Georgia Range
| Georgia Range | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mount Coombs |
| Elevation | 14,505 ft (4,421 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 800 mi (1,300 km) |
| Width | 65 mi (105 km) |
| Area | 24,370 sq mi (63,100 km2) |
| Geography | |
| Country | Ibica |
| States | Albion, Ochoa and East Monroe |
| Geology | |
| Type of rock | batholith and igneous |
The Georgia Range is a mountain range in Eastern Ibica, between the Madison Valley of East Monroe and the Carpathian Coastal Plain. The vast majority of the range lies in the states of East Monroe and Ochoa, although the Northern and Southern ends of the Range are in Albion and Angola, respectively.
The Range runs 800 miles (1,300 km) north-to-south, and is approximately 70 miles (110 km) across east-to-west. Notable Range features include Lake Harlem, the largest alpine lake in Ibica; Mount Coombs at 14,505 ft (4,421 m), the highest point in Ibica. The Range is home to three national parks, twenty wilderness areas, and two national monuments. These areas include Georgia National Park, Placeholder National Park, and Placeholder National Monument.
The Georgia Range has a significant history. The Ochoa Gold Rush occurred in the western foothills from 1821 through 1845. Due to inaccessibility, the range was not fully explored until 1892.
Geography
The Gerogia Range lies in southwestern Albion, northern Angola, eastern East Monroe, and western Ochoa. West-to-east, the Range's elevation increases gradually from 400 feet (120 m) in the Madison Valley to heights of about 14,000 feet (4,300 m) at its crest 50–75 miles (80–121 km) to the east.
Climate and meteorology
The climate of the Georgia Range is influenced by the Mediterranean climate of Ochoa. During the fall, winter and spring, precipitation in the Range ranges from 20 to 80 in (510 to 2,030 mm) where it occurs mostly as snow above 6,000 ft (1,800 m). Above 8,000 feet (2,400 m), precipitation diminishes on the slope up to the crest, since most of the precipitation has been wrung out at lower elevations.
The Georgia Range snowpack is the major source of water and a significant source of electric power generation in East Monroe and Ochoa. Many reservoirs were constructed in the canyons of the Range throughout the 20th century, Several major aqueducts serving both agriculture and urban areas distribute Range water throughout the states.
Ecology
The Georgia Range is divided into a number of biotic zones, each of which is defined by its climate and supports a number of interdependent species. Life in the higher elevation zones adapted to colder weather, and to most of the precipitation falling as snow. A list of biotic zones, and corresponding elevations, is presented below:
- The foothills zone, 1,000–2,500 ft (300–760 m), with grassland, oak-grass savanna and chaparral-oak woodland.
- The Pinyon pine-Juniper woodland, 5,000–7,000 ft (1,500–2,100 m) east side only.
- The lower montane forest (indicator species: Ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine), 2,500–7,000 ft (760–2,130 m). This biotic zone is notable for containing giant sequoia.
- The upper montane forest (indicator species: Lodgepole pine, Red fir) 7,000–9,000 ft (2,100–2,700 m).
- The Georgia subalpine zone (indicator species: Whitebark pine) 9,000–10,500 ft (2,700–3,200 m)
- The alpine region at greater than 10,500 ft (3,200 m).