Physical Features

Pinnacle Falls. Wikimedia Commons. 3 June 2016.

Discover the mountains, lakes & rivers, geology, and climate of South Carolina.

Climate

• Climate of South Carolina
  Find out the average temperature, precipitation, and growing season in your region.
• South Carolina’s Climate Controls
  Discover the factors that influence South Carolina’s climate.
• Climate Trends
  Did you know that the average annual temperature in South Carolina has decreased .5 degrees Farenheit?
• Drought Pictures
  Explore images of the drought in South Carolina in 2007 and 2008.
• Hail: Summer Ice Storms  
  The largest recorded hailstone in South Carolina was 4 1/2 inches in diameter!

Lakes & Rivers

• Carolina Bays
  Carolina Bays are oval-shaped ponds and wetlands that occur along the Atlantic coast, many in South Carolina.
  • How are Carolina Bays created? 
• NatureScene-Cartwheel Bay
  Explore Cartwheel Bay, a Carolina Bay in Horry County, including videos, animals, and plants in the region.
• South Carolina Waterfalls
  See images of waterfalls in the Blue Ridge region.
• South Carolina Map of River Basins 
  Here is a detailed map of the river basins in South Carolina.

Marine

Carolina Bays near Marion, SC. View Larger Map

• Beach Sand: Shoring up America's beaches 
  Find out what's happening to our beaches and how engineers are trying to help.
• Sea Foam: What is it?
  Did you know that sea foam is often made by tiny single-celled organisms known as plankton?
• Sea Breeze: Science at the Beach
  South Carolina often has sea breezes, depending on temperatures and winds.
• Tides
  This animation shows how the flood current and ebb current make up the tides.

Geographical Features

• What is a Monadnock?
  A monadnock is an isolated hill that is much higher than the surrounding land.
• Barrier Islands
  Discover the barrier islands of South Carolina and how they work.
  • Check out these maps and aerial photos of South Carolina's barrier islands.

Geology

• Geology Mineral Resources
  This map shows where minerals such as gold, clay, kaolin, and peat have been mined.
• South Carolina's State Gemstone
  Learn about why South Carolina's state gemstone is the amethyst.
• Collection of Fossils
  Take a look at animal, plant, and insect fossils that have been discovered in South Carolina.

Natural Communities

• ACE Basin
  The Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers make up the ACE Basin.
• SC Life
  Explore the wildlife, plants, and climate of The Cove Forest and The Salt Marsh.
• Wetlands
  Learn about the marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens of South Carolina.