Geography of Arkansas

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Physical and human geographic features of Arkansas National-atlas-arkansas.PNG
Physical and human geographic features of Arkansas

The geography of Arkansas varies widely. The state is covered by mountains, river valleys, forests, lakes, and bayous in addition to the cities of Arkansas. Hot Springs National Park features bubbling springs of hot water, formerly sought across the country for their healing properties. [1] [2] Crowley's Ridge is a geological anomaly rising above the surrounding lowlands of the Mississippi embayment.

Contents

The Buffalo National River, as it flows through The Ozarks to the White River, is a popular tourist attraction. It was designated the first national river in 1972 after years of conservation efforts in opposition to a United States Army Corps of Engineers plan to dam the river. The Arkansas River enters the state near Van Buren and flows southeast through Little Rock to empty into the Mississippi River near Arkansas Post. Most of the river serves barge traffic to Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. [3] Through south Arkansas, the Ouachita River and the Saline River run roughly parallel to the Arkansas, and the major rivers in northeast Arkansas are the White River and St. Francis River. The Red River runs through the southwest corner of the state.

Arkansas has many manmade lakes across the state, many are the basis for state parks, wildlife management areas, or other recreation. Bull Shoals Lake, DeGray Lake, Lake Dardanelle, Lake Ouachita all have state parks along their shores, and Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine are also major recreation lakes in the state. [4]

The Ozarks is a broad term for many mountainous counties in northwest Arkansas. This region is usually referred to the Ozarks because the term Northwest Arkansas is the colloquial name for the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area, including Benton, Madison, Washington counties in Arkansas and McDonald County, Missouri. [5] The Ozark, however, span from the Arkansas River in the south through north central Arkansas. The Boston Mountains subset contain highest peaks in the Ozarks. [6]

Location and size

Location of Arkansas in the United States Map of USA AR.svg
Location of Arkansas in the United States

Arkansas is located in the southeastern United States, in the West South Central Census Bureau division. Arkansas covers an area of 53,179 square miles (137,733 km²) and ranks as the 29th largest state by size. [7] The state borders six U.S. states: Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi across the Mississippi River to the east, Louisiana to the south, Oklahoma to the west, and Texas to the southwest.

First added to the United States of America as part of the Louisiana Territory of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Arkansas later became part of the Missouri Territory upon its establishment in 1812. [8] This was further divided into the Arkansaw Territory on March 2, 1819, as everything south of Parallel 36°30′ north (except the Missouri Bootheel) to the Louisiana state line. This new territory also included most of present-day Oklahoma until gaining its current boundaries in the 1840s. The slight oddity in Arkansas's western boundary results from a dispute with the Choctaw Nation in 1824. The Choctaws wanted the western boundary of Arkansas to start 100 paces east of Fort Smith and run south to the Red River, claiming the land had little timber and poor soil. Despite protests from Henry Conway, President James Monroe signed the bill into law on January 20, 1825. [9]

Regions

Arkansas's regions are defined using many different criteria. Distinct natural regions of Arkansas include The Ozarks, Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas River Valley, Gulf Coastal Plain, Crowley's Ridge, the Arkansas Delta, Arkansas Timberlands, and Central Arkansas. Arkansans usually identify as being from one of five regions: northwest, southwest, northeast, southeast, or central Arkansas. These directional regions are not specifically defined by county.

Northwest Arkansas

View from scenic overlook in Carroll County in the heart of the Ozarks. View from scenic outlook on US 62, Carroll County, Arkansas.jpg
View from scenic overlook in Carroll County in the heart of the Ozarks.

Northwest Arkansas contains the southern half of the Ozarks, including the steeper Boston Mountains and the more gentle Springfield Plateau. These mountains are heavily forested by an oak-hickory ecosystem and less than 25% has been cleared for agriculture. [10] The Ozark National Forest, administered by the National Forest Service, preserves 1,200,000 acres (490,000 ha) of land in northwest Arkansas, including Arkansas's highest point, Mount Magazine in Mount Magazine State Park. Also within northwest Arkansas is the Arkansas River Valley including the tri-peaks tourist region of Mount Nebo, Mount Magazine, Petit Jean Mountain, and Lake Dardanelle. [11] Federal and state protected areas such as the Buffalo National River, Buffalo National River Wilderness, Bull Shoals–White River State Park, and Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area preserve the northwest Arkansas Ozarks in their natural state.

