| Georgia is a state in the southern region of | | | | of slow, easygoing settlements where the |
| the United States of America. | | | | best, and sometimes the only, way to enjoy |
| | | | your time is to sip iced tea and have a chat |
| Settlement in Georgia, the thirteenth British | | | | on the porch. |
| colony named after King George II, started in | | | | |
| 1733 at Savannah, intended as a haven of | | | | Atlantas main rival as a tourist destination |
| Christian principles for poor Britons, with | | | | is the Georgia coast, stretching south from |
| both alcohol and slavery banned. However, | | | | beautiful old Savannah via the sea islands to |
| under pressure from planters, slavery was | | | | the semitropical Okefenokee Swamp, inland |
| introduced in 1752, and by the time of the | | | | near Florida. In the northeast, the |
| Civil War almost half the population were | | | | Appalachian foothills are particularly |
| black slaves. Little fighting took place on | | | | fetching in fall, while Athens has a |
| Georgian soil until Shermans troops marched | | | | reputation for producing offbeat rock groups |
| in from Tennessee, burned Atlanta to the | | | | such as REM. Further south, the agricultural |
| ground and laid waste to all property on the | | | | heartlands are rich in musical history, but |
| way to the coast. The economy successfully | | | | only Macon and ancient Ocmulgee provide |
| reestablished itself after the war, | | | | reasons to stop. |
| attracting substantial investment in the | | | | |
| latter years of the nineteenth century. | | | | The climate of Georgia is extremely diverse, |
| | | | considering the nations small size. There are |
| Today, bustling Atlanta stands as the | | | | two main climatic zones, roughly separating |
| unofficial capital of the South. The city | | | | Eastern and Western parts of the country. The |
| where Dr Martin Luther King Jr was born, | | | | Greater Caucasus Mountain Range plays an |
| preached and is buried bears little relation | | | | important role in moderating Georgias climate |
| to Gone with the Wind stereotypes, and its | | | | and protects the nation from the penetration |
| forward looking energy is upheld as a role | | | | of colder air masses from the north. The |
| model for other cities with large black | | | | Lesser Caucasus Mountains partially protect |
| populations though it does still suffer high | | | | the region from the influence of dry and hot |
| levels of urban poverty and violent crime. | | | | air masses from the south as well. |
| | | | |
| The bright lights of its capital Atlanta are | | | | Play a game of golf on one of over 400 golf |
| a wild aberration. Apart from some beaches | | | | courses in the state. Georgia is a paradise |
| and towns on the highly indented coastline, | | | | for outdoor enthusiasts due to its temperate |
| this overwhelmingly rural state is composed | | | | climate. |