Atlanta is the capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. And with a 2013 estimated population of 447,841. Atlanta is ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States. Atlanta is considered as a world city and with a gross domestic product of $270 billion. More than 30 colleges and universities located in the city, Atlanta is considered a center for higher education. Atlanta is also home to nationally renowned private colleges and universities. Atlanta's economy ranks 15th among world cities and sixth in the nation. Atlanta attained international prominence. Atlanta is the primary transportation hub of the Southeastern United States, via highway, railroad, and air, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the world's busiest airport since 1998. Atlanta encompasses 132.4 square miles (342.9 km2), of which 131.7 square miles (341.1 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) is water. The city is situated among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and at 1,050 feet (320 m) above mean sea level, Atlanta has the highest elevation of major cities east of the Mississippi River.

Atlanta has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons and generous precipitation year-round, typical for the inland South. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures somewhat moderated by the city's elevation.

Atlanta, while located in the South, has a culture that is no longer strictly Southern. This is due to a large population of migrants from other parts of the U.S., in addition to many recent immigrants to the U.S. who have made the metropolitan area their home, establishing Atlanta as the cultural and economic hub of an increasingly multi-cultural metropolitan area.

Atlanta is the seventh-most visited city in the United States, with over 35 million visitors per year. The most popular attraction among visitors to Atlanta is the Georgia Aquarium the world's largest indoor aquarium. Atlanta's tourism industry mostly driven by the city's history museums and outdoor attractions.