Population is anchored by the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area and Fort Smith metropolitan area, with sparsely populated mountainous areas defining the remainder of the region. The Ozark culture, such as Ozark Folk Festival held annually in Mountain View, defines much of the rural parts of northwest Arkansas. The Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View is dedicated to preserving northwest Arkansas's folk heritage. [12] Other cultural centers are Bentonville, home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and Fayetteville, home to the University of Arkansas and Walton Arts Center. [13]

Northeast Arkansas

Lake Frierson State Park is atop Crowley's Ridge in northeast Arkansas Lake Frierson State Park Paragould AR 11.jpg
Lake Frierson State Park is atop Crowley's Ridge in northeast Arkansas

Northeast Arkansas is generally characterized as the area east of the Ozark Mountains and north of Interstate 40. The land is adjacent to the Mississippi River and generally flat, fertile, swampy lands sometimes called the Arkansas delta. The exception is Crowley's Ridge, a geological remnant from the Pleistocene era that raises around 200 feet (61 m) above the surrounding delta lowlands. [14] Crowley's Ridge is more populated than the sparsely populated delta, including larger cities Jonesboro, Paragould, Forrest City, and Wynne. Primary waterways in the region include the Cache River, St. Francis River, and the Black River. Protected areas of northeast Arkansas include Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Charles State Park, and Lake Poinsett State Park.

Tourists can explore some of the local Native American culture at the Nodena site, Parkin Archaeological State Park, and Hampson Museum State Park. Following settlement, most of the area relied on cotton as the primary cash crop, and was home to many powerful plantation owners in the antebellum period. After the Civil War, agriculture became based on sharecropping and tenant farming, allowing plantation owners to keep their workers in poverty and maintain their political power. Much of this history is alive today at museums like the Southern Tenant Farmers Union Museum in Tyronza. The rivers served as highways for commerce and communication in the early days, and steamboat towns of days past have been restored for visitors to enjoy, including Jacksonport State Park and Powhatan Historic State Park along the Black River. Davidsonville Historic State Park preserves one of the state's first settlements as a frontier town, also located on the Black River. The primary population center of the region is the Jonesboro metropolitan area, with Jonesboro serving as the principal city.

Southeast Arkansas

Flat land in cultivation, such as this in Desha County, is typical of Southeast Arkansas Rohwer War Relocation Center 002.jpg
Flat land in cultivation, such as this in Desha County, is typical of Southeast Arkansas

Southeast Arkansas is generally characterized as the area east of Little Rock and south of Interstate 40. The land is adjacent to the Mississippi River and generally flat, fertile, swampy lands sometimes called the Arkansas delta. This region is sparsely populated, with an economy primarily driven by agriculture. The western side of Southeast Arkansas includes the Piney Woods, a region known for dense pine and cypress forests. Silviculture and agriculture are prominent in this section of the region. Population centers include Pine Bluff, Stuttgart, Monticello, Warren and Crossett. Primary waterways in the region include the Arkansas River, Bayou Bartholomew, Mississippi River and the White River. Protected areas of southeast Arkansas include Cane Creek State Park, Delta Heritage Trail State Park, Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Chicot State Park, Mississippi River State Park, Overflow National Wildlife Refuge and White River National Wildlife Refuge.

The flat topography and fertile soils of Southeast Arkansas have been important to the region throughout its history, first to the Native American that inhabited the region. This history is available today at museums like the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Historical Museum. The area was one of the first explored and settled in Arkansas; including the territorial capital at Arkansas Post. Following widespread settlement, most of the area was put into cotton cultivation due to the region's fertile soils. The staple's high market value made many plantation owners wealthy in the antebellum period; this history is available to visitors at museums such as the Lakeport Plantation. After the Civil War, agriculture became based on sharecropping and tenant farming, allowing plantation owners to keep their workers in poverty and maintain their political power and social dominance. In the 1950s, mechanization reduced the need for laborers on the farm, driving much of the region's population elsewhere in order to find jobs. Throughout much of Southeast Arkansas, population has continued to decline and economies have continued to shrink ever since. The primary population center of the region is the Pine Bluff metropolitan area, with Pine Bluff serving as the principal city.

