Arkansas Arkansas GeographyGeography

First of all, what is geography?First of all, what is geography?

• “Geo” stands for earth• “Graphy” is defined as the study of

something• Geography is the study of the earth!• Let’s look at one specific part of the

earth.

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The United States of America is a country.The United States of America is a country.

What is a country?What is a country?

• It is a large area of land with boundaries and a government.

• Here are the names of some countries:o Canadao Chinao India

• Can you name more countries?

The USA is a country with 50 states.The USA is a country with 50 states.

• States are areas within a country with their own government.

• Arkansas is one of those 50 states!• You live in the

state of Arkansas!

Arkansas

Can you point to the state of Can you point to the state of

ArkansasArkansas??

Can you find Arkansas now?Can you find Arkansas now?

Did you find the correct location?Did you find the correct location?

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Time to Review

• What is the definition of geography?• What is a country?• In what country do you live?• What is a state?• In what state do you live?

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What is a county?What is a county?

• Many states in the USA are divided into smaller land units called counties.

• There are 75 counties in Arkansas. Look at the map on the next slide to see if you can find your county!

Can you find your county?Can you find your county?

Capital of Arkansas

• Every state has a capital city.o The state government is located in this city.o Little Rock is our capital city.• It is located in the center of the state ( see

the star on the map in the next slide.)• It is located in Pulaski County.

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Can you find the star?Can you find the star?

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Review!Review!

• What is a county?• Arkansas is divided into how many

counties?• In which county do you live?• What is our capital city?• In what county is the city of Little

Rock located?

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What is a border State?What is a border State?

• States have neighbors!o They are border states or are next to us.oArkansas has six neighbor or border

states.o Let’s learn them!

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What are the border states of What are the border states of

Arkansas?Arkansas?

• Missouri• Tennessee• Mississippi• Louisiana• Oklahoma• Texas

Border states of ArkansasBorder states of Arkansas

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaOklahoma

Texas Texas

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

Missouri is above or north of ArkansasMissouri is above or north of Arkansas

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Tennessee is northeast of ArkansasTennessee is northeast of Arkansas

Mississippi is southeast of ArkansasMississippi is southeast of Arkansas

Louisiana is below or south of ArkansasLouisiana is below or south of Arkansas

Texas is located southwest of ArkansasTexas is located southwest of Arkansas

Oklahoma is west or left of Arkansas

Can you locate our border states?Can you locate our border states?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas

What is our neighbor state to the north or What is our neighbor state to the north or above Arkansas?above Arkansas?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas

What is our neighbor state to the north or What is our neighbor state to the north or above Arkansas?above Arkansas?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas

????

Our neighbor to the north is Missouri!Our neighbor to the north is Missouri!

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

What state borders Arkansas to What state borders Arkansas to the south or below us?the south or below us?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

????

It’s Louisiana!It’s Louisiana!

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

What state borders us to the northeast?What state borders us to the northeast?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas????

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

Did you “see” Tennessee?Did you “see” Tennessee?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas TennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

Southeast or to the bottom-right of Southeast or to the bottom-right of

Arkansas?Arkansas?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

????

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

It’s Mississippi!It’s Mississippi!

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

West, or left, of Arkansas?West, or left, of Arkansas?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee????

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

Did you do OK? It’s Oklahoma!Did you do OK? It’s Oklahoma!

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaOklahoma

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

Our largest neighbor and to the southwest? Our largest neighbor and to the southwest?

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaOklahoma

? ?

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

Texas!Texas!

– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaOklahoma

Texas Texas

MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri

MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi

LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana

Recall the Border States now!

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Arkansas is divided into six natural regionsArkansas is divided into six natural regions

• Ozark Mountains• Arkansas River

Valley• Ouachita Mountains• West Gulf Coastal

Plain• Mississippi Alluvial

Plain• Crowley’s Ridge

Ozark Mountains

• The Ozark Mountains are in northwest Arkansas.

• The mountains are a result of a heavily eroded plateau.

• There are many lakes, rivers, streams in the region.

• The area is covered in forest.

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The Ozark MountainsThe Ozark Mountains

Arkansas River ValleyArkansas River Valley

• The area is between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains.

• It was carved by the Arkansas River.

• It has very fertile soil in this area and an abundance of water

• The capital city of Little Rock is located in the area

The Arkansas RiverThe Arkansas River

Ouachita MountainsOuachita Mountains

• They are located in western Arkansas south of the Arkansas River Valley

• These mountains are narrow ridges of folded rock

• Pine forest grow here• Large valleys exist for

growing crop

Ouachita MountainsOuachita Mountains

West Gulf Coastal PlainWest Gulf Coastal Plain

• Located in southern Arkansas, this area was once covered by the ocean

• There are a lot of pine-tree covered hills in this region

West Gulf Coastal PlainWest Gulf Coastal Plain

Mississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Alluvial Plain

• This region has rich soil due to flooding of the Mississippi River.

• It is mainly a flat area with some forests.

• Forests also exist in the Plain.

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Mississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Alluvial Plain

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CrowleyCrowley’’s Ridges Ridge• Crowley’s Ridge is

located in east Arkansas inside the Mississippi Alluvial region.

• The Ridge is 3-12 miles across and reaches a height of up to 300 feet above surrounding lowlands.

• It is covered with forest.

• The dust from the ridge erodes easily.

CrowleyCrowley’’s Ridges Ridge

• The ridge is named for Benjamin Crowley, who was one of the first Europeans to live in the area.

• The ridge extends north into Missouri and ends at the city of Helena, Arkansas.

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

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Can you locate the Ozark Mountains?Can you locate the Ozark Mountains?

Did you find the correct location?Did you find the correct location?

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Where is the Arkansas River Valley?Where is the Arkansas River Valley?

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It is here!It is here!

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Who can find the Ouachita Mountains?Who can find the Ouachita Mountains?

Did you say here?Did you say here?

Find the West Gulf Coastal PlainFind the West Gulf Coastal Plain

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Is this the location?Is this the location?

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Look for the Mississippi Alluvial PlainLook for the Mississippi Alluvial Plain

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Here it is!Here it is!

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Where is CrowleyWhere is Crowley’’s Ridge?s Ridge?

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It is here!It is here!

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The six natural regionsThe six natural regions

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Rivers of ArkansasRivers of Arkansas

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Here are some of the major Arkansas rivers!Here are some of the major Arkansas rivers!

White River

White River

Arkansas River

Arkansas River

Ouachita RiverOuachita River

Red RiverRed River

St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River

Mississip

pi River

Mississip

pi River

Can you name the missing rivers?Can you name the missing rivers?

Practice some more to find the riversPractice some more to find the rivers

Way to go!!!!!!Way to go!!!!!!

SourcesSources

• There are many sources about Arkansas geography online!o Secretary of State’s websiteo DAH Website

The Arkansas Natural Resources Council has resources on the geography of Arkansas. It can be accessed through the DAH website (www.arkansasheritage.com). For more information contact Jane Jones-Shultz at

501-324-9159 or email her at Jane@arkansasheritage.org.

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