Alabama Landscapes

The Valley and Ridge

Table of Contents

UPV&R GeologyV&R Soils and VegetationV&R Phys DistrictsV&R Coosa River
 

Physiographic Districts

 Relationship of Physiographic Districts to Geology

As in the Cumberland Plateau and Highland Rim, the relationship between geology (rock types and the distribution) and the physiographic districts of the Valley and Ridge is striking.  The ridge-formers are the Pennsylvanian sandstone (belonging to the Pottsville Formation), whereas the valleys are cut in shale, limestone and dolomite (Table 1). 

Seven districts occur in this section (Figure VRD1).

 

Figure VRD1.  Physiographic districts of the Valley and Ridge. AR: Armuchee Ridges, BBC: Birmingham-Big Canoe Valley, CV: Cahaba Valley, CR: Cahaba Ridges, COV: Coosa Valley, COR: Coosa Ridges, WR: Weisner Ridges.  Black Circle: Birmingham. Red lines: boundaries of the Valley and Ridge, red filled areas: ridge districts. Black Circles W to E: Birmingham, Anniston  (USGS National Map Viewer and Geological Survey of Alabama)

Continued

  

UPV&R GeologyV&R Soils and VegetationV&R Phys DistrictsV&R Coosa River