Do you know Georgia's official state symbols?
Do you know Georgia's official state symbols?
Each state in America boasts its own culture, history, and natural beauty. To represent such diversity, people from these states have chosen their own set of symbols and customs. Specific flags, songs, mottos, flowers, and even fruits commemorate the uniqueness of individual states. Some of these symbols border on the bizarre: Texas, for example, has made the Dutch oven its official state cooking pot. Other symbols are more universal, like state birds.
Many people remember learning about their states' history back in elementary school. But can you still remember your state bird? How about your state flower? To test your state knowledge, Stacker compiled a list of symbols in Georgia.
Clue: Georgia state fish
Clue (freshwater): Despite its name, this fish is actually an elongated sunfish. Also known as lineside bass, green trout, and black bass, they're predators that prowl the state's vegetation-rich freshwater.
Clue (coldwater game fish): This fish is easily spotted by a white line tracing the front of its bottom fin, and is the only native fish of its kind in the Southeast.
Clue (saltwater): Nicknames for this game fish include spot tail bass, channel bass, and puppy drum. They're found throughout the coastal Atlantic Ocean and in brackish waterways at inlets and bays.
Answer: Georgia state fish
Answers: Largemouth bass (freshwater), Southern Appalachian brook trout (coldwater game fish), red drum (saltwater game fish)
Clue: Georgia state mammal
Georgia has two official mammals. One is the popular white-tailed deer. The other is a marine mammal that can grow up to 52 feet long on a diet of incredibly tiny crustaceans that they filter out of the ocean waters. They have characteristic patches of whitish rough skin on their heads that can be used to tell individuals apart.
Answer: Georgia state mammal
- State mammals: White-tailed deer, right whale
Clue: Georgia state song
Georgia native Ray Charles is arguably one of the greatest rhythm and blues musicians of all time. In 1979, the state's governor signed a bill making one of his most celebrated numbers the official state song of Georgia. Although Charles made the song famous, it actually has a history dating back to 1930, the same year Ray Charles was born.
Answer: Georgia state song
- Answer: "Georgia on My Mind"
Clue: Georgia state insect
State insect: This species is found around the globe, making it the most important agricultural pollinator in the world. It is known for its complex communication methods, including through pheromones.
State butterfly: This insect can be seen between the spring and fall, found in areas with deciduous forests. These habitats include forests, rivers, roadsides, gardens, and urban parks.
Answer: Georgia state insect
- State insect: European honey bee (Apis mellifera)
- State butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Clue: Georgia state tree
A large, fast-growing tree, Georgia’s state tree grows in sandy soils, along stream banks, and along city streets from southeastern Virginia to southern Florida. This tree was historically considered a symbol of strength because early Americans used it for shipbuilding; their short height and low-hanging branches make this tree’s lumber perfect for the curved sections of ships’ hulls.
Answer: Georgia state tree
Answer: Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana)
Clue: Georgia state bird
This bird may be dull in color, but it makes up for that in size. On average, they're nearly a foot long.
Answer: Georgia state bird
Answer: Brown thrasher
Clue: Georgia state flower
This flower was widely distributed by the Cherokee indigenous tribe, the flower being waxy white with a golden center. Blooming in early spring, this flower is surrounded by green leaves and has plenty of thorns. This flower has a rich aroma and has been used for medicinal purposes for millions of years.
Answer: Georgia state flower
Answer: Cherokee rose
