The Heart of Dixie
| Deep in the Heart of Dixie, Alabama has a rich cultural history. It is the land of Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Indians, it is home to early pioneers from Spain France and England. When cotton was king, the Alabama cotton planations were properous proponents of sucession and played a pivitol point in civil War politics. Today the space age calls Alabama home. All this history and future is played out against a diverse natural landscape from Cheaha Mountain (2,407 feet) to the East Gulf Coastal Plain and the swamps and bayous of the Mobile River Delta. | ||||
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| The state of Alabama extends from the foot of the Appalachians to the gleaming beaches of the Gulf Coast. Given its colorful past and variety of terrain, it's no wonder that this state provides an attraction for every visitor. Its warm temperatures make water sports a particular pleasure - swimming and boating are emphasized throughout the state. The northern Mountains region contains the Appalachian foothills with their colorful hills and mountain streams. Caverns, gorges, and natural bridges make spectacular sights. A little further south, the Metropolitan region is the home of Birmingham and the Talladega National Forest. The River Heritage region is thick with history, from the famous towns of Selma and Montgomery to museums and antebellum plantations. Bird watchers, sunbathers, and white-sand beach lovers will flock to the Gulf Coast region, where miles of pristine coastline wait. | ||||
| all images courtesy of Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel: image #1 by Ami Simpson, image #2 by Dan Brothers, images #3-#7 by Karim Shamsi-Basha, image #8 by Eric Gray |