Atlanta, Georgia — Overview
Located in the northern half of Georgia known as the Piedmont in the USA, Atlanta's landscape is one of undulating hills wedged between rugged mountains and a flat coastal plain. Its unique geographical position has made it the transportation core of the South since the 19th century. Railroads, highways and its airport - the world's busiest - have made it accessible to the rest of the country and attractive to the convention trade. Brimming with Southern hospitality, Atlanta hosted the International Exposition in 1895, and 101 years later was the site of the 1996 Olympics. The city is the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement and birthplace of Reverend Dr Martin Luther King. The Center for Human Civil Rights will open in 2010, housing all of Dr King's personal papers. Today, Metropolitan Atlanta, with a population of over 5 million, sprawls over 28 counties and 140 cities and towns. An efficient transportation band encircles the city proper, a diverse range of neighborhoods with a growing population of 520,000 residents and over 52 different streets named Peachtree. Besides being the economic and cultural center of the southern United States, and corporate headquarters for dozens of major companies, Atlanta offers traditional charm with a modern flair. Filled with attractions and activities, including the world's biggest indoor aquarium, Atlanta Civil War Cyclorama, CNN Studio Tours, the Martin Luther King Jr Historic District, and Six Flags Over Georgia, metropolitan Atlanta has something for almost every visitor.
