Unit 1: US & NC Geography Terms

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key geographic regions, natural features, and social concepts related to North Carolina and general geography.

Barrier Islands

Long, narrow islands made of sand that lie near the coast and help protect the mainland from strong waves and storms, such as North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Climate

The usual weather of a place over a long period of time.

Coastal Plain Region

A mostly flat region in eastern North Carolina located between the Piedmont and Tidewater Region with farms, forests, rivers, and sandy soil.

Culture

The beliefs, traditions, foods, languages, music, and ways of life shared by a group of people.

Economy

The way people make, buy, sell, and use goods and services.

Fall Line

The area where higher land meets lower, flatter land, causing rivers to form rapids or waterfalls; in North Carolina, it marks the transition between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain Regions.

Human Characteristics

Geographic features created by people, such as cities, roads, buildings, farms, languages, and traditions.

Migration

The movement of people from one place to another to live, work, or find better opportunities.

Mountain Region

The western region of North Carolina located west of the Piedmont Region that has high elevations, steep land, valleys, and the Appalachian Mountains.

Physical Characteristics

Geographic features that occur naturally in the landscape, such as rivers, lakes, mountains, and trees.

Piedmont Region

The central region of North Carolina, located between the Coastal Plain and Mountain Regions, with rolling hills, large cities, and many businesses and industries.

Region

An area that has features or characteristics that make it different from other areas.

Resource

Something people can use to meet their needs or help them live and work, such as water, soil, forests, minerals, or energy.

Tidewater Region

The low, flat area along North Carolina's coast, located east of the Piedmont Region, with beaches, wetlands, sounds, rivers, and barrier islands.