Arkansas is a state in the south of the United States, belongs to the group of states of the Southwestern Center. In terms of population, it ranks 32nd among the US states (2,937,979 people; 2011 data). The capital and largest city is Little Rock.
The official nickname is The Natural State.
STATE NAME
The word “Arkansas” came into English from French. In turn, the French, who founded the first settlements on the lands of Arkansas, borrowed the word “akakaze” from the Indian language in Kuapo, which means “land of people living down the river.”
There is also a version that the name of the state comes from the language of the Sioux Indians and means “people of the south wind”).
GEOGRAPHY
The state of Arkansas is located in the South of the United States and belongs to the southwestern central states. The territory of Arkansas is 137,002 km2 (29th place in the USA).
Arkansas is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west.
Arkansas can be divided into five major physical geographic regions: the Mississippi River Valley, the Ozark Plateau, the Arkansas River Valley, the Washita Mountains, and the Gulf Coastal Plain.
HYDROGRAPHY
The Arkansas River is one of the largest tributaries of the Mississippi and the largest river in the state (as well as the sixth longest river in the United States).
CLIMATE
The state of Arkansas is characterized by a humid subtropical climate, which is greatly influenced by the proximity of the Gulf of Mexico. Winters are mild, with Little Rock, the state capital, with an average January temperature of -1°C to 10°C. Several times during the winter, snow falls in the northern part of the state, although sleet (and sometimes snowstorms) can be seen in southern Arkansas. Summers in Arkansas are hot and humid, with average July temperatures in Little Rock ranging from 22°C to 34°C. Thunderstorms are frequent (up to sixty days a year) in Arkansas. Although the state is somewhat off the “Tornado Alley”, from time to time it is hit by destructive whirlwinds.
ECONOMY
The fertile lands of Arkansas, especially in the Arkansas Delta region, are very favorable for agriculture. Rice, soybeans, wheat and other crops are grown in the fields of Arkansas. In Arkansas, many fruits (mainly apples) and berries (strawberries) are grown, and fish are farmed and processed. Of great importance for the economy of the state of Arkansas (especially its southern regions) is mining. At the beginning of the 20th century, diamonds were found in Arkansas, although it was not possible to organize their extraction on an industrial scale for various reasons.
There are no big cities in Arkansas, the majority of the state’s population lives in rural areas, so industry is not very developed here. But huge forests, numerous rivers, picturesque mountains are very conducive to the development of tourism.
TOURISM
Famed for its rivers, solitary lakes, hot springs, caves and forests, Arkansas is a great place for outdoor activities.
Largest Counties in Arkansas
Admitted as a state in 1836, Arkansas was part of the Confederacy during the Civil War. The state is known for its agricultural history and natural resources. Arkansas has 75 counties. 10 Largest Counties in Arkansas 1. Pulaski County County…
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