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. Atlanta was and is a crossroads town.

History
By the time the Civil War began in 1861, Atlanta was a major railroad hub, manufacturing centre and supply depot. General William Sherman burned the city on his infamous March to the Sea in 1864, but four years later she rose like a phoenix from the ashes and was established as Georgia's new state capital.

In 1886, a local drugstore, Jacob's Pharmacy, began selling a new headache and hangover tonic called Coca-Cola, and six years later the Coca-Cola Company was founded.

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.

Economy and tourism
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 neighbourhoods with a growing population of 520,000 residents and over 52 different streets named Peachtree.

Besides being the economic and cultural centre 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.

Climate
Spring and autumn are the ideal times to visit the city. In spring, Atlanta is a beautiful Southern Belle, ablaze with blossoms of Bradford pear, white dogwood and pink azaleas. Summers are hot, humid and languid, and the city noticeably moves at a more leisurely pace. Winters are unpredictable, often with ice rather than snow.