great Valley area to very sandy in the Tidewater area. Animal life is abundant and varied, and includes a variety of fresh and salt water fish and shellfish in the Tidewater area.
What is the eastern border of the Piedmont?
The eastern border of the Piedmont is the fall line, where resistant volcanic rock gives way to the sands and clays of the Coastal Plain . To the west, the Piedmont ends with the edge of the higher and more rugged Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley regions of the Appalachian Mountains The Mid-Atlantic Piedmont is arbitrarily separated from the Southern Piedmont at the North Carolina-Virginia line, and extends north through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania before terminating in northern New Jersey. The rolling topography of the Piedmont formerly supported an extensive hardwood forest, with an oak-hickory type predominant in southern portions and Appalachian oak to the north. Large areas in the Virginia portion were dominated by Loblolly-shortleaf pine or pine-oak forests. Today, roughly 45% of the physiographic area is forested, and about an equal portion is in agricultural production. The remainder is experiencing rapid urbanization, especially in the vicinity of Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.
What are the five regions of Virginia?
The state can be divided into five geographical regions: the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Piedmont, the Blue Ridge, the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region and the. Appalachian Plateau.
What is the vegetation in the Allegheny Mountains?
Predominant vegetation consists of oak and oak-hickory forests on the ridges and northern hardwood forest in the Allegheny Mountains. Important relict patches of spruce-fir exist in the Allegheny Mountains and on higher mountains along the ridge and valley of Virginia.
What type of forest is in the Piedmont?
The rolling topography of the Piedmont formerly supported an extensive hardwood forest, with an oak-hickory type predominant in southern portions and Appalachian oak to the north. Large areas in the Virginia portion were dominated by Loblolly-shortleaf pine or pine-oak forests.
What is the elevation of the Cumberland Plateau?
This is a largely forested, gently rolling tableland ranging from 300 m. To 580 m. in elevation. It is defined by the higher Eastern Highland Rim of the Interior Low Plateaus on the west and the Cumberland Mountains of the Ridge and Valley physiographic area on the east. The Cumberland Plateau extends south out of this physiographic area, where it is included with the Southern Ridge and Valley, and narrowly northward as well. As defined, the Northern Cumberland Plateau includes the eastern third of Kentucky, southwestern West Virginia, a small area in western Virginia, and a swath across Tennessee barely extending into Alabama and Georgia. Mixed mesophytic forest dominated by oaks, hickory, and, historically, American chestnut, is the most common cover type. Various pine species become more dominant on drier sites.
What are the regions of Virginia?
The Regions of Virginia. The geography of Virginia has shaped both the history and economy of the state. It brought settlers and wars to the region, the federal capital to its edge, and its harbors facilitated commerce and an expansion of military facilities in the twentieth-century. Terrain and climate have determined the nature ...
How long has the Virginia coast been a rock?
At its core is a solid rock foundation formed 250–500 million years ago .
What is the northernmost part of the Piedmont?
The northernmost portion of the Piedmont—the area north of the Rappahannock River— rises to only 400 feet and is characterized by its remarkably fertile soil and lush, picturesque landscape. Artist Andre Kushnir found in this scene at an historic farm in Fauquier County the survival of an old Virginia tradition of rural living in an idyllic setting.
Why is the Piedmont geologic history so complex?
Its geologic history is complex because during that time the bedrock was moved—some of it from outside of North America—by the shifting of oceans. This bedrock is covered by a twenty-meter blanket of deeply weathered rock (called “rotten rock”) that has been chemically changed by the Piedmont’s humid climate.
How many acres are there in Shenandoah National Park?
John Ross Key depicts part of the region of 190,000 acres that in 1935 would become the Shenandoah National Park. By celebrating the beauty of a remarkable landscape that was fast disappearing, Key actually helped to provide the impetus for its preservation.
What is the Great Valley?
Virginia’s Valley and Ridge region is part of a gigantic trough that runs from Quebec to Alabama and is called “the Great Valley.” Virginia’s portion is distinctive for its size (greater than that of any other state); its narrow and elongated parallel ridges (3,000–4,000 feet high); flat, lush valleys with gentle topography; and caves, caverns, and hot springs. The region developed its identity when bands of sedimentary rock that had been formed 252–541 million years ago were disturbed by a continental collision that produced a fold and thrust belt. The collision caused bands of rocks to fold and move westward along thrust faults. They eroded differently, causing both ridges and valleys to be created. Sand and gravel washed down from the mountains of the Blue Ridge region; the sand and gravel in time turned into rock. At the end of this complex evolution, the surface of the Shenandoah Valley in central and northern Virginia emerged as both picturesque and fertile. Sandstone in the easternmost portion was overlain by carbonate deposits that in time produced caves and caverns in the subsurface.
What is the Appalachian Plateau?
APPALACHIAN PLATEAU. The southwestern portion of Virginia is part of the great Appalachian Plateau that stretches from New York to Alabama. Virginia’s plateau is the smallest of the state’s five regions and contains only three counties (Wise, Dickenson, and Buchanan).
What is the topography of Virginia?
Tourism officials make the most of the remaining topographic relief in the state, highlighting scenic mountain vistas and cool summer nights in the mountains. The Appalachian Trail is aligned to follow the ridgelines of Virginia mountains, so the views can be spectacular. (You could s-t-r-e-t-c-h the standard explanation of Virginia topography a little further. If you think in terms of tectonic plates rather than continents, Virginia could be described as reaching not just from sea level, but from the Abyssal Plain of the deep Atlantic Ocean to the top of Mount Rogers.)
