Missouri History Chapter 2 A Rich Land P.25-44

Locating Missouri in the World and in the nation

Missouri’s Four Geographic Regions The Northern Plains The Western Plains The Ozark Highland The Southern Lowland

The Northern Plains A large part of the Central Lowland in Missouri constitutes a section called the Northern Plains. This section occupies almost all of the state north of the Missouri River. The Northern Plains are gentle plains composed of rock and soil particles and fragments left behind by retreating glaciers. In Missouri, continental glaciers once reached approximately as far south as the Missouri River, which marks the southern edge of the Northern Plains. After they retreated, the glaciers left behind the gentle surface of a till plain. The vegetation prior to European settlement in the Northern Plains consisted of both forest and prairie. The flat floodplains of the rivers and the adjacent belts of hills were the most wooded sections, with oak especially prominent. Areas at some distance from the major streams tend to be covered with prairie grasses interspersed with patches of woodland.

Western Plains The Osage Plains form another section of Missouri’s Central Lowland. They are often called the Western Plains. This section lies south of the Northern Plains and west of the Ozark Upland. These plains in southwestern Missouri lay south of the limit of glaciations. Their surface, having received no glacial deposits, reflects the results of erosion of the underlying bedrock and is generally smoother than that of the Northern Plains. Occasional lines of low hills have been formed where a relatively hard layer of rock has resisted erosion and stands out above the rest of the terrain. However, the relief is not impressive in this section of Missouri, nor do the streams cut the wide shallow valleys.

Ozark Highland The Ozark Highland, occupies most of Missouri south of the Missouri River. The region is also called the Ozark Mountains and sometimes the Ozark Hills or simply the Ozarks. Most of the Ozark Highland is composed of sedimentary rocks, principally soluble limestone's and dolomites, also known as carbonate rocks. Over many thousands of years surface and underground waters have burrowed the uplands into a labyrinth of thousands of caves, springs, and sinkholes Before the time of white settlers, forests covered most of the Ozark Highland. These forests consisted of many species of trees, most of which were deciduous hardwoods. Oaks were the most widespread. Mixed with the hardwoods were stands of softwoods, including cedar and pine. In most areas the forest was relatively open, with abundant grasses growing among the trees, and could be considered a woodland or savanna. In the west the forest was thinner than in the east and was interspersed with large areas of prairie grasses. Almost all of this Ozark forest is gone, but large areas are covered with small second-growth timber and scrub. In national and state forests and other managed lands the forest has returned in dense stands.

The Southern Lowland This section is known as the Mississippi Alluvial Plain or simply as the Southeastern Lowland. It is also called the Bootheel because of its shape. The Southeastern Lowland is the lowest, flattest, wettest, and most fertile part of Missouri. The lowest point in Missouri, at 70 m (230 ft), is in the Southeastern Lowland where the Saint Francis River exits the state. Before settlement much of the region was covered with standing water and a dense, swampy forest. It is now largely cleared and artificially drained. The Southeastern Lowland was the focus of some of the highest magnitude earthquakes in U.S. history. In 1811 and 1812 several earthquakes of magnitudes above 8 on the Richter Scale shook the region around New Madrid, causing some lands to sink, others to rise, and affected the course of the Mississippi River. The threat of severe earthquakes continues in the region.

Locating Missouri’s Cities

Missouri’s Rivers and Lakes Ozark National Scenic Riverway

Missouri’s Climate Summers are generally hot and humid while winters are mild with periods of very cold weather and possible ice storms. Spring and Fall are especially pleasant. Thunderstorms are frequent and sudden in the summer months and a downpour can ruin an otherwise enjoyable outing. Flash floods are a risk at all times of the year.

Review CHAPTER 2 QUIA-MO THEN AND NOW Missouri History Chapter 2 Vocabulary