The 5 Themes of Geography in

Location…. Arkansas is located in the Southeast region of the United States. It is considered a land-locked state because it is surrounded by land on all sides.

Rogers is located in the North West corner of the state. 36.33 N, 94.14 W

Region…….. Because of Arkansas’s diverse landscape, the state is divided into 6 regions. Can you determine which region we live in?

Place….. This theme includes the geographic features of a place. One of Arkansas’s nicknames is “The Natural State”. There is a reason for that. We are surrounded by beautiful geographic features and untouched nature. This theme also includes human features, or features that where built by humans. The themes of Place and Human & Environment Interaction overlap quite a bit. Let’s watch this advertisement for tourism in the state of Arkansas to see how Place and Interaction work together to create recreation, tourism and economy support for Arkansas!

Crowley’s Ridge

Buffalo River

Cedar Falls at Petit Jean Mountain

Devil’s Den State Park

Loess Canyon at Crowley’s Ridge

A Waterfall at Crowley’s Ridge

The River Delta

Place also include human features, or places created by humans…..

The Clinton Library & museum in Little Rock The Clinton Library & museum in Little Rock. One of 6 presidential libraries in the country.

Crystal Bridges museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR.

The Old Main building at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR Arkansas is also home to 50 college campuses other than the U of A Fayetteville.

Fort Chaffee outside of Fort Smith, AR Fort Chaffee outside of Fort Smith, AR. Used now as a training facility for the Arkansas National Guard. In the past, Fort Chaffee has served as a Vietnamese refugee camp and a Prisoner of War camp. It has even appeared on Ghost Adventures and as a set for several movies.

Human & Environment Interactions……. One of the bridges over the Arkansas River in Little Rock. The bridge allows for trains to cross safely over the river, but also lifts to allow largo cargo vessels to pass underneath.

Eureka Springs, AR and Hot Springs, AR are 2 of the many Arkansas towns & state parks that are built around natural springs. Early explorers in Arkansas (back in the 1600’s) believed that the natural springs of Arkansas had mystical healing powers.

War Eagle Mill, located in War Eagle, AR was built in the 1800’s by a young couple who settled by the creek and used the power of the water to grind their wheat crop into flour. Their mill became a popular place for nearby settlers to picnic and visit while waiting for their wheat to be milled. How does the mill show human/ environment interaction? . Even though the mill had to be rebuilt several times due to destruction from floods and Civil War fires, it is still standing today and has become an iconic symbol of Northwest Arkansas!

Arkansas is home to dozens of state parks which provide jobs and attract tourists to Arkansas

Crater of Diamonds in Murfreesboro, Arkansas is the only diamond mine in the world that allows the public to dig for diamonds! How is this an example of “Human/ environment Interaction?” Other natural resources are coal, natural gas and petroleum. We are also the #1 producing state in the world for Bromine! And we lead the nation in natural production of quartz crystal, bauxite and silica stone.

Crude oil was also pumped in El Dorado, Arkansas as you can see form this photograph taken in 1921. Crude oil is another natural resource that helps to support the economy. There are currently 14 crude oil companies in El Dorado. Smackover is another oil town in Arkansas.

Arkansas also has a very productive timber industry Arkansas also has a very productive timber industry. The different kinds of trees are good for producing various types of papers, furniture, particle board, lumber, chemicals and charcoal. The timber industry is another way the environment helps to support the economy in Arkansas.

Farmlands and crops are another economical support system Farmlands and crops are another economical support system. Arkansas is the leading state in rice production in the country! Most of the rice in Arkansas is marketed through Riceland Foods which is located in Stuttgart, Arkansas in the delta area.

Other Arkansas crops are soybeans, which can be used to make many non-food products, and grapes, which are grown for wine production. Currently, there are 3 large vineyards and wineries in Arkansas whose wine is sold throughout the country. They are Post Family, Wiederkehr, and Chateau Aux Arc. Soybeans Vineyard in Fort Smith

Arkansas is 6th in the nation for cotton production. Arkansas also produces fruit crops that are normally grown in temperate climates such as pumpkins, apples, peaches, watermelons, & tomatoes.

Movement…. Early explorers and settlers relied on the river systems in Arkansas for transportation and trade. The first Arkansas Posts were established along the Arkansas River.

Then, a railroad system was built allowing for faster transportation for importing and exporting good as well as travel. The Frisco Line runs through Northwest Arkansas and throughout surrounding states. It was the Frisco Line that led to the development of our town of Rogers, AR!

Nowadays, highways allow movement of people, goods and ideas. Intrastate highways Interstate Highways

i40 Hw71 Hw 62 i55 Our major interstate highways are: Our major intrastate highways are: i30

Don’t we live in an awesome state Don’t we live in an awesome state?! Aren’t we lucky to be surrounded by such beauty and culture? And there is more to learn!! If you’d like to explore our state further, visit these websites: