View source for Geography of Arkansas

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
[[File:National-atlas-arkansas.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Physical and human geographic features of Arkansas]]
The '''geography of [[Arkansas]]''' varies widely. The state is covered by mountains, river valleys, forests, lakes, and bayous in addition to the [[List of cities in Arkansas|cities of Arkansas]]. [[Hot Springs National Park]] features bubbling springs of hot water, formerly sought across the country for their healing properties.<ref>{{cite web |title= Hot Springs National Park |publisher= [[National Park Service]] |date= February 14, 2012 |url= https://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm |access-date= February 18, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite journal |last=Bryan |first=Kirk |title= The Hot Water Supply of the Hot Springs, Arkansas |publisher= The University of Chicago Press |journal= [[The Journal of Geology]] |volume= 30 |issue=6 |date= August–September 1922 |pages= 425–449 |oclc= 30653669 |doi=10.1086/622931|bibcode=1922JG.....30..425B |doi-access=  }}</ref> [[Crowley's Ridge]] is a geological anomaly rising above the surrounding lowlands of the [[Mississippi embayment]].

The [[Buffalo National River]], as it flows through [[The Ozarks]] to the [[White River (Arkansas)|White River]], is a popular tourist attraction. It was designated the first national river in 1972 after years of conservation efforts in opposition to a [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] plan to dam the river. The [[Arkansas River]] enters the state near [[Van Buren, Arkansas|Van Buren]] and flows southeast through [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]] to empty into the [[Mississippi River]] near [[Arkansas Post]]. Most of the river serves barge traffic to [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], as the [[McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System]].<ref>{{cite web |title= What is the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System? |publisher= [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] |date= April 26, 2010 |url= http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/navigation/mckarns.html |access-date= February 18, 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120805153455/http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/navigation/mckarns.html |archive-date= August 5, 2012 }}</ref> Through south Arkansas, the [[Ouachita River]] and the [[Saline River (Ouachita River)|Saline River]] run roughly parallel to the Arkansas, and the major rivers in northeast Arkansas are the White River and [[St. Francis River]]. The [[Red River of the South|Red River]] runs through the southwest corner of the state.

Arkansas has many manmade lakes across the state, many are the basis for [[List of Arkansas state parks|state parks]], [[List of Arkansas Wildlife Management Areas|wildlife management areas]], or other recreation. [[Bull Shoals Lake]], [[DeGray Lake]], [[Lake Dardanelle]], [[Lake Ouachita]] all have state parks along their shores, and [[Beaver Lake (Arkansas)|Beaver Lake]], [[Table Rock Lake]], [[Greers Ferry Lake]], [[Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine]] are also major recreation lakes in the state.<ref name="guide">{{ cite book |title= Arkansas State Parks Guide, 2011 |url= http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aristotle/arkansasstateparks2011/ |publisher= [[Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism]] |access-date= February 18, 2012 }}</ref>

[[The Ozarks]] is a broad term for many mountainous counties in northwest Arkansas. This region is usually referred to the Ozarks because the term Northwest Arkansas is the colloquial name for the [[Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area]], including [[Benton County, Arkansas|Benton]], [[Madison County, Arkansas|Madison]], [[Washington County, Arkansas|Washington]] counties in Arkansas and [[McDonald County, Missouri]].<ref>{{ cite map |title= Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico, December 2009 |date= August 31, 2010 |url= http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/metroarea/us_wall/Dec_2009/cbsa_us_1209.pdf |format= PDF |publisher= [[United States Census Bureau]] Economics and Statistics Administration |cartography= Geography Division }}</ref> The Ozark, however, span from the Arkansas River in the south through north central Arkansas. The [[Boston Mountains]] subset contain highest peaks in the Ozarks.<ref>{{ cite journal |last= Purdue |first= A. H. |title= Physiography of the Boston Mountains, Arkansas |journal= Journal of Geology |volume= 9 |issue= 8 |date= November–December 1901 |pages= 694–701 |publisher= The University of Chicago Press |doi= 10.1086/620967 |bibcode= 1901JG......9..694P |s2cid= 129914010 |oclc=41344070 }}</ref>

