1.3 Sandhills Region
In the center of the state, also known as the Midlands, are the Sandhills. The Sandhills are rolling hills of rough, sandy soil. The Sandhills Region used to be the coastline of North America millions of years ago. The land in this region is covered with sandy soil that was left behind.
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In the sandstone ledges that are all around the Preserve, burrows that were once home to marine shrimp (Calianassa) can be seen. These burrows show that at one time the Sandhills used to be a marine environment and had a tropical climate, because these shrimp are known the only live in tropical areas.
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The Sandhills region is next to the fall line. The fall line is where the land slopes down and the rivers drop into rapids and waterfalls. The ground here is not as soft as the Coastal Plains, but it is softer than the Piedmont Region. Columbia, our state capital, is in this region.
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The Sandhills Region has a 200 to 240-day growing season and receives an annual rainfall of about 44 inches. It is usually considered to be the hottest region in the state and can become quite humid during hot summer days. It is far away from the cooling breezes of the coast and equally far from cooler mountain elevations. There are very few large lakes, ponds, or other bodies of water to moderate the regional temperature. Most streams which originate in this area are intermittent, flowing only during periods of heavy rainfall.
The Sandhills Region is generally not a very productive agricultural area because of rapid loss of nutrients, organic materials, and water from the soil. The loose sandy texture of the soil makes it almost impossible to retain moisture near the surface.
The area is well suited for longleaf pine and turkey oak forests, and similar vegetation which easily adapts to water-starved conditions. Only eight percent of the soils in this region are classified as prime farmland. About two-thirds of the area is forested, and one-third is planted in crops or pasture. With proper management, truck crops and peaches can be grown successfully.
The Sandhills Region is generally not a very productive agricultural area because of rapid loss of nutrients, organic materials, and water from the soil. The loose sandy texture of the soil makes it almost impossible to retain moisture near the surface.
The area is well suited for longleaf pine and turkey oak forests, and similar vegetation which easily adapts to water-starved conditions. Only eight percent of the soils in this region are classified as prime farmland. About two-thirds of the area is forested, and one-third is planted in crops or pasture. With proper management, truck crops and peaches can be grown successfully.