Virginia Geography: Tidewater, Piedmont, and Blue Ridge

Virginia's geography is a complete cross-section of the eastern US physiographic provinces — from sea-level tidal marshes to 5,729-foot Appalachian summits within 350 miles.

Tidewater (Coastal Plain)
The eastern quarter of Virginia — the tidal rivers (James, York, Rappahannock, Potomac) penetrate 50–100 miles inland. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries dominate this region; the Eastern Shore (the Delmarva Peninsula) is Virginia's island-dotted barrier coast. The Tidewater's history is the history of colonial Virginia — Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown, and the plantation culture of the James River are here.

Piedmont
The rolling hills between the fall line (where the coastal plain meets the upland) and the Blue Ridge — the Piedmont is Virginia's agricultural heartland. The vineyards of the Monticello AVA (Albemarle County), the tobacco farms of Southside, and the horse farms of Fauquier and Loudoun Counties define the region. Charlottesville and Richmond are Piedmont cities.

Blue Ridge Mountains
The dominant mountain range of Virginia — the Blue Ridge runs the full length of the state from the Potomac River south to the North Carolina border. Shenandoah National Park occupies the northern Blue Ridge; the southern Blue Ridge is part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The Blue Ridge Parkway begins at Shenandoah's southern end (Rockfish Gap) and runs to Cherokee, NC. Mount Rogers (5,729 ft) is Virginia's highest point in the southern Blue Ridge.

Shenandoah Valley
Between the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny Front — the Great Valley of Virginia runs the length of the state from the Potomac to the New River. The Shenandoah River flows north through the valley. Civil War campaigns (Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign, Sheridan's burning of the Valley) defined the valley's military history.

Southwest Virginia and the Appalachian Plateau
The extreme southwest tip — coal country, the Cumberland Gap, the New River (one of the oldest rivers in North America). The Jefferson National Forest and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area have Virginia's most dramatic mountain terrain.