Brown's Guide to Georgia

Augusta sits on the Savannah River on the Fall Line, which is where the rolling hills of the Southern Piedmont meet the level Coastal Plain. In the first half of the 19th century, Augustans took advantage of their unique geography by building a canal to channel the Savannah River’s falling water to power mills and manufacturing plants. Though still used to power 19th century mills and the city’s water pumping station, the canal has reverted to a more natural state within the past half-century. Today, visitors to the 11.5-mile Augusta Canal National Heritage Area can experience the Fall Line ecosystem via canoe, bicycle or on foot along the wide gravel towpath.