==Location and size==
[[File:Map of USA AR.svg|thumb|right|180px|Location of Arkansas in the United States]]
Arkansas is located in the southeastern United States, in the [[West South Central States|West South Central]] [[United States Census Bureau|Census Bureau]] division. Arkansas covers an area of 53,179 square miles (137,733&nbsp;km²) and ranks as the 29th largest state by size.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108355.html |title = Land and Water Area of States (2000)| publisher = www.infoplease.com | access-date = January 29, 2012 }}</ref> The state borders six [[U.S. state]]s: [[Missouri]] to the north, [[Tennessee]] and [[Mississippi]] across the [[Mississippi River]] to the east, [[Louisiana]] to the south, [[Oklahoma]] to the west, and [[Texas]] to the southwest.

First added to the [[United States of America]] as part of the [[Louisiana Territory]] of the [[Louisiana Purchase]] in 1803, Arkansas later became part of the [[Missouri Territory]] upon its establishment in 1812.<ref>{{ cite journal |last= Bright |first= William |title= Native American Placenames in the Louisiana Purchase |publisher= Project Muse |journal= American Speech |volume= 78 |issue= 4 |date= Winter 2003 |pages= 354–355 |issn= 0003-1283 |oclc= 364753642 |doi=10.1215/00031283-78-4-353|s2cid= 145464658 }}</ref> This was further divided into the [[Arkansaw Territory]] on March 2, 1819, as everything south of [[Parallel 36°30′ north]] (except the [[Missouri Bootheel]]) to the [[Louisiana]] state line. This new territory also included most of present-day Oklahoma until gaining its current boundaries in the 1840s. The slight oddity in Arkansas's western boundary results from a dispute with the [[Choctaw Nation]] in 1824. The Choctaws wanted the western boundary of Arkansas to start 100 paces east of Fort Smith and run south to the Red River, claiming the land had little timber and poor soil. Despite protests from [[Henry Wharton Conway|Henry Conway]], President [[James Monroe]] signed the bill into law on January 20, 1825.<ref>{{ Cite journal |title= Arkansas Territorial Indian Affairs |first= Lonnie J. |last= White |journal= Arkansas Historical Quarterly |volume= 21 |date= Autumn 1962 |page= 202 |publisher= Arkansas Historical Association |doi= 10.2307/40018929 |jstor= 40018929 }}</ref>

===Regions===
{{Regions of Arkansas}}
Arkansas's regions are defined using many different criteria. Distinct natural regions of Arkansas include [[The Ozarks]], [[Ouachita Mountains]], [[Arkansas River Valley]], [[Gulf Coastal Plain]], [[Crowley's Ridge]], the [[Arkansas Delta]], [[Arkansas Timberlands]], and [[Central Arkansas#Geography|Central Arkansas]]. Arkansans usually identify as being from one of five regions: northwest, southwest, northeast, southeast, or central Arkansas. These directional regions are not specifically defined by county.

====Northwest Arkansas====
[[File:View from scenic outlook on US 62, Carroll County, Arkansas.jpg|right|thumb|View from scenic overlook in [[Carroll County, Arkansas|Carroll County]] in the heart of the Ozarks.]]
Northwest Arkansas contains the southern half of [[the Ozarks]], including the steeper [[Boston Mountains]] and the more gentle [[Springfield Plateau]]. These mountains are heavily forested by an [[Oak-hickory forest|oak-hickory]] ecosystem and less than 25% has been cleared for agriculture.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropmap/ecoreg/descript.html#39 |title= Primary Distinguishing Characteristics of Level III Ecoregions of the Continental United States |publisher= U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |date= April 2000 |access-date= March 14, 2012 |archive-date= February 16, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080216071315/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropmap/ecoreg/descript.html#39 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The [[Ozark National Forest]], administered by the [[National Forest Service]], preserves {{convert|1200000|acre|ha}} of land in northwest Arkansas, including Arkansas's highest point, [[Mount Magazine]] in [[Mount Magazine State Park]]. Also within northwest Arkansas is the [[Arkansas River Valley]] including the tri-peaks tourist region of [[Mount Nebo (Arkansas)|Mount Nebo]], Mount Magazine, [[Petit Jean State Park|Petit Jean Mountain]], and [[Lake Dardanelle]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Region |url= http://www.arvtripeaks.com/about-our-region/ |year= 2011 |publisher= Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Association |access-date= March 14, 2012 }}</ref> Federal and state protected areas such as the [[Buffalo National River]], [[Buffalo National River Wilderness]], [[Bull Shoals–White River State Park]], and [[Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area]] preserve the northwest Arkansas Ozarks in their natural state.