Southwest Arkansas

Southwest Arkansas is largely covered in a thick pine, hickory, and oak forest known as the Piney Woods, with much of the land being preserved in the Ouachita National Forest. Manmade lakes dot the region, including Lake Ouachita, Lake Hamilton, Millwood Lake, and DeGray Lake. Population centers include Hot Springs, a popular tourist destination known for the natural hot springs protected within Hot Springs National Park, Oaklawn Park racing resort, and historic buildings; and Texarkana, which straddles the Texas state line in the southwest corner of Arkansas. Most of Southwest Arkansas is sparsely populated, with small towns separated by long roadways through stands of pine trees.

Climate

Most of arkansas fall under the humid subtropical Arkansas Koppen.png
Most of arkansas fall under the humid subtropical

Arkansas generally has a humid subtropical climate. While not bordering the Gulf of Mexico, Arkansas, is still close enough to the warm, large body of water for it to influence the weather in the state. Generally, Arkansas, has hot, humid summers and slightly drier, mild to cool winters. In Little Rock, the daily high temperatures average around 93 °F (34 °C) with lows around 73 °F (23 °C) in July. In January highs average around 51 °F (11 °C) and lows around 32 °F (0 °C). In Siloam Springs in the northwest part of the state, the average high and low temperatures in July are 89 and 67 °F (32 and 19 °C) and in January the average high and low are 44 and 23 °F (7 and −5 °C). Annual precipitation throughout the state averages between about 40 and 60 inches (1,000 and 1,500 mm); it is somewhat wetter in the south and drier in the northern part of the state. Snowfall is infrequent but most common in the northern half of the state. [15] The half of the state south of Little Rock is apter to see ice storms. Arkansas's record high is 120 °F (49 °C) at Ozark on August 10, 1936; the record low is −29 °F (−34 °C) at Gravette, on February 13, 1905. [16]

Arkansas is known for extreme weather and frequent storms. A typical year brings thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, snow and ice storms. Between both the Great Plains and the Gulf States, Arkansas, receives around 60 days of thunderstorms. Arkansas is located in Tornado Alley, and as a result, a few of the most destructive tornadoes in U.S. history have struck the state. While sufficiently far from the coast to avoid a direct hit from a hurricane, Arkansas can often get the remnants of a tropical system, which dumps tremendous amounts of rain in a short time and often spawns smaller tornadoes.[ citation needed ]

