Where in the World is Alabama

Today’s Daily Dose short geography film covers the American state of Alabama, deep in the heart of Dixie. The filmmaker has included the original voice over script to further assist your understanding:

Located in the southeastern United States, Alabama shares its borders with Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Mississippi to the west, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Comprising a total land area of 52,419 square miles—the 30th largest state in the country—Alabama embodies five distinct geographical regions, including the Highland Rim to the north, characterized by rolling hills and fertile valleys, the rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau in northeastern Alabama, with hills and valleys such as the Dismals Canyon, which is a notable geologic landmark that offers a glimpse into the ancient erosional processes of the Appalachian Mountains.

Diverse Landscape

The Alabama Valley and Ridge region dominates the central part of the state, characterized by long, narrow ridges and valleys that run in a northeast and southwesterly direction, including the state’s highest peak at Cheaha Mountain in the Talladega National Forest, with an elevation of 2,407 feet above sea level. East Central Alabama is dominated by the Piedmont Upland region, forming part of the Piedmont plateau that extends from Alabama into the northeastern United States, marked by rolling hills and less fertile soils than other regions of the state. The East Gulf Coastal Plain, lastly, covers much of southern Alabama, characterized by gently rolling plains consisting of geologically distinct sedimentary layers and rich, dark soil.

Coastal Islands

Off the coast of Alabama lies 224 islands within the Mississippi-Alabama barrier island chain, including Dauphin Island with approximately 1,200 year-round residents. Alabama is also home to a number of robust waterways and major bodies of water, including the Tennessee, Alabama and Mobile Rivers, along with major lakes such as the Guntersville Lake, Wheeler Lake and Wilson Lake. With a population just over five million Alabamians, Alabama ranks as the 24th most populated state in the U.S., while the state’s capital city of Montgomery is the third most populated city in the state, behind Huntsville and Birmingham. Boasting an annual GDP of $242 billion and growing, Alabama’s leading industries include, ag tech and food products, automotive, biosciences, education and healthcare, as well as chemicals, forestry, information technology, metals and advanced materials, making sweet home Alabama, a proud centerpiece in the thriving heart of Dixie.