Population is anchored by the [[Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area]] and [[Fort Smith metropolitan area]], with sparsely populated mountainous areas defining the remainder of the region. The Ozark culture, such as [[Ozark Folk Festival]] held annually in [[Mountain View, Arkansas|Mountain View]], defines much of the rural parts of northwest Arkansas. The [[Ozark Folk Center]] in Mountain View is dedicated to preserving northwest Arkansas's folk heritage.<ref>{{ cite book |title= Arkansas State Parks Guide, 2011 |chapter-url= http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aristotle/arkansasstateparks2011/ |publisher= [[Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism]] |page= 57 |chapter= Ozark Folk Center |access-date= March 14, 2012 }}</ref> Other cultural centers are [[Bentonville, Arkansas|Bentonville]], home to [[Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art]], and [[Fayetteville, Arkansas|Fayetteville]], home to the [[University of Arkansas]] and [[Walton Arts Center]].<ref>{{cite web |title= What to Do: Culture Abounds in Northwest Arkansas |url= http://www.inarkansas.com/1028/what-to-do-culture-abounds-in-northwest.. |publisher= Arkansas Business Limited Partnership |date= January 1, 2010 |access-date= March 14, 2012 }}</ref>

====Northeast Arkansas====
[[File:Lake Frierson State Park Paragould AR 11.jpg|right|thumb|[[Lake Frierson State Park]] is atop Crowley's Ridge in northeast Arkansas]]
{{See also|Arkansas delta|Crowley's Ridge}}
Northeast Arkansas is generally characterized as the area east of the Ozark Mountains and north of [[Interstate 40 in Arkansas|Interstate 40]]. The land is adjacent to the [[Mississippi River]] and generally flat, fertile, swampy lands sometimes called the Arkansas delta. The exception is Crowley's Ridge, a geological remnant from the [[Pleistocene]] era that raises around {{convert|200|ft|m}} above the surrounding delta lowlands.<ref>{{cite web |title= Regions - Crowley's Ridge |url= http://www.arkansasheritage.com/discover/natural_environments/regions/crowleysridge.aspx |publisher= The Department of Arkansas Heritage |year= 2012 |access-date= April 28, 2012 }}</ref> Crowley's Ridge is more populated than the sparsely populated delta, including larger cities [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]], [[Paragould, Arkansas|Paragould]], [[Forrest City, Arkansas|Forrest City]], and [[Wynne, Arkansas|Wynne]]. Primary waterways in the region include the [[Cache River (Arkansas)|Cache River]], [[St. Francis River]], and the [[Black River (Arkansas)|Black River]]. Protected areas of northeast Arkansas include [[Cache River National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Lake Charles State Park]], and [[Lake Poinsett State Park]].

Tourists can explore some of the local [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] culture at the [[Nodena site]], [[Parkin Archaeological State Park]], and [[Hampson Museum State Park]]. Following settlement, most of the area relied on [[cotton]] as the primary cash crop, and was home to many powerful plantation owners in the antebellum period. After the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], agriculture became based on [[sharecropping]] and [[tenant farming]], allowing plantation owners to keep their workers in poverty and maintain their political power. Much of this history is alive today at museums like the [[Southern Tenant Farmers Union Museum]] in [[Tyronza, Arkansas|Tyronza]]. The rivers served as highways for commerce and communication in the early days, and steamboat towns of days past have been restored for visitors to enjoy, including [[Jacksonport State Park]] and [[Powhatan Historic State Park]] along the Black River. [[Davidsonville Historic State Park]] preserves one of the state's first settlements as a frontier town, also located on the Black River. The primary population center of the region is the [[Jonesboro metropolitan area]], with [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]] serving as the principal city.