Climate data

Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Arkansas Cities
CityJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAvg
Fayetteville [17] 44/24
(7/-4)		51/29
(10/-2)		59/38
(15/3)		69/46
(20/8)		76/55
(24/13)		84/64
(29/18)		89/69
(32/20)		89/67
(32/19)		81/59
(27/15)		70/47
(21/9)		57/37
(14/3)		48/28
(9/-2)		68/47
(20/8)
Jonesboro [18] 45/26
(7/-3)		51/30
(11/-1)		61/40
(16/4)		71/49
(22/9)		80/58
(26/15)		88/67
(31/19)		92/71
(34/22)		91/69
(33/20)		84/61
(29/16)		74/49
(23/9)		60/39
(15/4)		49/30
(10/-1)		71/49
(21/9)
Little Rock [19] 51/31
(11/-1)		55/35
(13/2)		64/43
(18/6)		73/51
(23/11)		81/61
(27/16)		89/69
(32/21)		93/73
(34/23)		93/72
(34/22)		86/65
(30/18)		75/53
(24/12)		63/42
(17/6)		52/34
(11/1)		73/51
(23/11)
Texarkana [20] 53/31
(11/-1)		58/34
(15/1)		67/42
(19/5)		75/50
(24/10)		82/60
(28/16)		89/68
(32/20)		93/72
(34/22)		93/71
(34/21)		86/64
(30/18)		76/52
(25/11)		64/41
(18/5)		55/33
(13/1)		74/52
(23/11)
Monticello [21] 52/30
(11/-1)		58/34
(14/1)		66/43
(19/6)		74/49
(23/10)		82/59
(28/15)		89/66
(32/19)		92/70
(34/21)		92/68
(33/20)		86/62
(30/17)		76/50
(25/10)		64/41
(18/5)		55/34
(13/1)		74/51
(23/10)
Fort Smith [22] 48/27
(8/-2)		54/32
(12/0)		64/40
(17/4)		73/49
(22/9)		80/58
(26/14)		87/67
(30/19)		92/71
(33/21)		92/70
(33/21)		84/62
(29/17)		75/50
(23/10)		61/39
(16/4)		50/31
(10/0)		72/50
(22/10)
Average high °F/average low °F (average high °C/average low°C)
Climate data for Little Rock (Clinton National Airport), 1991−2020 normals, [lower-alpha 1] extremes 1879−present [lower-alpha 2]
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)83
(28)		87
(31)		91
(33)		95
(35)		98
(37)		107
(42)		112
(44)		114
(46)		106
(41)		98
(37)		86
(30)		81
(27)		114
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C)72.0
(22.2)		75.8
(24.3)		82.2
(27.9)		86.2
(30.1)		91.3
(32.9)		96.2
(35.7)		100.2
(37.9)		101.1
(38.4)		96.2
(35.7)		89.2
(31.8)		79.6
(26.4)		72.8
(22.7)		102.4
(39.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)50.5
(10.3)		55.2
(12.9)		63.7
(17.6)		72.8
(22.7)		80.5
(26.9)		88.2
(31.2)		91.7
(33.2)		91.5
(33.1)		85.1
(29.5)		74.2
(23.4)		61.9
(16.6)		52.6
(11.4)		72.3
(22.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)40.7
(4.8)		44.7
(7.1)		52.7
(11.5)		61.4
(16.3)		69.9
(21.1)		78.0
(25.6)		81.4
(27.4)		80.8
(27.1)		74.0
(23.3)		62.6
(17.0)		51.1
(10.6)		43.0
(6.1)		61.7
(16.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)30.9
(−0.6)		34.2
(1.2)		41.8
(5.4)		50.1
(10.1)		59.3
(15.2)		67.7
(19.8)		71.2
(21.8)		70.1
(21.2)		62.9
(17.2)		50.9
(10.5)		40.2
(4.6)		33.3
(0.7)		51.0
(10.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C)16.4
(−8.7)		20.5
(−6.4)		26.6
(−3.0)		36.9
(2.7)		47.2
(8.4)		59.8
(15.4)		65.6
(18.7)		63.8
(17.7)		50.4
(10.2)		37.1
(2.8)		26.4
(−3.1)		20.3
(−6.5)		13.6
(−10.2)
Record low °F (°C)−8
(−22)		−12
(−24)		11
(−12)		28
(−2)		38
(3)		46
(8)		54
(12)		52
(11)		37
(3)		27
(−3)		10
(−12)		−1
(−18)		−12
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm)3.50
(89)		3.97
(101)		4.96
(126)		5.59
(142)		5.08
(129)		3.55
(90)		3.33
(85)		3.16
(80)		3.01
(76)		4.47
(114)		4.72
(120)		5.08
(129)		50.42
(1,281)
Average snowfall inches (cm)1.1
(2.8)		1.6
(4.1)		0.5
(1.3)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.6
(1.5)		3.8
(9.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)9.29.310.59.410.98.08.77.26.68.18.59.5105.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)0.50.90.40.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.10.32.2
Average relative humidity (%)70.268.365.466.771.170.071.671.773.570.471.070.970.1
Average dew point °F (°C)28.9
(−1.7)		32.4
(0.2)		40.3
(4.6)		49.6
(9.8)		59.2
(15.1)		66.2
(19.0)		70.2
(21.2)		68.5
(20.3)		63.1
(17.3)		51.1
(10.6)		41.7
(5.4)		32.7
(0.4)		50.3
(10.2)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 180.9188.2244.5276.7325.3346.2351.0323.0271.9251.0176.9166.23,101.8
Percent possible sunshine 58626671758080787372575470
Average ultraviolet index 2.53.85.77.68.99.69.88.97.24.93.02.36.1
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1961-1990, sun 1961−1990 at North Little Rock Airport) [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
Source 2: UV Index Today (1995 to 2022) [28]
Climate data for Fayetteville, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)76
(24)		86
(30)		96
(36)		96
(36)		95
(35)		104
(40)		111
(44)		109
(43)		105
(41)		96
(36)		90
(32)		78
(26)		111
(44)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)46.5
(8.1)		51.2
(10.7)		59.1
(15.1)		69.0
(20.6)		75.9
(24.4)		84.1
(28.9)		88.7
(31.5)		86.6
(30.3)		81.4
(27.4)		70.9
(21.6)		58.6
(14.8)		49.6
(9.8)		68.6
(20.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)36.7
(2.6)		40.6
(4.8)		48.5
(9.2)		58.1
(14.5)		66.0
(18.9)		74.8
(23.8)		79.1
(26.2)		78.1
(25.6)		70.6
(21.4)		59.4
(15.2)		48.1
(8.9)		39.7
(4.3)		58.3
(14.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)26.9
(−2.8)		30.0
(−1.1)		37.9
(3.3)		47.2
(8.4)		56.2
(13.4)		65.5
(18.6)		69.4
(20.8)		67.7
(19.8)		59.8
(15.4)		47.9
(8.8)		37.7
(3.2)		29.8
(−1.2)		48.0
(8.9)
Record low °F (°C)−23
(−31)		−24
(−31)		−11
(−24)		18
(−8)		28
(−2)		39
(4)		48
(9)		44
(7)		29
(−2)		17
(−8)		5
(−15)		−12
(−24)		−24
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm)2.57
(65)		2.31
(59)		3.74
(95)		4.51
(115)		6.01
(153)		4.68
(119)		3.59
(91)		3.44
(87)		4.53
(115)		4.05
(103)		3.99
(101)		2.86
(73)		46.28
(1,176)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)6.36.97.38.611.18.47.27.17.17.66.76.290.5
Source: NOAA [29] [30]

