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Studies on Virginia geography will show that the state has an extensive topographical variety and the geographical diversities found in the 70 counties within the Commonwealth of Virginia are numerous. Information on Virginia geography reveals that Virginia weather is influenced by the 6 distinct climatic zones that govern the entire state. These climate zones are sub-divided according to Virginia's topographical diversity and are thus divided as; the Southwestern Mountain, the Central Mountain, Tidewater, Eastern Piedmont, Western Piedmont and northern. The 6 major soil types that cover the entire stretch of Virginia's land have derived their names from their area of origin. They are accordingly named as; Appalachian Ridges and Valleys, Coastal Plain, Southern Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains and Lower Coastal Plains.
Virginia's expanse of 8.7 million acres of farm land has made the economy predominantly dependent on agriculture and dairy farming. Besides, a large bulk of Virginia's economy is also dependent on the state's abundant forest land which has given rise to industries based on wood, fishery and hunting. Out of the 42,769 square miles of area that the Commonwealth of Virginia covers, 350,000 acres have been categorized as wetlands. The agricultural richness of the place has greatly supportive of civilization for so long and today Virginia's population stands at 7,642,884 according to census records of 2006. Although, the geographic center of Virginia lies in the Buckingham county yet, the capital of Virginia is Richmond which lies to the west of the popular port city of Norfolk.
Virginia, the 35th largest city of the USA is bound by West Virginia to its north and west along with other states like North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Maryland to the north and east and Kentucky to the west. The state of Virginia occupies the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean and much of its weather and topography is influenced by the sea. The Potomac River, the Shenandoah River, the Rappahannock River and the James River meanders through the vast stretches of the state. Mount Rogers, soaring upto 5729 feet, is the highest point in Virginia.
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