====Southeast Arkansas====
[[File:Rohwer War Relocation Center 002.jpg|right|thumb|Flat land in cultivation, such as this in Desha County, is typical of Southeast Arkansas]]
{{See also|Arkansas delta|Piney Woods}}
Southeast Arkansas is generally characterized as the area east of Little Rock and south of Interstate&nbsp;40. The land is adjacent to the [[Mississippi River]] and generally flat, fertile, swampy lands sometimes called the Arkansas delta. This region is sparsely populated, with an economy primarily driven by agriculture. The western side of Southeast Arkansas includes the [[Piney Woods]], a region known for dense [[pine]] and [[Cupressaceae|cypress]] [[forest]]s. Silviculture and agriculture are prominent in this section of the region. Population centers include [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas|Pine Bluff]], [[Stuttgart, Arkansas|Stuttgart]], [[Monticello, Arkansas|Monticello]], [[Warren, Arkansas|Warren]] and [[Crossett, Arkansas|Crossett]]. Primary waterways in the region include the Arkansas River, [[Bayou Bartholomew]], Mississippi River and the White River. Protected areas of southeast Arkansas include [[Cane Creek State Park]], [[Delta Heritage Trail State Park]], [[Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Lake Chicot State Park]], [[Mississippi River State Park]], [[Overflow National Wildlife Refuge]] and [[White River National Wildlife Refuge]].

The flat topography and fertile soils of Southeast Arkansas have been important to the region throughout its history, first to the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] that inhabited the region. This history is available today at museums like the [[Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Historical Museum]]. The area was one of the first explored and settled in Arkansas; including the territorial capital at [[Arkansas Post]]. Following widespread settlement, most of the area was put into [[cotton]] cultivation due to the region's fertile soils. The staple's high market value made many plantation owners wealthy in the antebellum period; this history is available to visitors at museums such as the [[Lakeport Plantation]]. After the Civil War, agriculture became based on sharecropping and tenant farming, allowing plantation owners to keep their workers in poverty and maintain their political power and social dominance. In the 1950s, mechanization reduced the need for laborers on the farm, driving much of the region's population elsewhere in order to find jobs. Throughout much of Southeast Arkansas, population has continued to decline and economies have continued to shrink ever since. The primary population center of the region is the [[Pine Bluff metropolitan area]], with Pine Bluff serving as the principal city.

====Southwest Arkansas====
Southwest Arkansas is largely covered in a thick [[pine]], [[hickory]], and [[oak]] forest known as the [[Piney Woods]], with much of the land being preserved in the [[Ouachita National Forest]]. Manmade lakes dot the region, including [[Lake Ouachita]], [[Lake Hamilton, Arkansas|Lake Hamilton]], [[Millwood Lake]], and [[DeGray Lake]]. Population centers include [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]], a popular tourist destination known for the natural [[hot spring]]s protected within [[Hot Springs National Park]], [[Oaklawn Park]] racing resort, and historic buildings; and [[Texarkana]], which straddles the [[Texas]] state line in the southwest corner of Arkansas. Most of Southwest Arkansas is sparsely populated, with small towns separated by long roadways through stands of pine trees.

==Climate==
{{further|Climate change in Arkansas}}
[[File:Arkansas Köppen.png|thumb|All of Arkansas falls under the humid subtropical]]
Arkansas generally has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'' in the [[Köppen climate classification]]). All months average above freezing and at least one month averages above 22°C (71.6°F). According to the [[Trewartha climate classification]] the majority of the state is humid subtropical (''Cf''), while areas that only have seven months above 50°F (10°C) (mainly northern areas and in the [[Boston Mountains]]) are [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] (''Do.'')

While not bordering the [[Gulf of Mexico]], Arkansas is still close enough to the warm, large body of water for it to influence the weather in the state. Generally, Arkansas has hot, humid summers and slightly drier, mild to cool winters. In [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]], the daily high temperatures average around {{convert|93|°F|°C|abbr=on}} with lows around {{convert|73|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in July. In January highs average around {{convert|51|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and lows around {{convert|32|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. In [[Siloam Springs, Arkansas|Siloam Springs]] in the northwest part of the state, the average high and low temperatures in July are {{convert|89|and|67|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and in January the average high and low are {{convert|44|and|23|°F|°C|abbr=on}}.

