U.S. Interior Highlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids U.S. Interior Highlands |
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1:1000000 scale DEM of the U.S. Interior Highlands
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| Location | United States |
| Highest point – elevation |
Mount Magazine 2,753 ft (839 m) |
The U.S. Interior Highlands is a special area with mountains and hills in the middle of the United States. It covers parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and a tiny bit of Kansas. This name was given by the United States Geological Survey, which is a government group that studies the Earth.
This region combines two main parts: the Ouachita Mountains (south of the Arkansas River) and the Ozark Plateaus (north of the Arkansas River). The U.S. Interior Highlands is one of the few mountain areas found between the big Appalachian and Rocky ranges.
Contents
Exploring the Geography of the Highlands
The U.S. Interior Highlands has three main mountain ranges. Each range has its own unique features and highest points.
The Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains are found in Arkansas and Oklahoma. They have several smaller mountain groups within them. The mountains near the Arkansas River Valley are sometimes called the Frontal Ouachita Mountains. The tallest point in this range is Mount Magazine, which is 2,753 ft (839 m) high.
The Boston Mountains
The Boston Mountains are part of the Ozark Plateaus in Arkansas and Oklahoma. The highest point here is Buffalo Lookout, standing at 2,561 ft (781 m).
The St. Francois Mountains
The St. Francois Mountains are located in the Missouri part of the Ozark Plateaus. The highest peak in this range is Taum Sauk Mountain, which reaches 1,772 ft (540 m).
Forests and Nature in the Highlands
The U.S. Interior Highlands is mostly covered by temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. These are forests with many different kinds of trees, some that lose their leaves in fall and some that stay green all year.
There are three important national forests in this region:
- The Ouachita National Forest is in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
- The Ozark-St. Francis National Forest is in Arkansas.
- The Mark Twain National Forest is in Missouri.
These national forests help protect the natural beauty and wildlife of the Highlands.
Gallery
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The Ouachita Mountains from Flatside Pinnacle (November 2013)
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The Boston Mountains from Sam's Throne (December 2015)
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The St. Francois Mountains from Hughes Mountain (April 2017)
See also
You can also find information about the Interior Highlands in Spanish: Tierras altas del interior para niños
