Virginia's Five Land Regions Explained

1. Coastal Plain (Tidewater) – Flat, low, sandy; >50% of state; beaches, marshes, forests; ends at Fall Line.
2. Piedmont – Rolling hills, igneous/metamorphic rock; clay/silt/loam soils; farms, forests, cities.
3. Blue Ridge Mountains – Sandstone/quartzite peaks; clay/loam/rock soils; forests, trails, vistas.
4. Valley and Ridge – Linear valleys/ridges; limestone/shale; farms, forests, cities (Roanoke, Harrisonburg).
5. Appalachian Plateau – High flat-topped mountains; sandstone/shale/coal; forests, coal/gas extraction.

Each region's geology dictates its ecology, economy, and settlement.