Annual precipitation throughout the state averages between about {{convert|40|and|60|in|mm}}; it is somewhat wetter in the south and drier in the northern part of the state. Snowfall is infrequent but most common in the northern half of the state.<ref name="Federal Writers 1987, p. 8">Federal Writers' Project 1987, p. 8.</ref> The half of the state south of Little Rock is apter to see ice storms. Arkansas's record high is {{convert|120|F|C}} at [[Ozark, Arkansas|Ozark]] on August 10, 1936; the record low is {{convert|−29|F|C}} at [[Gravette, Arkansas|Gravette]], on February 13, 1905.<ref>{{cite web|title= State Climate Records |url= http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/scec/records |date= July 23, 2012 |publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center |website= State Climate Extremes Committee |access-date= January 4, 2013}}</ref>

Arkansas is known for extreme weather and frequent storms. A typical year brings thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, snow and ice storms. Between both the [[Great Plains]] and the [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf States]], Arkansas, receives around 60 days of thunderstorms. Arkansas is located in [[Tornado Alley]], and as a result, a few of the most destructive tornadoes in U.S. history have struck the state. While sufficiently far from the coast to avoid a direct hit from a hurricane, Arkansas can often get the remnants of a [[tropical cyclone|tropical system]], which dumps tremendous amounts of rain in a short time and often spawns smaller tornadoes.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

===Climate data===
{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|
| colspan="14" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;background:#E8EAFA;"|Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Arkansas Cities
|-
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| City
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Jan
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Feb
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Mar
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Apr
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| May
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Jun
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Jul
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Aug
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Sep
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Oct
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Nov
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Dec
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| Avg
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:Black; height:16px;"| [[Fayetteville, Arkansas|Fayetteville]]<ref>{{cite web |title= Climate—Fayetteville—Arkansas |publisher= U.S. Climate Data |url= http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USAR0189 |access-date= June 28, 2012 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 44/24<br />(7/-4)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 51/29<br />(10/-2)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 59/38<br />(15/3)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 69/46<br />(20/8)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 76/55<br />(24/13)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 84/64<br />(29/18)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 89/69<br />(32/20)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 89/67<br />(32/19)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 81/59<br />(27/15)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 70/47<br />(21/9)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 57/37<br />(14/3)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 48/28<br />(9/-2)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 68/47<br />(20/8)
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:Black; height:16px;"| [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]]<ref>{{cite web |title= Climate—Jonesboro—Arkansas |publisher= U.S. Climate Data |url= http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USAR0189 |access-date= June 28, 2012 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 45/26<br />(7/-3)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 51/30<br />(11/-1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 61/40<br />(16/4)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 71/49<br />(22/9)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 80/58<br />(26/15)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 88/67<br />(31/19)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 92/71<br />(34/22)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 91/69<br />(33/20)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 84/61<br />(29/16)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 74/49<br />(23/9)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 60/39<br />(15/4)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 49/30<br />(10/-1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 71/49<br />(21/9)
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:Black; height:16px;"| [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]]<ref>{{cite web |title= Monthly Averages for Little Rock, AR |publisher= The Weather Channel |url= http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/72201 |access-date= June 28, 2012 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 51/31<br />(11/-1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 55/35<br />(13/2)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 64/43<br />(18/6)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 73/51<br />(23/11)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 81/61<br />(27/16)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 89/69<br />(32/21)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 93/73<br />(34/23)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 93/72<br />(34/22)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 86/65<br />(30/18)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 75/53<br />(24/12)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 63/42<br />(17/6)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 52/34<br />(11/1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 73/51<br />(23/11)
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:Black; height:16px;"| [[Texarkana, Arkansas|Texarkana]]<ref>{{cite web |title= Climate—Texarkana—Texas |publisher= U.S. Climate Data |url= http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USTX1347 |access-date= June 28, 2012 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 53/31<br />(11/-1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 58/34<br />(15/1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 67/42<br />(19/5)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 75/50<br />(24/10)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 82/60<br />(28/16)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 89/68<br />(32/20)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 93/72<br />(34/22)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 93/71<br />(34/21)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 86/64<br />(30/18)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 76/52<br />(25/11)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 64/41<br />(18/5)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 55/33<br />(13/1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 74/52<br />(23/11)
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:Black; height:16px;"| [[Monticello, Arkansas|Monticello]]<ref>{{cite web |title= Climate—Monticello—Arkansas |publisher= U.S. Climate Data |url= http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USAR0385 |access-date= June 28, 2012 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 52/30<br />(11/-1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 58/34<br />(14/1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 66/43<br />(19/6)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 74/49<br />(23/10)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 82/59<br />(28/15)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 89/66<br />(32/19)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 92/70<br />(34/21)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 92/68<br />(33/20)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 86/62<br />(30/17)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 76/50<br />(25/10)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 64/41<br />(18/5)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 55/34<br />(13/1)
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 74/51<br />(23/10)
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:Black; height:16px;"| [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]<ref>{{cite web |title= Climate—Fort Smith—Arkansas |publisher= U.S. Climate Data
|url= http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USAR0197 |access-date= May 29, 2013 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 48/27<br />(8/-2)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 54/32<br />(12/0)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 64/40<br />(17/4)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 73/49<br />(22/9)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 80/58<br />(26/14)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 87/67<br />(30/19)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 92/71<br />(33/21)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 92/70<br />(33/21)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 84/62<br />(29/17)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 75/50<br />(23/10)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 61/39<br />(16/4)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 50/31<br />(10/0)
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 72/50<br />(22/10)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="14"| Average high °F/average low °F (average high °C/average low°C)
|}

