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Place Name
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Ozarks, the
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Place Status (Type)
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region
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Location
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Missouri, United States, North America
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Latitude
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unknown
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Longitude
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unknown
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Ozarks, the
or Ozark Highland, upland region, actually
a dissected plateau, and sometimes called Ozark Mountains,
c.50,000 sq mi/129,500 sq km,
chiefly in S Mo. and N Ark., but partly in Okla. and Kansas, bet. the
Arkansas and Missouri rivers. The Ozarks, which rise from the
surrounding plains, are, in a few places, locally referred to as mts.
Composed of igneous rock over 1 billion years old overlain mostly by
limestone and dolomite, the anc. landform has been worn down by
erosion. Summits (knobs) are found wherever there is a resistant
igneous rock outcrop, as in the St. Francois Mts. of SE Mo. The Boston
Mts. are the highest and most rugged sect., with several peaks more
than 2,000 ft/610 m high. The Ozarks are
metalliferous, esp. in lead, zinc, and iron, especially in the St.
Francois Mts. and the Joplin areas. Cattle raising and wood prods. are
major activities; fruit-growing areas are prevalent. Traditional
household crafts have been maintained and promoted for the tourist
industry. The Ozarks have many large lakes that were created by dams
across numerous rivers; the dams generate electricity. The scenic
Ozarks, with forests, caves, lakes, streams, and springs, are
a popular tourist region, and the construction of summer homes and
large retirement communities there has grown.
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