Mammoth Spring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mammoth Spring |
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The Mammoth Spring outlet at normal flow stage. Pictured from the east looking westwardly.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| Region | Ozark Plateau |
| City | Mammoth Spring |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Spring River watershed Salem Plateau, Ozark Plateau, Missouri |
| River mouth | Spring River Mammoth Spring, AR 490 ft (150 m) 36°29′51″N 91°32′08″W / 36.49750°N 91.53556°W |
| Basin features | |
| U.S. NNL | Designated 1972 |
Mammoth Spring is a huge natural spring located in Arkansas. It's found in the Ozark Plateau region. This amazing spring is the biggest in Arkansas. It is also the third-largest in the Ozark Plateau. Only Big Spring and Greer Spring in Missouri are larger. Mammoth Spring is actually the seventh-largest natural spring in the entire world!
The water from the spring flows into a large pool. This pool is completely inside Mammoth Spring State Park. The park is in the town of Mammoth Spring. This town is in the very northern part of Arkansas. You can easily see the spring's pool from US Highway 63. It's only about 500 feet south of the Missouri border. The large amount of water from the spring rushes a short distance. Then it joins the Warm Fork of the Spring River. Together, they form the Spring River. The cold water from the spring makes the Spring River a great place for trout fishing. It also provides plenty of water for fun water sports. In 1972, Mammoth Spring was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very special natural place in the United States.
What is Mammoth Spring?
Water that falls as rain in southern Missouri soaks into the ground. This water then travels through a huge system of underground tunnels and open spaces. These spaces form an underground river. This hidden river eventually comes out of the ground at Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.
The water creates a 10-acre pool when it emerges. This pool then flows over a tall stone dam. The spring releases about 322 cubic feet of water every second. That's a lot of water! The water always comes out at a cool 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius). You can't see where the spring actually starts. Its opening is more than 70 feet (21 meters) below the surface of the large spring pool.
About nine miles northwest of Mammoth Spring, you can see part of this underground river. It's at a collapsed cave in Grand Gulf State Park in Missouri. This part of the cave is now a deep chasm, about 130 feet (40 meters) deep. There's even a natural bridge over it. Scientists have done tests using dye. These tests showed that water flowing through the chasm at Grand Gulf comes out at Mammoth Spring.
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How the Spring Was Used
For a long time, people used the power of Mammoth Spring. Early European settlers used it to run a gristmill. A gristmill grinds grain into flour. The Mammoth Spring Milling Company built a dam and a water-powered mill near the spring's outlet.
Later, in 1925, a company bought the dam. They built a hydroelectric plant there. This plant used the force of the water to create electricity. It provided power to the nearby towns until 1972.
Visiting Mammoth Spring State Park
Mammoth Spring State Park was created in 1957. However, it took until 1972 to get all the land for the park. Before that, there was a cattle sales barn where the Welcome Center is now. Farmers would come to sell their animals and other goods. Eventually, the state decided to add this land to the park.
The old Frisco Depot building was fixed up in 1971. Now, it's a museum. It holds old items and memories about the railroad and the spring area. The State Park offers a visitor's center, places for picnics, and walking trails. You can also take tours of the dam and the old hydro plant.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service also has a fish hatchery near the spring. This is where young fish are raised before being released into rivers and lakes.
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