Hydrology

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has noted that amounts of rainfall in Arkansas are characterized by marked differences along a northeast/southwest dividing line. The northeast is characterized as arid-semiarid climate, and the southwest as a Gulf-influenced humid-subhumid climate. [31] The area that receives the most rain in the state is the area south of the Ouachita Mountains, which form an orographic effect (commonly known as rain shadow) when storms move north from the Gulf.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) describes Arkansas's water resources by using six ecoregions. Of the six, the Boston Mountain, Ouachita Mountain and Ozark Highlands ecoregions generally contain waterways with "exceptionally high quality water", including many of the state's extraordinary resources waters (ERWs). The Arkansas River Valley, Gulf Coastal and Delta ecoregions have seen adverse water quality effects from agriculture and silviculture but are generally compliant with the goals of the Clean Water Act. [32]

Surface water

Arkansas contains approximately 515,000 acres (208,000 ha) of surface waters, including 28,408 miles (45,718 km) of perennial streams and 87,618 miles (141,008 km) of total streams. ADEQ uses six ultimate receiving streams to subdivide the state into primary watersheds: Arkansas River, Mississippi River, Ouachita River, Red River, St. Francis River, and White River. This six basins collect water from over 1600 smaller watersheds throughout the state via tributary streams, as described below. [32]

Groundwater

Groundwater accounts for over 60% of water use in Arkansas, and shallow aquifers providing high quality groundwater can be found throughout the state. In many upland regions of Arkansas, surface water interacts with groundwater via karst topography common to the Ozarks and Ouachitas. Groundwater monitoring is subdivided into twelve areas. Of the twelve, the Athens Plateau (Hempstead County), Frontal Ouachita, Hardy, Omaha, Ouachita, North Central, and Pine Bluff monitoring areas have a water quality described as "generally good".

