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

[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]

  1. Oregon County 104,721 acres
  2. Ripley County 97,437
  3. Iron County 96,047
  4. Carter County 90,641
  5. Reynolds County 89,933
  6. Wayne County 88,372
  7. Shannon County 83,934
  8. Washington County 82,133
  9. Dent County 73,011
  10. Taney County 65,953
  11. Phelps County 65,379
  12. Barry County 55,187
  13. Christian County 52,260
  14. Madison County 51,170
  15. Howell County 50,504
  16. Crawford County 50,048
  17. Texas County 49,581
  18. Butler County 48,494
  19. Douglas County 41,030
  20. Pulaski County 39,177
  21. Ozark County 38,672
  22. Laclede County 30,542
  23. Callaway County 12,467
  24. Stone County 10,335
  25. Sainte Genevieve County 10,254
  26. Wright County 7,159
  27. Boone County 4,102
  28. Bollinger County 1,646
  29. Saint Francois County 673

[edit] References

[edit] External links