Arkansas Geography

Basic Facts

• Geographical Region: South
• Size: 53,182 sq.mi., 29th rank overall.
• Admitted to Statehood: June 15, 1836
• Population: 6,595,778; 32nd rank overall.
• Capital: Little Rock
• Other Major City: Fort Smith
• Abbreviation: AR

Fun Facts

• Nickname: The Natural State
• State Flag: Click Here (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Bird: Mockingbird (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Flower: Apple Blossom (opens window to 50states.com)

Geographical Description

• Arkansas can be divided into five main land regions; the Ozark Plateau, the Arkansas Valley, the Ouachita Mountains, the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, and the West Gulf Coastal Plain.
• The Arkansas River is the largest in the state.
• The Ouachita Mountains are south of the Arkansas Valley, a group that runs from eastern Oklahoma to central Arkansas and are known for their minerals, timber and hot springs.
• The West Gulf Coastal Plain covers the southeastern and south central portions of the state along the border of Louisiana, and is characterized by pine forests and farmlands.
• Arkansas contains over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of streams and rivers.
• 47 hot springs flow from the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain, at an average temperature of 143 F
• The highest point is Magazine Mountain at 2,753 feet above sea level, and the lowest point is the Ouachita River at 55 feet above sea level
• The Arkansas River is the longest stream to flow into the Mississippi-Missouri river system. Its total length is 1,450 miles.

Map: Relief Map of AR

Industry

Food processing, electronic equipment, furniture, machinery,lumber abd paper, bromine, vanadium, petroleum, natural gas, bauxite

Agriculture

Poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, dairy, turkeys, catfish

Other Information

Fun Facts:

• Arkansas is home of the only active diamond mine in the United States.
• The state contains two-and-a half million acres of national forests, seven national scenic byways, six national park sites, three state scenic byways, and 50 state parks.
• Stuttgart is home to the World's Championship Duck Calling Contest held annually.
• Mount Ida is known as the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World.
• The Arkansas Post was established in 1686 near the mouth of the Arkansas River. It was the first permanent white settlement in the state.
• In 1985, milk was officially designated as the state beverage.
• The largest freestanding rock formation located in Eureka Springs has a base circumference of about 10 inches and the top measures almost 10 feet across.
• An Arkansan is a person from Arkansas.
• Sadly, one of the few remaining unpolluted, free-flowing rivers in the U.S. is the Buffalo River.

More Fun Facts: http://www.50states.com/facts/arkansas.htm