Tennessee is geographically diverse. It divides naturally into three "grand divisions" - upland, often mountainous, East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee with its foothills and basin, and the low plain of West Tennessee. These geographical "grand divisions" correspond to distinctive political and economic cultures of the state’s three regions. The three stars on the state flag represent the three grand divisions of east, middle, and west Tennessee. Other smaller regions have been defined for the purpose of listing sites relevant to these regions.