What is Alabama's terrain/topography like? (Birmingham, Valley: diversity, snake, scorpion)

[montanamom]

Is it green with lots of trees and vegetation like the nearby southern states of North/South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia etc.? Or are there wide open, flat/prairie type areas as well?

[Reactionary]

Alabama is divided into four major physiographic regions: the Gulf Coastal Plain, Piedmont Plateau, Ridge and Valley section, and Appalachian (or Cumberland) Plateau.

The coastal plain, comprising the southern half of Alabama, consists primarily of lowlands and low ridges. Included within the coastal plain is the Black Belt—historically, the center of cotton production and plantation slavery in Alabama—an area of rich, chalky soil that stretches across the entire width of central Alabama.

Just to the north, the piedmont of east-central Alabama contains rolling hills and valleys. Alabama's highest elevation, Cheaha Mountain, 2,405 ft (733 m) above sea level, is located at the northern edge of this region.

North and west of the piedmont is a series of parallel ridges and valleys running in a northeast-southwest direction. Mountain ranges in this area include the Red, Shades, Oak, Lookout, and other noteworthy southern extensions of the Appalachian chain; elevations of 1,200 ft (366 m) are found as far south as Birmingham.

The Appalachian Plateau covers most of northwestern Alabama, with a portion of the Highland Rim in the extreme north near the Tennessee border.

Alabama - Topography

[Reactionary]

Lovely green: coastal beaches with sugar white sand, coastal / delta swamps, piney woods in the south and west, hardwoods in the mountainous north and east, wiregrass prairie in the SE (but not like big sky prairie). Great diversity of wildlife (new species of fish and shrimp discovered recently), many rivers and creeks and lakes.

Lots of spiders and snakes :-)

[Keeper]

Check out the announcement at the top of the page for some pics of AL

[harry chickpea]

"Lots of spiders and snakes :-)"

Don't forget the ticks.

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

"Lots of spiders and snakes :-)"

Don't forget the ticks.

Bad hair day? Please stay away from decaf!

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

"Lots of spiders and snakes :-)"

Don't forget the ticks.

And scorpions and alligators.....

[jsherman9901]

Originally Posted by Bravo35223

And scorpions and alligators.....

And giant wild hogs.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by jsherman9901

And giant wild hogs.

Yes world record breaking wild hogs!!

How quickly I forget.....

[Tennesseestorm]

Very well explained!

Alabama, like Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia all have a variety of terrain... from low flat lands, to rolling hills to mountains. Its great! When you think of it though, most all of the east coast states are like that, with the exception of Florida of course, where its all flat.

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Alabama is divided into four major physiographic regions: the Gulf Coastal Plain, Piedmont Plateau, Ridge and Valley section, and Appalachian (or Cumberland) Plateau.

The coastal plain, comprising the southern half of Alabama, consists primarily of lowlands and low ridges. Included within the coastal plain is the Black Belt—historically, the center of cotton production and plantation slavery in Alabama—an area of rich, chalky soil that stretches across the entire width of central Alabama.

Just to the north, the piedmont of east-central Alabama contains rolling hills and valleys. Alabama's highest elevation, Cheaha Mountain, 2,405 ft (733 m) above sea level, is located at the northern edge of this region.

North and west of the piedmont is a series of parallel ridges and valleys running in a northeast-southwest direction. Mountain ranges in this area include the Red, Shades, Oak, Lookout, and other noteworthy southern extensions of the Appalachian chain; elevations of 1,200 ft (366 m) are found as far south as Birmingham.

The Appalachian Plateau covers most of northwestern Alabama, with a portion of the Highland Rim in the extreme north near the Tennessee border.

Alabama - Topography