[32]

Protected areas

View from Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park Petit Jean State Park view.jpg
View from Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park

Arkansas has many protected natural areas administered by several different organizations. The Ozark Mountain forests have been subdivided into the Ozark National Forest, St. Francis National Forest, and the Ouachita National Forest, maintained by the United States Forest Service. [33] [34] The Forest Service also maintains the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness, Blanchard Springs Caverns, and several other recreational areas within the forests.

Administered by the National Park Service (NPS), Hot Springs National Park was the nation's first national park. The park includes structures from when it was a flourishing resort: Bathhouse Row is a formerly bustling avenue of Gilded Age architecture bathhouses; each drew on the spring water of the site with claims to cure dozens of ailments. There was also a racetrack and associated resort nearby.

The NPS also maintains three National Historic Sites in Arkansas: Fort Smith National Historic Site, Little Rock Central High School, and the President Clinton Birthplace. Pea Ridge National Military Park is the only National Military Park, and Arkansas Post National Memorial is the only National Memorial in the state.

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism maintains 52 state parks in Arkansas as well as Poison Springs State Forest. [4] Parks range from large forested areas for hiking enthusiasts, to lakes and rivers for watersports, to interpretive historical sites, to cemeteries celebrating historically significant Arkansans. Some of the most frequently visited parks include Mount Magazine State Park, DeGray Lake Resort State Park, Crater of Diamonds State Park, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Petit Jean State Park, Devil's Den State Park, Crowley's Ridge State Park, and Lake Ouachita State Park.

See also

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Notes

  1. ↑ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  2. ↑ Official records for Little Rock began on 1 July 1879 at the State Capitol and maintained there until 30 April 1942. The next day, and until 7 August 1942, temperature and precipitation were recorded separately at two different locations in and around Little Rock, and the official climatology station has been Adams Field since 8 August 1942. For more information, see Threadex

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozarks</span> Highland region in central-southern United States

The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Highlands or Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic region in the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and the extreme southeastern corner of Kansas. The Ozarks cover a significant portion of northern Arkansas and most of the southern half of Missouri, extending from Interstate 40 in central Arkansas to Interstate 70 in central Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouachita National Forest</span> American forest

The Ouachita National Forest is a vast congressionally-designated National Forest that lies in the western portion of Arkansas and portions of extreme-eastern Oklahoma, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Mountains</span> Highland ecoregion in Arkansas and Oklahoma, United States

The Boston Mountains is a Level III ecoregion designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. states of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Part of the Ozarks, the Boston Mountains are a deeply dissected plateau. The ecoregion is steeper than the adjacent Springfield Plateau to the north, and bordered on the south by the Arkansas Valley. The Oklahoma portion of the range is locally referred to as the Cookson Hills. There are several theories of how the mountains were named, though apparently none are related to the Massachusetts city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White River (Arkansas–Missouri)</span> River in the US

The White River is a 722-mile (1,162 km) river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri. Originating in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, it arcs northwards through southern Missouri before turning back into Arkansas, flowing southeast to its mouth at the Mississippi River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozark–St. Francis National Forest</span> United States National Forest located in the state of Arkansas

The Ozark – St. Francis National Forest is a United States National Forest that is located in the state of Arkansas. It is composed of two separate forests, Ozark National Forest in the Ozark Mountains; and St. Francis National Forest on Crowley's Ridge. Each forest has distinct biological, topographical, and geological differences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouachita Mountains</span> Mountain range in Arkansas and Oklahoma, United States

The Ouachita Mountains, simply referred to as the Ouachitas, are a mountain range in western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. They are formed by a thick succession of highly deformed Paleozoic strata constituting the Ouachita Fold and Thrust Belt, one of the important orogenic belts of North America. The Ouachitas continue in the subsurface to the northeast, where they make a poorly understood connection with the Appalachians and to the southwest, where they join with the Marathon uplift area of West Texas. Together with the Ozark Plateaus, the Ouachitas form the U.S. Interior Highlands. The highest natural point is Mount Magazine at 2,753 feet (839 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouachita River</span> River in Arkansas and Louisiana, United States