{{Little Rock, Arkansas weatherbox}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[Fayetteville, Arkansas]] (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present)
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|width = auto 
|Jan record high F = 76
|Feb record high F = 86
|Mar record high F = 96
|Apr record high F = 96
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 111
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 105
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 90
|Dec record high F = 78
|year record high F = 111
|Jan high F = 46.5
|Feb high F = 51.2
|Mar high F = 59.1
|Apr high F = 69.0
|May high F = 75.9
|Jun high F = 84.1
|Jul high F = 88.7
|Aug high F = 86.6
|Sep high F = 81.4
|Oct high F = 70.9
|Nov high F = 58.6
|Dec high F = 49.6
|year high F = 68.6
|Jan mean F = 36.7
|Feb mean F = 40.6
|Mar mean F = 48.5
|Apr mean F = 58.1
|May mean F = 66.0
|Jun mean F = 74.8
|Jul mean F = 79.1
|Aug mean F = 78.1
|Sep mean F = 70.6
|Oct mean F = 59.4
|Nov mean F = 48.1
|Dec mean F = 39.7
|year mean F = 58.3
|Jan low F = 26.9
|Feb low F = 30.0
|Mar low F = 37.9
|Apr low F = 47.2
|May low F = 56.2
|Jun low F = 65.5
|Jul low F = 69.4
|Aug low F = 67.7
|Sep low F = 59.8
|Oct low F = 47.9
|Nov low F = 37.7
|Dec low F = 29.8
|year low F = 48.0
|Jan record low F = −23
|Feb record low F = −24
|Mar record low F = -11
|Apr record low F = 18
|May record low F = 28
|Jun record low F = 39
|Jul record low F = 48
|Aug record low F = 44
|Sep record low F = 29
|Oct record low F = 17
|Nov record low F = 5
|Dec record low F = -12
|year record low F = −24
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.57
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.31
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.74
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.51
|May precipitation inch = 6.01
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.68
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.59
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.44
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.53
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.05
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.99
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.86
|year precipitation inch = 46.28
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.3
|Feb precipitation days = 6.9
|Mar precipitation days = 7.3
|Apr precipitation days = 8.6
|May precipitation days = 11.1
|Jun precipitation days = 8.4
|Jul precipitation days = 7.2
|Aug precipitation days = 7.1
|Sep precipitation days = 7.1
|Oct precipitation days = 7.6
|Nov precipitation days = 6.7
|Dec precipitation days = 6.2
|year precipitation days = 90.5
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name =faynws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=tsa
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 21, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEIFay>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00032444&format=pdf
| title = Station: Fayetteville EXP STN, AR
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 21, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Hydrology==
The [[Natural Resources Conservation Service]] has noted that amounts of rainfall in Arkansas are characterized by marked differences along a northeast/southwest dividing line. The northeast is  characterized as arid-semiarid climate, and the southwest as a [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]]-influenced humid-subhumid climate.<ref>{{cite web |first1= S.A. |last1= Brown |first2= J.D. |last2= Schall |first3= J.L. |last3= Morris |first4= C.L. |last4= Doherty |first5= S.M. |last5= Stein |first6= J.C. |last6= Warner |title= Synthetic Rainfall Events |work= Urban Drainage Design Manual, Hydraulic Engineering Circular 22 |edition= Third |url= https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/hydraulics/ |at=Figure 3-4 |publisher= [[United States Department of Transportation]], [[Federal Highway Administration]] |date= September 2009 |location= Fort Collins, Colorado |access-date= February 1, 2013 }}</ref> The area that receives the most rain in the state is the area south of the [[Ouachita Mountains]], which form an [[Orographic lift|orographic effect]] (commonly known as [[rain shadow]]) when storms move north from the Gulf.

