Search results
People also ask
What makes North Carolina unique?
What are some interesting facts about North Carolina?
What is North Carolina known for?
Where is North Carolina located?
What makes North Carolina's natural communities unique?
How many natural communities are there in North Carolina?
GEOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS. North Carolina is south of Virginia, east of Tennessee, north of South Carolina, and west of the Atlantic Ocean. Traveling across North Carolina, visitors can see...
- 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.
- Lauren Kendrick
- The state capital of North Carolina is Raleigh. The first interesting fact about North Carolina is that Raleigh was named the state's capital in 1792. The Government at the time decided that they wanted a central capital, so they purchased some land near the center of North Carolina and ruled the state from there ever since.
- North Carolina is known as the "Tar Heel State" North Carolina has plenty of nicknames, but "Tar Heel State" is the most popular. While nobody is quite sure why North Carolina is fondly nicknamed this, it's thought that it's because North Carolina was well known for producing lots of tar, pitch, and turpentine.
- The Wright brothers completed their first flight in Kitty Hawk. One of the really cool facts about North Carolina is that The Wright brothers, who were notorious in the aviation field, managed to complete their first heavier-than-air flight in their Wright Flyer in Kitty Hawk, one of the coastal towns in the Outer Banks region.
- North Carolina's license plate boasts "first in flight" Because of the famous Wright Brothers mentioned in the fact above, North Carolina's license plates say "first in flight".
Sep 10, 2024 · These facts about North Carolina focus on the state's history, geography, what North Carolina is known for today, and what makes it unique. While exploring North Carolina and writing about our travels here, we have uncovered some interesting facts along the way.
Jun 6, 2024 · Ever wondered what makes North Carolina so special? From its rich history to its diverse landscapes, this state has a lot to offer. Did you know North Carolina was the first state to declare independence from England? Or that it’s home to the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States?
Feb 11, 2014 · North Carolina harbors over 300 unique natural communities, which can be grouped into about 30 categories (listed below). Natural communities consist of both biotic (living: plants and animals) and abiotic (non-living: soil and water) factors.
Nov 9, 2009 · Updated: December 13, 2022 | Original: November 9, 2009. copy page link. Print Page. Getty Images / Angel Ferrer. One of the original 13 colonies, North Carolina was the first state to instruct its...
