Atlanta Facts

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Atlanta Facts
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Located at 1,010 feet above sea level, the city of Atlanta is the highest major city east of the Mississippi River. Atlanta's location in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains provides ample scenery and recreational opportunities.

* The population of Atlanta is 425,000; it is the state capital and is located in Fulton County.

* Atlanta weather is mostly mild. July and August can get hot and humid, just as normal snowfall totals for December and January reach 1-1 ' inches per year. The ideal times of year to visit, weather-wise, are the spring and fall.

* Atlanta was originally created in 1830 as a railroad junction. Due to its strategic importance, it was razed by Union General William Sherman's army forces during the Civil War. This famous fire is depicted in the movie Gone With the Wind. Today, the city symbol is the Phoenix, a legendary bird from Egyptian mythology that rose from its own ashes as a stronger, more beautiful creature.

* The state Capitol building is layered with 43 ounces of pure gold that was mined from Dahlonega, GA.
* Atlanta is home to four professional sports teams: Braves (Baseball), Falcons (Football), Hawks (Basketball) and Thrashers (Hockey).

* The Georgia Dome is the world's largest cable-supported domed stadium. The home of the Falcons, this modern marvel also hosted the 2000 Super Bowl, as well as gymnastics, basketball and team handball in the 1996 Olympic Games.

* Atlanta is the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the world's most popular soft drink: Coca-Cola. Today, several major corporations and Fortune 500 Companies are based in Atlanta, including CNN, UPS and Georgia Pacific.

* Atlanta has 130 retail centers, 41 public golf courses, 54 public parks, the largest toll-free telephone dialing area in the world, the most shopping center space per capita other than Chicago, as well as the world's largest 10K race ' the Peachtree Road Race, with 45,000 runners annually!

Transportation in Atlanta is relatively easy, with Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (the world's busiest airport) just 12 miles south of downtown, a Greyhound terminal and MARTA rail system station south of downtown, and an Amtrak train station just 3 miles north of downtown. Two major highways cross the city: I-20 and I-75/85, and I-285 makes a loop around the city. Peachtree Street is the main North-South byway. (Incidentally, there are over 100 streets, avenues and drives in Atlanta with the name Peachtree!)