Mark Twain National Forest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is a national forest located in the southern half of Missouri. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The MTNF covers approximately 1.5 million acres (6,100 km²), 78,000 acres (320 km²) of which are Wilderness, and National Scenic River area. MTNF spans 29 counties and represents 11% of all forested land in Missouri. MTNF is divided into six distinct ranger districts: Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs, Eleven Point, Houston-Rolla-Cedar Creek, Poplar Bluff, Potosi-Fredericktown, and the Salem. The six ranger districts are actually comprised of nine overall unique tracts of forests. Its headquarters are in Rolla, Missouri.
Some unique features of the Mark Twain include Greer Spring which is the largest spring on National Forest land, pumping an average of 222 millions gallons of water per day.[citation needed] The public can also visit the Glade Top Trail National Scenic Byway, which offers views of over 30 miles to the Boston Mountains in Arkansas.
Contents |
[edit] History of MTNF
In the 1870s, citizens of southern Missouri began an era of extensive logging of the state's native oak, hickory, and pine forests. Lumber mills were commonplace, but by the 1920s they had disappeared, along with much of the state's native forests. Thus, in 1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the MTNF into existence. In March of 1933, he also created the Emergency Conservation Work Act, better known as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In the area that would later become Mark Twain National Forest, hundreds of young men at over fifty CCC sites worked at building roads and planting hundreds of acres of pine to preserve and enhance the natural resources of southern Missouri. Many of their contributions can still be visited and enjoyed today.
[edit] Entertainment
Also, people of all ages come down to this splendid place to ride their ATV's among the trails, such as motorcycles and four-wheelers, that are all throughout the park. There is also a day care center for the little ones.
[edit] Wilderness areas
- Bell Mountain Wilderness
- Devils Backbone Wilderness
- Hercules-Glades Wilderness
- Irish Wilderness
- Paddy Creek Wilderness
- Piney Creek Wilderness
- Rockpile Mountain Wilderness
[edit] Counties
Although it is far from being the largest National Forest in acreage, Mark Twain National Forest is located in more counties than any other. As of September 30, 2007, its 1,490,862 acres (2,329.47 sq mi, or 6,033.3 km²) were spread over parts of 29 counties in southern and central Missouri. [1]
- Oregon County 104,721 acres
- Ripley County 97,437
- Iron County 96,047
- Carter County 90,641
- Reynolds County 89,933
- Wayne County 88,372
- Shannon County 83,934
- Washington County 82,133
- Dent County 73,011
- Taney County 65,953
- Phelps County 65,379
- Barry County 55,187
- Christian County 52,260
- Madison County 51,170
- Howell County 50,504
- Crawford County 50,048
- Texas County 49,581
- Butler County 48,494
- Douglas County 41,030
- Pulaski County 39,177
- Ozark County 38,672
- Laclede County 30,542
- Callaway County 12,467
- Stone County 10,335
- Sainte Genevieve County 10,254
- Wright County 7,159
- Boone County 4,102
- Bollinger County 1,646
- Saint Francois County 673
[edit] References
- ^ Table 6 - NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County - United States Forest Service - September 30, 2007
[edit] External links
- Mark Twain National Forest. USDA Forest Service. Retrieved on February 06, 2006.