The Ouachita River is a 605-mile-long (974 km) river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana. It is the 25th-longest river in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Springs National Park</span> United States National Park in central Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park is an American national park in central Garland County, Arkansas, adjacent to the city of Hot Springs, the county seat. Hot Springs Reservation was initially created by an act of the United States Congress on April 20, 1832, to be preserved for future recreation. Established before the concept of a national park existed, it was the first time that land had been set aside by the federal government to preserve its use as an area for recreation. The hot spring water has been popularly believed for centuries to possess medicinal properties, and was a subject of legend among several Native American tribes. Following federal protection in 1832, the city developed into a successful spa town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piney Woods</span> Temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of the United States

The Piney Woods is a temperate coniferous forest terrestrial ecoregion in the Southern United States covering 54,400 square miles (141,000 km2) of East Texas, southern Arkansas, western Louisiana, and southeastern Oklahoma. These coniferous forests are dominated by several species of pine as well as hardwoods including hickory and oak. Historically the most dense part of this forest region was the Big Thicket though the lumber industry dramatically reduced the forest concentration in this area and throughout the Piney Woods during the 19th and 20th centuries. The World Wide Fund for Nature considers the Piney Woods to be one of the critically endangered ecoregions of the United States. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines most of this ecoregion as the South Central Plains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Dardanelle</span> Reservoir in Arkansas

Lake Dardanelle is a major reservoir on the Arkansas River in Arkansas, USA. and is an integral part of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), which allows barge transportation from the Mississippi River to the Tulsa Port of Catoosa in northeastern Oklahoma. MKARNS went into service along its full length in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Timberlands</span> Region of U.S. state of Arkansas

The Arkansas Timberlands is a region of the U.S. state of Arkansas generally encompassing the area south of the Ouachita Mountains, south of Central Arkansas and west of the Arkansas Delta. With several different definitions in use by various state agencies, the Arkansas Timberlands is essentially a region known for dense pine and cypress forests covering hilly terrain and lining numerous rivers. Modern settlement created a significant logging industry and subsequent clearance agriculture which provided the basis of the local economy until the discovery of petroleum. Local tourism is largely based on the popularity of deer hunting and bass fishing. Attractions there include Marks' Mills Battleground Historical Monument, Jenkins' Ferry Battleground Historical Monument, Overflow National Wildlife Refuge, Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, South Arkansas Arboretum, Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, White Oak Lake State Park, Poison Springs Battleground State Park, Millwood State Park, and Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge. The Arkansas Timberlands is the birthplace of former President of the United States Bill Clinton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Oklahoma</span>

The Geography of Oklahoma encompasses terrain and ecosystems ranging from arid plains to subtropical forests and mountains. Oklahoma contains 10 distinct ecological regions, more per square mile than in any other state by a wide margin. It is situated in the Great Plains and U.S. Interior Highlands region near the geographical center of the 48 contiguous states. Usually considered part of the South Central United States, Oklahoma is bounded on the east by Arkansas and Missouri, on the north by Kansas, on the northwest by Colorado, on the far west by New Mexico, and on the south and near-west by Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozark Highlands (ecoregion)</span>

The Ozark Highlands is a Level III ecoregion designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in four U.S. states. Most of the region is within Missouri, with a part in Arkansas and small sections in Oklahoma and Kansas. It is the largest subdivision of the region known as the Ozark Mountains, less rugged in comparison to the Boston Mountains in Arkansas, the highest part of the Ozarks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Arkansas</span> U.S. state

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the U.S. state of Arkansas:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas River Valley</span> Region in Arkansas, United States

The Arkansas River Valley is a region in Arkansas defined by the Arkansas River in the western part of the state. Generally defined as the area between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, the River Valley is characterized by flat lowlands covered in fertile farmland and lakes periodically interrupted by high peaks. Mount Magazine, Mount Nebo, and Petit Jean Mountain compose the Tri-Peaks Region, a further subdivision of the River Valley popular with hikers and outdoors enthusiasts. In addition to the outdoor recreational activities available to residents and visitors of the region, the River Valley contains Arkansas's wine country as well as hundreds of historical sites throughout the area. It is one of six natural divisions of Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Valley (ecoregion)</span> EPA Level III ecoregion

The Arkansas Valley is a Level III ecoregion designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. states of Arkansas and Oklahoma. It parallels the Arkansas River between the flat plains of western Oklahoma and the Arkansas Delta, dividing the Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains with the broad valleys created by the river's floodplain, occasionally interrupted by low hills, scattered ridges, and mountains. In Arkansas, the region is often known as the Arkansas River Valley, especially when describing the history and culture of the region.

