First of all, what is 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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What 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 Canadao Chinao India
• Can you name more countries?
The USA is a country with 50 states.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
Time to Review
• 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?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!
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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Review!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?What is a border State?
• States have neighbors!o They are border states or are next to us.oArkansas has six neighbor or border
states.o Let’s learn them!
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What are the border states of What are the border states of
Arkansas?Arkansas?
• Missouri• Tennessee• Mississippi• Louisiana• Oklahoma• Texas
Border states of ArkansasBorder states of Arkansas
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaOklahoma
Texas Texas
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
Can you locate our border states?Can you locate our border states?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas
What is our neighbor state to the north or What is our neighbor state to the north or above Arkansas?above Arkansas?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas
What is our neighbor state to the north or What is our neighbor state to the north or above Arkansas?above Arkansas?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas
????
Our neighbor to the north is Missouri!Our neighbor to the north is Missouri!
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
What state borders Arkansas to What state borders Arkansas to the south or below us?the south or below us?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
????
It’s Louisiana!It’s Louisiana!
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
What state borders us to the northeast?What state borders us to the northeast?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas????
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
Did you “see” Tennessee?Did you “see” Tennessee?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas TennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
Southeast or to the bottom-right of Southeast or to the bottom-right of
Arkansas?Arkansas?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
????
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
It’s Mississippi!It’s Mississippi!
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
West, or left, of Arkansas?West, or left, of Arkansas?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee????
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
Did you do OK? It’s Oklahoma!Did you do OK? It’s Oklahoma!
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaOklahoma
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
Our largest neighbor and to the southwest? Our largest neighbor and to the southwest?
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaOklahoma
? ?
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
Texas!Texas!
– ArAr– ArArArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansasTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaOklahoma
Texas Texas
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
Arkansas is divided into six natural regionsArkansas is divided into six natural regions
• 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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Arkansas River ValleyArkansas 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
Ouachita MountainsOuachita 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
West Gulf Coastal PlainWest 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
Mississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi 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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CrowleyCrowley’’s Ridges 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.
CrowleyCrowley’’s Ridges 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.
Here are some of the major Arkansas rivers!Here are some of the major Arkansas rivers!
White River
White River
Arkansas River
Arkansas River
Ouachita RiverOuachita River
Red RiverRed River
St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River
Mississip
pi River
Mississip
pi River
SourcesSources
• There are many sources about Arkansas geography online!o Secretary of State’s websiteo 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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