Courtois Hills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Courtois Hills |
|
|---|---|
 Courtois Hills
Location in Missouri
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,001 ft (305 m) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
The Courtois Hills are a beautiful and rugged part of the Ozark Mountains in southeast Missouri. They are one of several hilly areas that surround the main part of the Ozarks, called the Salem Plateau.
Contents
Exploring the Courtois Hills
The Courtois Hills might not have the tallest mountains, but they are known for their very rough and steep land. This area, along with the town of Courtois, gets its name from Courtois Creek. This creek (pronounced "Cote-o-way" or "Curt-o-way") is one of many rivers that flow through narrow, steep valleys. The hills are separated by sharp ridges. This Crawford County creek was one of the first places settled in the region.
Amazing Natural Features
The Courtois Hills have lots of interesting rock formations. You can find exposed limestone and ridges made of chert. The area is also famous for its many natural springs. Some of these include Greer Spring, Round Spring, and Alley Spring near Eminence. There's also Big Spring near Van Buren.
Other cool landforms here are caves, sinkholes, and solution caves. An example is the Sinks natural tunnel. It's found on Sinking Creek, which flows into the Current River.
Life and Work in the Hills
It took a long time for people to settle in the Courtois Hills. The tough land made it hard to build homes and farms. By 1811, settlers had reached the edges of the Courtois Hills. But they first moved into areas to the east, north, and west of the main Ozark plateau. The Courtois Hills were one of the last places to be settled.
Past and Present Industries
In the past, timber (wood from trees) was the biggest part of the economy here. From the late 1880s until about 1920, big companies like the Missouri Lumber and Mining Company cut down millions of trees. They mainly harvested short-leaf Southern yellow pine. Today, the narrow ridges of the Courtois Hills are often covered with oak trees.
More recently, people have found and mined lead and zinc in the area. The hilly land makes it hard to farm. So, most farming and towns are found only in the wider valley floors. The best places for farming are in the southern part of the region. Here, rivers like the Castor, St. Francis, Black, and Current Rivers have made the valleys wider. The many springs also provide plenty of fresh water.
