Missouri is a state located in the Midwestern United States. It is bounded on the north by Iowa; on the east by Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee; on the south by Arkansas; and on the west by Oklahoma, Kansas, and
|
|
- The Mississippi Alluvial Plain: The region lies in the southern part of the state and is made up of fertile black lowlands. Cotton, soybeans, and rice are grown in the region.
- The Ozark Plateau: The largest land area of Missouri, the Ozark Plateau comprises most of southern Missouri and extends into northern Arkansas and northeastern Oklahoma. Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest elevation in the state is located in this region. The area is well known for its forests, mountains, large springs, lakes and rivers.
| Area | 69,709 square miles |
| Land Area | 68,898 square miles |
| Water Area | 811 square miles |
| Highest Point | Taum Sauk Mountain (540 meters) |
| Lowest Point | St. Francis River (70 meters) |
| Mean Elevation | 240 meters |
| Geographic Center | Miller County |
Climate
Missouri has a variety of climatic conditions across the state. Generally the state has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and hot and humid summers. The monthly average temperatures range from 90.5 degrees to 19.4 degrees. The highest temperature recorded is 48 °C at Warsaw and Union on July 14, 1954; on July 15, 1936 at Clinton; and on July 18, 1936 at Lamar. The lowest temperature in Missouri is -40°C, recorded on February 13, 1905 at Warsaw. Thunderstorms and tornadoes are common in the state. Most tornadoes occur in the spring time. The most recent EF5 tornado in the state was the 2011 Joplin tornado, which destroyed roughly one-third of the city of Joplin.
MountainsMissouri has many high mountain peaks and summits. Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest peak in the state, followed by Wildcat Mountain, and Buford Mountain.The other chief mountain peaks in the state are:
|
The major rivers in Missouri are:
- Big Piney River
- Black River
- Blackwater River
- Charriton River
- Current River
- Eleven Point River
- Gasconade River
- James River
- Marais des Cygnes River
- Mississippi River
- Missouri River
- Osage River
- St. Francis River
The major lakes in Missouri are:
- Table Rock Lake
- Clearwater Lake
- Lake Wappapello
- Bull Shoals Lake
- Lake of the Ozarks
- Harry S. Truman Reservoir
- Mark Twain Lake
- Stockton Lake
| Missouri State Profile |
|
|
