Germany Valley (Georgia) facts for kids

Germany Valley is a beautiful place in Rabun County, Georgia. It's about four miles northwest of Clayton. This valley is a gentle slope surrounded by tall Blue Ridge Mountain peaks. Even though it's called "Germany Valley," some local people call it "Germany Mountain." But there isn't actually a mountain with that name there!

What is Germany Valley Like?

Germany Valley sits very high up, at about 2,600 feet (790 m) above sea level. This makes it one of the highest mountain valleys in Georgia. Only Sky Valley (3,140 feet [960 m]) and the Suches community (2,800 feet [850 m]) are higher.

The valley is about 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) wide and almost 2 miles (3.2 km) long. You'll see lots of open fields, like pastureland, and small farms. Many farms have cattle and horses grazing there. Thick forests surround the valley, and much of this land belongs to the United States Forest Service. You'll also spot some wooded hills that rise about 100–150 feet (30–46 m) from the valley floor.

Mountains Around the Valley

Many impressive mountain peaks frame Germany Valley. To the south, Big Face mountain stands tall at 3,541 feet [1,079 m]. It's a major landmark you can see from most parts of the valley.

To the north, you'll find Billy Mountain (3,243 feet (988 m)) and Elisha Mountain (3,250-foot (990 m)). These mountains are part of the Eastern Continental Divide. This is a special line where rainwater either flows towards the Atlantic Ocean or towards the Gulf of Mexico.

Black Rock Mountain is another important peak at 3,640-foot (1,110 m). It's also on the Eastern Continental Divide and is at the eastern end of the valley. Black Rock Mountain is the main feature of Georgia's highest state park. For amazing views of Germany Valley, visit the park's Tennessee Rock Overlook!

Weather in Germany Valley

Because Germany Valley is so high up, it has cooler weather than other valleys nearby. The National Weather Service has a special station in Germany Valley that records daily weather information.

From 2012 to 2017, the average high temperature in July was about 79 °F (26 °C). The hottest day during that time was July 2, 2012, when it reached 94 °F (34 °C). In January, the average high temperature was around 46 °F (8 °C). It often gets very cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping into the teens. Single-digit temperatures happen sometimes too. Temperatures below zero are less common, but the coldest recorded between 2012 and 2017 was −4 °F (−20 °C) on January 7, 2014.

Rain and Snow

Germany Valley gets a lot of rain, just like much of the southern Appalachians. The weather station records about 80 inches (2,000 mm) of rain each year. The year 2018 was especially wet, with 116.72 inches (2,965 mm) of rain. This was the second-most rainfall ever recorded in one spot in Georgia's history!

Snowfall in the valley happens a few times every winter, but it can be a bit unpredictable. On average, Germany Valley gets about 12 inches (300 mm) of snow each year.

Waterways

Water from Germany Valley flows into Timpson Creek. This creek then empties into the Timpson Cove part of Lake Burton. Lake Burton is the first of five reservoirs (large lakes created by dams) built by Georgia Power on the Tallulah River. The Tallulah River is one of the northernmost rivers in the Savannah River basin, which eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean.