and Alabama border the Gulf of Mexico as well Arkansas Tennessee Kentucky and West Virginia are landlocked states The landscape of the South is varied In some states such as Georgia and West Virginia trees cover much of the land Florida on the other hand is full of lakes rivers and WELCOME Y'ALL marshes Florida's Everglades are the largest subtropical wetland ecosystem in North America Perhaps the most famous southern slang word is y all It is used to address more than one person It is a contraction of you all But where did the word come from Some scholars say it came from the Scots Irish phrase ye aw Ye aw appears in a letter written by a Scotsman in 1737 Many people came to the South from Scotland and Ireland in the 1700s Other scholars say the word came from enslaved African Americans in the South THE CLIMATE OF THE SOUTH The southern climate is generally warm and sunny with mild winters In summer the weather becomes
The state of West Virginia has fairly mountainous terrain hot and humid Throughout the summer and fall southern states along the Atlantic Ocean might be hit by hurricanes A hurricane is a system of spiraling winds that forms over an ocean Hurricanes can build in strength as they travel across the ocean until they hit land along the coast Hurricanes can cause flooding that damages roads and buildings
Although much of the South is warm throughout the year the climate may vary in areas with higher elevations Snow falls in mountainous areas Some places get enough snow to make skiing possible PERSPECTIVES SHOULD PRINCEVILLE REBUILD In October 2016 Hurricane Matthew slammed the Atlantic coastline in the South Students in Princeville North Carolina were forced to attend a temporary school Their school flooded during the hurricane It also flooded during Hurricane Floyd in 1999 Some people argue that everyone should leave Princeville But the town has a special history It is said to be the first US town built by freed African American slaves Mayor Bobbie Jones said The freed slaves made it what it is I'm fighting so hard to make sure Princeville is not one of the casualties It would be a devastating tragedy not only for me but for the world The South encompasses varied landscapes from beaches to mountains Millions of people visit this region each year The South welcomes people who want to explore its rich landscapes and culture
THE SOUTHERN REGION The map below shows the states the capitals and some of the major cities that make up the South After reading about this region what did you think it would look like Based on the location of these states what kinds of plants and animals do you think might be common in the South WEST VIRGINIA Frankfort Charleston Richmond VIRGINIA Lexington KENTUCKY Knoxville Nashville TENNESSEE Memphis Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte ARKANSAS Columbia Little Rock Atlanta SOUTH CAROLINA Birmingham MISSISSIPPI Charleston Shreveport Montgomery GEORGIA savannah LOUISIANA Jackson ALABAMA ATLANTIC OCEAN Baton Rouge Tallahassee Jacksonville FLORIDA New Orleans Orlando Tampa GULF OF MEXICO N W E S
