1. Oklahoma Geography and Geology

2. Diversity 70,000 sq miles/45 million acres/18th in size
“Panhandle”—added in 1890
Bordered by: Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, and New Mexico.
10 Distinct Geographic regions
KEY WORD—ANOMALY!

3. 3 MAJOR LANDFORM TYPES:
Plains—Great Salt Plains, Red Bed Plains, Prairie Plains
Mountains—Ozark, Ouachita, Arbuckle, Wichita
Plateaus/Mesas—Black Mesa, Ozark Plateau

4. 10 Geographic Regions High Plains Gypsum Hills Wichita Mountains
Red Bed Plains
Arbuckle Mountains
Sandstone Hills
Prairie Plains
Ozark Plateau
Ouachita Mountains
Red River Plains

5. High Plains Northwestern OK Level grasslands High elevation
Low precipitation
Buffalo grass
Juniper and Pinion Trees
Economic Activities: Winter wheat, cattle, petroleum, natural gas

6. Gypsum Hills Western OK Low hills capped with Gypsum Sandy soil
Extreme temperatures
Shallow Rivers
Low precipitation
Similar to Red Bed plains

7. Wichita Mountains SW Oklahoma Made of Granite and Rhyolite.
Among the oldest mountains on Earth.

8. Red Bed Plains Western/ Central Oklahoma Largest region in Oklahoma
Rolling prairie
Forest in eastern part
32 inches of rain/ year
Tall bluegrass and short buffalo grass
Post oak and Black jack oak trees
Wide rivers
Red soil
Economic Activities: Winter wheat cotton, cattle, horses, natural gas, and oil

9. Arbuckle Mountains Southern Oklahoma Low mountains
Unusual rock formations
Cattle grazing

10. Sandstone Hills North-central Oklahoma Rolling Hills
Tall prairie grass
Scrub oak trees
Sandy soil
Blackjack and Post oak trees
Oil Drilling began here

11. Prairie Plains Northeastern OK Low Sandstone Ridges
High forested ridges
Rivers run N to S
Bluestem grass
Economic Activities: Coal, oil, natural gas, livestock, agriculture

12. Ozark Plateau/ Ouachita Mtns.
Northeast OK
Huge forests filled with Hickory, Oak and Pine Trees
Unique rock formations, springs, and waterfalls,
Deep rivers
Economic Activities: Wood pulp processed, coal, cattle grazing.

13. Ouachita Mountains

14. Red River Plains Southeastern Oklahoma Low elevation Sandy soil
Long growing seasons
Pine and Cypress Trees
Agriculture/ Fertile Soil, Livestock,
Evidence of old plantations worked by slave labor

15. TWO MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS:
Arkansas—Cimarron, Verdigris, Canadian, Illinois
Red—North Fork, Washita, Kiamichi
All flow West to East…

16. West to East Less rain  more rain Higher elevation  lower elevation
Black Mesa-elevation: 4973 ft.
-rainfall: 15 in/yr
McCurtain County: elevation: 300 ft.
-rainfall: 52 in/yr

17. Red Dirt Very FERTILE!! 1997 Agricultural production $4,146,351,000
Crops=22%
Livestock=78%

18. Climate Warm Gulf air + cool northern air= TORNADOES—mainly in spring
Average wind speed= 14 mph; perfect for WIND power

19. McClellan-Kerr Navigation System
McClellan-Kerr Navigation System—series of locks and dams on Arkansas River to decrease flooding, increase trade/commerce.
Originates at Tulsa’s Port of Catoosa and runs southeast through OK and Arkansas to Mississippi River.

20. Oklahoma Geology

21. 400 Million Years Ago
Vast prehistoric sea covered this area and plant and animal debris sank to the sea floor eventually becoming coal deposits.

22. 300 Million Years Ago
Volcanic eruptions/ plate shifts caused mountains to rise up (Arbuckles) and waters became trapped beneath the surface (ground water).
These became aquifers that still supply water for large areas of Oklahoma
Oglalla Aquifer could cover the entire surface of the state to a depth of 7 feet.
Value: $1 Billion

23. 65 Million Years ago
Dinosaurs became extinct, but their remains formed what would become SWAMP TREASURE: PETROLEUM (crude oil and natural gas).
Vast oil and gas fields lay beneath OK today as a result.
1983: value reached a high of $11 Billion
1997: $6 billion
OK is among the 5 leading oil producing states
OK is third highest natural gas producer.

24. Mineral Industry Greatest source of state revenue
Total oil production: over 14 billion barrels since 1891 (all time high was 1927—278 million barrels)
Top five oil-producing areas:
near Ardmore and Healdton in Carter County, near Enid in Garfield County, and near Guymon in Texas County.
Total natural gas production: over 85 trillion cubic feet since 1905.
The largest Natural Gas fields:
Texas County and Beaver County and Haskell County

25. Extra Credit What is the scientific name for rose rocks?
Why is our dirt red?
When was the most powerful earthquake in Oklahoma?
When was the most recent?