The Gulf Coastal Plain lies in between the Highland Rim and Nashville Basin. This is regarded as the major land region of Tennessee primarily because of the huge area it covers. The Gulf Coastal Plain originates from the Gulf of Mexico and then extends to the southern Illinois at the north. The Gulf Coastal Plain is again divided into three sections in Tennessee region and here the plain extends from the Tennessee River in the east to the Mississippi River in the west. Interestingly, the Gulf Coastal Plain has got varied physiographic features within its area.
The hilly land in the eastern tip of the plain meets the western bank of the Tennessee River and here the Gulf Coastal Plain is 10 miles wide. But in the western end, the plain is characterized by rolling hills and streams and this section extends to Memphis in western Tennessee. This very section of the Gulf Coastal Plain is known as the bottom land of the plain or Tennessee bottoms. The Tennessee bottom meets the steep bluffs in Memphis and from here you can catch the fascinating view of the Mississippi River. Mississippi Alluvial Plain (less than 300 feet above sea level) lies at the western part of the Tennessee Bottoms. The fertile zones, lowlands, swamp lands and flood plains of the Gulf Coastal Plain is collectively know as the Delta Region.
To know about the physiographic regions of Tennessee, log on to www.tennesseexl.com.
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