The [[Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality]] (ADEQ) describes Arkansas's water resources by using six ecoregions. Of the six, the Boston Mountain, Ouachita Mountain and Ozark Highlands ecoregions generally contain waterways with "exceptionally high quality water", including many of the state's extraordinary resources waters (ERWs). The Arkansas River Valley, Gulf Coastal and Delta ecoregions have seen adverse water quality effects from agriculture and [[silviculture]] but are generally compliant with the goals of the [[Clean Water Act]].<ref name="iwqmar">{{cite web |title= Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Assessment Report |author= Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality |year= 2014 |url= http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/water/branch_planning/303d/pdfs/integrated_wqmar_20140401.pdf |access-date= May 4, 2014 |author-link= Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality }}</ref>

===Surface water===
Arkansas contains approximately {{convert|515000|acre|ha}} of surface waters, including {{convert|28408|mi|km}} of perennial streams and {{convert|87618|mi|km}} of total streams. ADEQ uses six ultimate receiving streams to subdivide the state into primary watersheds: [[Arkansas River]], [[Mississippi River]], [[Ouachita River]], [[Red River of the South|Red River]], [[St. Francis River]], and [[White River (Arkansas)|White River]]. This six basins collect water from over 1600 smaller watersheds throughout the state via tributary streams, as described below.<ref name="iwqmar" />

*Arkansas River: flows south-southeast, roughly bisecting the state. Major tributaries include Bayou Meto, Cadron Creek, [[Fourche LaFave River]], Petit Jean River, [[Poteau River]], and [[Illinois River (Oklahoma)|Illinois River]].
*Mississippi River: flows south and forms much of the state's eastern boundary on its way to the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Major tributaries include the Arkansas, St. Francis, and White.
*Ouachita River: flows southeast into [[Louisiana]]. Major tributaries include the [[Antoine River (Arkansas)|Antoine River]], [[Boeuf River]], [[Bayou Bartholomew]], [[Little Missouri River (Arkansas)|Little Missouri River]], and the [[Saline River (Ouachita River)|Saline River]].
* Red River: located in southwest Arkansas, flows southeast into Louisiana. Major tributaries include: [[Dorcheat Bayou]], Bodcau Bayou, Lower Middle Red River, Lower Red River, [[Sulphur River]], McKinney Bayou, [[Little River (Red River)|Little River]], and [[Mountain Fork]]
*St. Francis River: located in northeast Arkansas, flows east into the Mississippi River. Major tributaries include the [[L'Anguille River]] and [[Little River (St. Francis River)|Little River]].
*White River: flows from northwest to southeast Arkansas, including a brief turn into [[Missouri]]. Major tributaries include [[Bayou De View]], [[Bayou des Arc]], [[Black River (Arkansas)|Black River]], [[Buffalo National River|Buffalo River]], [[Cache River (Arkansas)|Cache River]], [[Eleven Point River]], [[Kings River (Arkansas)|Kings River]], [[Little Red River (Arkansas)|Little Red River]], [[Spring River (Arkansas)|Spring River]], [[Strawberry River (Arkansas)|Strawberry River]], Village Creek, Wattensaw Bayou.