References

  1. ↑ "Hot Springs National Park". National Park Service. February 14, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  2. ↑ Bryan, Kirk (August–September 1922). "The Hot Water Supply of the Hot Springs, Arkansas". The Journal of Geology . 30 (6). The University of Chicago Press: 425–449. Bibcode:1922JG.....30..425B. doi:10.1086/622931. OCLC   30653669.
  3. ↑ "What is the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System?". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. April 26, 2010. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Arkansas State Parks Guide, 2011. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism . Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  5. ↑ Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico, December 2009 (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Geography Division. United States Census Bureau Economics and Statistics Administration. August 31, 2010.
  6. ↑ Purdue, A. H. (November–December 1901). "Physiography of the Boston Mountains, Arkansas". Journal of Geology. 9 (8). The University of Chicago Press: 694–701. Bibcode:1901JG......9..694P. doi:10.1086/620967. OCLC   41344070. S2CID   129914010.
  7. ↑ "Land and Water Area of States (2000)". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  8. ↑ Bright, William (Winter 2003). "Native American Placenames in the Louisiana Purchase". American Speech. 78 (4). Project Muse: 354–355. doi:10.1215/00031283-78-4-353. ISSN   0003-1283. OCLC   364753642. S2CID   145464658.
  9. ↑ White, Lonnie J. (Autumn 1962). "Arkansas Territorial Indian Affairs". Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 21. Arkansas Historical Association: 202. doi:10.2307/40018929. JSTOR   40018929.
  10. ↑ "Primary Distinguishing Characteristics of Level III Ecoregions of the Continental United States". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 2000. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Region". Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Association. 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Ozark Folk Center". Arkansas State Parks Guide, 2011. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. p. 57. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  13. ↑ "What to Do: Culture Abounds in Northwest Arkansas". Arkansas Business Limited Partnership. January 1, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Regions - Crowley's Ridge". The Department of Arkansas Heritage. 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  15. ↑ Federal Writers' Project 1987, p. 8.
  16. ↑ "State Climate Records". State Climate Extremes Committee. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center. July 23, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Climate—Fayetteville—Arkansas". U.S. Climate Data. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Climate—Jonesboro—Arkansas". U.S. Climate Data. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Monthly Averages for Little Rock, AR". The Weather Channel. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Climate—Texarkana—Texas". U.S. Climate Data. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Climate—Monticello—Arkansas". U.S. Climate Data. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Climate—Fort Smith—Arkansas". U.S. Climate Data. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  23. ↑ "NowData − NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Station: Little Rock AP Adams FLD, AR". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991−2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Climatological Averages, Statistics and Records for Little Rock, Arkansas" (PDF). National Weather Service. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Little Rock Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  27. ↑ "WMO 1961–1990 Climate Normals for North Little Rock Airport". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Historical UV Index Data - Little Rock, AR". UV Index Today. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  29. ↑ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Station: Fayetteville EXP STN, AR". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  31. ↑ Brown, S.A.; Schall, J.D.; Morris, J.L.; Doherty, C.L.; Stein, S.M.; Warner, J.C. (September 2009). "Synthetic Rainfall Events". Urban Drainage Design Manual, Hydraulic Engineering Circular 22 (Third ed.). Fort Collins, Colorado: United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Figure 3-4. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  32. 1 2 3 Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (2014). "Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Assessment Report" (PDF). Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  33. ↑ "About the Ozark – St. Francis National Forests". United States Department of Agriculture - United States Forest Service . Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  34. ↑ "About the Ouachita National Forest". United States Department of Agriculture - United States Forest Service. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
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