Transcript Arkansas geography

Arkansas
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.
What is a country?
• It is a large area of land with boundaries
and a government.
• Here are the names of some countries:
o Canada
o China
o India
• Can you name more countries?
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 Arkansas?
Can you find Arkansas now?
Did you find the correct location?
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Time to Review
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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?
• 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?
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?
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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?
• States have neighbors!
o They are border states or are next to us.
o Arkansas has six neighbor or border states.
o Let’s learn them!
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What are the border states of Arkansas?
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Missouri
Tennessee
Mississippi
Louisiana
Oklahoma
Texas
Border states of Arkansas
Missouri
Oklahoma
Arkansas
– Ar
Tennessee
Mississippi
Texas
Louisiana
Missouri is above or north of Arkansas
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Tennessee is northeast of Arkansas
Mississippi is southeast of Arkansas
Louisiana is below or south of Arkansas
Texas is located southwest of Arkansas
Oklahoma is west or left of Arkansas
Can you locate our border states?
Arkansas
– Ar
What is our neighbor state to the north or above
Arkansas?
Arkansas
– Ar
What is our neighbor state to the north or above
Arkansas?
?
Arkansas
– Ar
Our neighbor to the north is Missouri!
Missouri
Arkansas
– Ar
What state borders Arkansas to
the south or below us?
Missouri
Arkansas
– Ar
?
It’s Louisiana!
Missouri
Arkansas
– Ar
Louisiana
What state borders us to the northeast?
Missouri
Arkansas
– Ar
Louisiana
?
Did you “see” Tennessee?
Missouri
Arkansas
– Ar
Louisiana
Tennessee
Southeast or to the bottom-right of Arkansas?
Missouri
Tennessee
Arkansas
– Ar
?
Louisiana
It’s Mississippi!
Missouri
Arkansas
– Ar
Tennessee
Mississippi
Louisiana
West, or left, of Arkansas?
Missouri
?
Arkansas
– Ar
Tennessee
Mississippi
Louisiana
Did you do OK? It’s Oklahoma!
Missouri
Oklahoma
Arkansas
– Ar
Tennessee
Mississippi
Louisiana
Our largest neighbor and to the southwest?
Missouri
Oklahoma
Arkansas
– Ar
Tennessee
Mississippi
?
Louisiana
Texas!
Missouri
Oklahoma
Arkansas
– Ar
Tennessee
Mississippi
Texas
Louisiana
Recall the Border States now!
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Arkansas is divided into six natural regions
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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 Mountains
Arkansas 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 River
Ouachita 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 Mountains
West 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 Plain
Mississippi 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 Plain
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Crowley’s 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.
Crowley’s 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 Review
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Can you locate the Ozark Mountains?
Did you find the correct location?
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Where is the Arkansas River Valley?
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It is here!
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Who can find the Ouachita Mountains?
Did you say here?
Find the West Gulf Coastal Plain
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Is this the location?
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Look for the Mississippi Alluvial Plain
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Here it is!
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Where is Crowley’s Ridge?
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It is here!
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The six natural regions
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Rivers of Arkansas
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Here are some of the major Arkansas rivers!
St. Francis River
Can you name the missing rivers?
Practice some more to find the rivers
Way to go!!!!!!
Sources
• There are many sources about Arkansas geography
online!
o Secretary of State’s website
o 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
[email protected].
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