What type of rock is found in Virginia?
Also key to Virginia topography is the different types of bedrock exposed at the surface. Hard metamorphic and igneous rocks, such as the Catoctin greenstone in Shenandoah National Park, erodes slower than sedimentary limestone and shale. Massanutten Mountain exists because there is a hard sandstone layer on the eastern and western sides, eroding slower than the limestones and shales in the Page Valley to the east and the Shenandoah Valley to the west. 7
What river is carrying sediments off Massanutten Mountain?
the South Fork and the North Fork of the Shenandoah River are carrying away the sediments that erode off Massanutten Mountain, and etching out valleys on either side. Source: USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, National Elevation Dataset - Shaded Relief Map of Virginia.
How tall is the summit in Virginia?
According to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Virginia has about 1,850 features named a "summit" (about 100 over 4,000 feet tall), plus almost 700 records of a "ridge."
How accurate is the topo quadrangle map of Virginia?
Using the 1:24,000 scale topographic maps produced by the US Geological Survey, we can identify the individual summits in Virginia. A topo quadrangle map that has not been updated for 50 years will still have accurate elevation data, even though the indications of land use (especially boundaries of urban/suburban development) may be inaccurate.
Why is Virginia not flat?
Why is Virginia not completely flat, or completely mountainous? Virginia is relatively flat for the same reason that the state has only two natural lakes: after 200 million years of erosion, the land has been worn down. Virginia's mountains were created as much by erosion as by uplift, and whatever is at the surface of the land today will end up in the streams.
When did the Dutch move to the Shenandoah Valley?
Starting in the 1730's , the Pennsylvania "Dutch" along with the Scotch-Irish moved into the Shenandoah Valley from the north. Today, the Amish, Mennonites, and Dunkers in Virginia are still concentrated west of the Blue Ridge, reflecting that historical migration in the mid-1700's.
What are the natural resources of Virginia?
One of Virginia’s top natural resources is its forests, which cover 62 percent of the state. Virginia profits by selling timber, which generates about $17 billion each year. The region is also known for mining coal.
What is the highest mountain in Virginia?
Farther east is the Blue Ridge, a steep part of the Appalachian Mountains with craggy peaks and deep ravines. It includes Virginia’s highest peak, Mount Rogers. Next is the Piedmont, a plain that spreads across most of central Virginia.
What animals are in Virginia?
Unauthorized use is prohibited. Black bears, Virginia opossums, Virginia northern flying squirrels, and Appalachian cottontails are among the mammals you might see in this state. Bald eagles, golden eagles, and peregrine falcons soar over the area’s mountains, while piping plovers and seagulls nest along the coast.
What kind of frogs are in Virginia?
Virginia’s 28 species of frogs include green tree frogs, mountain chorus frogs, and southern leopard frogs. The poisonous northern copperhead, bright red northern scarletsnake, and eastern glass lizard (a legless lizard that looks like a snake) are some of the reptiles that live in the state.
What is the border between Virginia and Maryland?
Virginia is bordered by West Virginia and Maryland in the north ; Maryland, Washington, D.C., and the Atlantic Ocean in the east; North Carolina and Tennessee in the south; and Kentucky and West Virginia in the west. Travel the state from west to east, and you’ll pass through five different geographical areas.
Why is Virginia called the Old Dominion State?
Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen. The area that’s now Virginia was home to the first English colony in North America, and Virginia was thought of as one of England’s dominions, or territory. That’s why it’s nicknamed the Old Dominion State.
Where is the Appalachian Plateau?
Farthest west is the Appalachian Plateau, which is covered in forests, winding rivers, and flat-topped rock. Continue east, and you’ll cross the Appalachian Ridge and Valley, which is full of caverns, sinkholes, and natural bridges. It’s also where you’ll find Shenandoah National Park.
How to find topo maps in Virginia?from topozone.com
Find Virginia topo maps and topographic map data by clicking on the interactive map or searching for maps by place name and feature type. If you know the county in Virginia where the topographical feature is located, then click on the county in the list above. Every map in the state of Virginia is printable in full color topos.
What is the highest point in Virginia?from geology.com
Detailed topographic maps and aerial photos of Virginia are available in the Geology.com store. See our state high points map to learn about Mt. Rogers at 5,729 feet - the highest point in Virginia. The lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean at Sea Level.
What is landscapes of Virginia?
Landscapes of Virginia. An exhibition of diverse landscape paintings that showcase the variety of terrain and climate that characterize Virginia’s distinct geographical regions. The geography of Virginia has shaped the history of the state and the nation.
What was the harbor of Hampton Roads?
The harbor of Hampton Roads allowed military buildup in the twentieth century and the export of coal and lumber from both southwestern counties of the Valley and the Appalachian Plateau. Geography continues to play a pivotal role in Virginia’s politics, society, and economy.
How to find topo maps in Virginia?from topozone.com
Find Virginia topo maps and topographic map data by clicking on the interactive map or searching for maps by place name and feature type. If you know the county in Virginia where the topographical feature is located, then click on the county in the list above. Every map in the state of Virginia is printable in full color topos.
How many days of thunderstorms are there in Virginia?from en-us.topographic-map.com
Virginia. Virginia has an annual average of 35–45 days of thunderstorm activity, particularly in the western part of the commonwealth, and an average annual precipitation of 43.32 inches (110 cm). Cold air masses arriving over the mountains in winter can lead to significant snowfalls, such as the Blizzard of 1996 and winter storms of 2009–2010.