According to directoryaah, the state of North Carolina is largely located on the Atlantic coast, so you can also spend a beach holiday there on the sandy beach. In addition to the coastal region, North Carolina has a small mountain region where hiking and climbing tours are possible. In terms of sights, the state of North Carolina also has a lot to offer, which is also due to the fact that this state can look back on a particularly long and extensive history.
Aquariums, zoos and amusement parks are spread across the state and ensure that there is no boredom. The cultural offer consists of various museums, exhibitions and historical sites. State parks, natural landmarks, and public spaces offer a wide variety of scenic attractions. From forests to wide open spaces, everything is represented, here you have the opportunity to experience many different plant and animal species in their natural environment.
In North Carolina there is actually something to suit everyone’s taste.
North Carolina Key Figures
Land area: 135,509 square kilometers (ranked 28th of all US states)
Share of water surface: 9.5%
Population: 9.22 million (2008 estimate, ranked 10th of all states in the USA)
Population density: 66 residents per square kilometer (15th place of all states in the USA)
Member of the USA since: November 21, 1789 (as the 12th state in the USA)
Capital: Raleigh (380,753 residents, 2008, metropolitan area 1.6 million residents)
Largest city: Charlotte (716,874 residents, 2009, metropolitan area 2.3 million residents)
Highest point: 2,038 m, Mt Mitchell
Lowest point: 0 m, Atlantic Ocean
Governor: Beverly Perdue (Democrat)
Lieut. Governor: Walter H. Dalton (Democrat)
Local time: CET -6 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET -5 h.
The time difference to Central Europe is -6 h in both winter and summer.
Postal abbreviation: NC
North Carolina Geography and Map
The state of North Carolina is located on the Atlantic coast in the southeast of the United States of America. The capital is Raleigh. The former English crown colony was named after the English King Charles I. North Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that broke away from England as part of the American Declaration of Independence.
North Carolina extends over a total of approximately 135,509 square kilometers. The north-south extension of the national territory is more than 240 kilometers. North Carolina extends for approximately half a mile from east to west. The average height of the national territory is 215 meters above sea level. North Carolina’s highest point is 2,037 meters high Mount Mitchell. It is also the highest mountain in the Appalachian Mountains. The lowest point is at sea level on the Atlantic Ocean.
North Carolina borders Virginia to the north. The borderline is the 34th degree of latitude. To the east of North Carolina is the Atlantic Ocean, to the south of South Carolina and Georgia. Tennessee is the neighboring state to the west.
Geographically, North Carolina can be divided into three regions from east to west: the coastal plain, the Piedmont Plateau, and the Appalachian Mountains.
The coastal plain occupies about two-thirds of the state of North Carolina. The flat plain has mainly sandy soils and is mostly densely forested. In this mostly rural region with only a few larger cities, tobacco, soy and cotton, among other things, are planted. The so-called Outer Banks, a chain of narrow dune islands, lie between the Atlantic and the coastal region. These frame Albemarle Sound in the north of the state and Pamlico Sound in the south, which are among the largest lagoons in the USA.
The region of the Piedmont in the heart of North Carolina is hilly, criss-crossed by mountain foothills and cut up by river valleys. The total area of the Piedmont covers approx. 207,000 square kilometers. From north to south, the plateau extends from New Jersey to Alabama. While it is very narrow above the Delaware River, in North Carolina it reaches a width of more than 470 kilometers.
The Piedmont is physiographically closely connected to the Appalachian Mountains and can be divided into a highland region, the Piedmont Highlands, and a lowland region, the Piedmont Lowlands. The soils of the plateau are loamy and only partially fertile. While cotton was predominantly grown in the south, tobacco cultivation dominated in the central part, in North Carolina and Virginia. In the north of the plateau, the soil experiences a wide range of agricultural uses, from fruit growing to dairy farming and growing of grain.
In North Carolina, the height of the plateau varies from 90 meters in the east to 300 meters in the west. The transition from the Piedmont Plateau to the coastal region – the coastline that is up to 90 meters above sea level – has a steep gradient. There the rivers in the Appalachian Mountains turn into rapids and waterfalls. Therefore this area is also called the waterfall area – fall zone.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are located in western North Carolina. They are the largest mountain range in North Carolina and part of the Appalachian Mountains, a heavily forested low mountain range. The mountain range extends over a length of about 2,400 kilometers and extends from the Canadian province of Quebecall the way to Alabama. The Blue Ridge Mountains are also home to the state’s highest point, Mount Mitchell.
The second highest mountain range in North Carolina, also in the west of the state, are the Great Smoky Mountains. The Brush Mountains are with a height of up to 817 meters above sea level, a much smaller and lower mountain range. The lowest mountain range in North Carolina is the Uwharrie Mountains at just 350 meters above sea level.
The most important rivers in North Carolina include the 350-kilometer-long Catawba River and the 700-kilometer-long Yadkin River, as well as the Chowan, Roanoke, Tar, Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers. North Carolina also has a variety of smaller and larger lakes, natural and man-made. In the Uwharrie Mountains, for example, the backwater of the Yadkin River created a lake region, the Uwharrie Lakes – a popular excursion and recreational area.
The largest reservoir in North Carolina with an area of 129 square kilometers is Lake Norman. It was created by the damming of the Catawba River and is now the heart of Lake Norman State Park.
North Carolina Landmarks
North Carolina has a number of sights and attractions to offer its visitors.
The Christ Episcopal Chruch, built in 1715, should not be missed. The St. Thomas Episcopal from 1839 is also definitely worth a visit.
The American state has several universities to offer, as well as an interesting museum in Winston-Salem. The Museum of Anthropology is one of the premier museums of its kind in the United States.
North Carolina also has some special buildings to offer. Be sure to check out the Bank of America Corporation. The building is one of the tallest in Carlotte with a height of 265 meters.
The North Carolina State Capitol, built in the classical style, should be seen. It is located in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina.
The American state also has a lot to offer nature lovers among tourists. The Great Smokey Mountains National Park should not be missed. Some of the oldest forests in the world can be seen in the park.
But Grandfather Mountain near Boone is also worth a visit. The park has been a World Heritage Site for years. But it is not under the control of public institutions, it is privately owned.
It is definitely worth making a detour to Chimney Rock Park near Ashville. The Chimney Rock is a huge rock in the middle of the park.
Land of Waterfalls is something special. Here the tourists can marvel at some waterfalls, such as B. the Whitewater Falls with a height of 120 meters.
