The rivers and lakes of Georgia have played an essential role in the history, culture and development of the state. The state is home to more than 30 major rivers, including the Savannah River in the east, the Ochlockonee River that empties into the Gulf of Mexico and the Suwannee River in the south. Georgia is also home to the 436-mile long Chattahoochee River that flows from the mountains in the north and through Atlanta. The Chattahoochee also provides fresh water to more than 3 million people. Georgia's numerous lakes, including Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona, also attract tourists who come to enjoy the beaches and engage in water activities such as kayaking, camping, boating and sport fishing.
Almost every region in Georgia is rich in minerals. The northern regions are rich in limestone, sandstone and a number of sedimentary rocks. Georgia's famed Stone Mountain is composed of a number of important minerals including varieties of granite, quartz and muscovite, a mineral made of aluminum and potassium. Georgia is also home to fine granite, marble, small amounts of coal and high-grade sand used to make glass.
With its rivers, lush forests and mountains, Georgia is an ideal habitat for birds and animals. Often spotted in wooded areas throughout the state are numerous protected and unprotected species including white-tailed deer, rabbits, hundreds of species of birds and wild turkey. Georgia also is home to a variety of popular fish and seafood such as bass, trout, catfish, flounder, shrimp and blue crabs. The abundance and diversity of wildlife have made Georgia a prime destination for small game hunters. According to the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, nearly a million acres of the state's land is available for public hunting.
Georgia's humid, subtropical climate provides an ideal environment for a variety of species of plants and trees to grow and thrive in the wild. With over 250 native species of trees, such as pine, maple, red cedar, oak and white hickory, Georgia attracts a variety of wildlife and nature lovers who want to explore the trails found all over the state. From the coastal region in the east to the plateaus and mountains in the west, Georgia's forests and wooded areas boast numerous plants, such as yellow jasmine and other flowering bushes, as well as trees that can grow over 100 feet tall.
