Both of these natural wonders are situated in the northernmost region of Georgia near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Amicalola Falls, which translates to "tumbling waters" in Cherokee, is the tallest waterfall in Georgia at 729 feet. Amicalola is located at the base of the Appalachian Trail. Tallulah Gorge, which extends for two miles and reaches depths near 1,000 feet, is popular among both sightseers and avid hikers. This mountainous region of Georgia is referred to as the Blue Ridge region or the Highlands. The area features reasonably mild spring and fall temperatures. Summers are consistently warm and humid and often stormy. Highs hover between 80 to 90 degrees F and nightly lows usually drop into the 60s. Winter temperatures generally range from 20 to 40 degrees. Annual rainfall averages between 50 and 80 inches, and winter snowfalls only occur a few days per year.
Central Georgia, known as the Piedmont region, is home to Stone Mountain and Warm Springs. Stone Mountain is actually a dome of granite protruding from the Earth --- the largest of its kind in North America. Warm Springs, popularized by former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, are now enclosed in a complex that offers tours to the public. The springs are heated with geothermal energy and maintain a temperature of 88 degrees. The Piedmont features humid, stormy summers in the upper 80s. Winters are a bit warmer than in the north, remaining around the mid-50s, though more extreme summer or winter temperatures are not uncommon. Annual rainfall is between 40 and 50 inches and most years see no snowfall.
The swamp's name derives from a Native American word meaning "land of the trembling Earth." This freshwater system extends over 400,000 square acres throughout southeast Georgia, known as the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and into northern Florida. Summers here are hot and humid, usually in the 90s. Winter temperatures range between 50 and 60 degrees. Spring and fall are warm, humid and often include extreme weather conditions. Afternoon thunderstorms are common spring through fall, with occasional tropical storms originating in the Gulf or Atlantic.
The western half of southern Georgia is known as the East Gulf Coastal Plain. Providence Canyon, called The Little Grand Canyon, is a group of gullies up to 150 feet deep where visitors can take tours, hike and camp. Radium Springs refers to the state's largest natural springs, a name given due to traces of radium found in the water. The western part of the Okefenokee Swamp also lies in the East Gulf Coastal Plain, which actually encompasses parts of four neighboring states. The maritime climate here is similar to that of Central Georgia. Pleasant spring and fall temperatures hover in the mid 60s, while humid summers average in the mid-90s. Winter temperatures fall into the upper 40s. Annual rainfall is between 40 and 60 inches and snowfall is rare.