<gallery align=center >
File:Clinton Presidential Park Bridge Little Rock AR 2013-06-07 009.jpg|Arkansas River<br />at Little Rock
File:Greenvillebridges.jpg|Mississippi River<br />at Lake Village
File:AR Ouachita National Forest.jpg|Ouachita River in the<br />[[Ouachita National Forest]]
File:Red River near Lewisville, AR.jpg|Red River<br />at Lewisville
File:St Francis River Parkin AR 2012-05-27 008.jpg|St. Francis River<br />at Parkin
File:The White River.jpg|White River<br />at Buffalo City
</gallery>

===Groundwater===
Groundwater accounts for over 60% of water use in Arkansas, and shallow aquifers providing high quality groundwater can be found throughout the state. In many upland regions of Arkansas, surface water interacts with groundwater via [[karst]] topography common to the Ozarks and Ouachitas. Groundwater monitoring is subdivided into twelve areas. Of the twelve, the Athens Plateau ([[Hempstead County, Arkansas|Hempstead County]]), Frontal Ouachita, Hardy, Omaha, Ouachita, North Central, and Pine Bluff monitoring areas have a water quality described as "generally good".

<ref name="iwqmar" />

==Protected areas==
{{see also|List of Arkansas state parks}}
[[File:Petit Jean State Park view.jpg|thumb|right|View from Mather Lodge at [[Petit Jean State Park]]]]
Arkansas has many protected natural areas administered by several different organizations. The [[Ozark Mountain forests]] have been subdivided into the [[Ozark – St. Francis National Forest|Ozark National Forest, St. Francis National Forest]], and the [[Ouachita National Forest]], maintained by the [[United States Forest Service]].<ref>{{cite web |title= About the Ozark – St. Francis National Forests |publisher= [[United States Department of Agriculture]] - [[United States Forest Service]] |url= https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/ozark-stfrancis |access-date= February 18, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= About the Ouachita National Forest |publisher= United States Department of Agriculture - United States Forest Service |url= https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/ouachita |access-date= February 18, 2012 }}</ref> The Forest Service also maintains the [[Black Fork Mountain Wilderness]], [[Blanchard Springs Caverns]], and several other recreational areas within the forests.

Administered by the [[National Park Service]] (NPS), [[Hot Springs National Park]] was the nation's first national park. The park includes structures from when it was a flourishing resort: [[Bathhouse Row]] is a formerly bustling avenue of [[Gilded Age]] architecture bathhouses; each drew on the spring water of the site with claims to cure dozens of ailments. There was also a racetrack and associated resort nearby.

The NPS also maintains three [[National Historic Sites (United States)|National Historic Sites]] in Arkansas: [[Fort Smith National Historic Site]], [[Little Rock Central High School]], and the [[President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site|President Clinton Birthplace]]. [[Pea Ridge National Military Park]] is the only National Military Park, and [[Arkansas Post National Memorial]] is the only National Memorial in the state.

The [[Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism]] maintains 52 state parks in Arkansas as well as [[Poison Springs State Forest]].<ref name="guide" /> Parks range from large forested areas for hiking enthusiasts, to lakes and rivers for watersports, to interpretive historical sites, to cemeteries celebrating historically significant Arkansans. Some of the most frequently visited parks include [[Mount Magazine State Park]], [[DeGray Lake Resort State Park]], [[Crater of Diamonds State Park]], [[Pinnacle Mountain State Park]], [[Petit Jean State Park]], [[Devil's Den State Park]], [[Crowley's Ridge State Park]], and [[Lake Ouachita State Park]].

==See also==
* [[Arkansas Geological Survey]]
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal-inline|United States}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Arkansas}}
{{U.S. political divisions geographies}}

[[Category:Geography of Arkansas| ]]