Geography of Oklahoma

2.6K

Geographical Facts About Oklahoma

Area	69,903 square miles
Land Area	68,679 square miles
Water Area	1,224 square miles
Mean Elevation	395 meters
Highest Point	Black Mesa (1,515 meters)
Lowest Point	Little River (88 meters)
Geographic Center	Oklahoma County

 

General Features

 

Oklahoma is a state situated in the western south-central United States. It is bordered on the north by Colorado and Kansas; on the east by Missouri and Arkansas; on the south by Texas ; and on the west by New Mexico. The geographic center of the state is in Oklahoma County.

The landscape of North Dakota comprises ten land divisions:

• The Ozark Plateau: Covering the northeastern part of the state, the Ozark Plateau is characterized by rivers and steep valleys.
• The Prairie Plains: The area lying to the west and south of the Ozark Plateau is known as the Prairie Plains. The region has rich coal and oil reserves. Also the region is fertile and suitable for growing spinach, beans, and carrots.
• Ouachita Mountains: Lying in the southeastern region of Oklahoma, the Ouachita Mountains border the state of Arkansas. The area is very rough and is composed of sandstone ridges that run from east to west.
• The Sandstone Hills Region: The area extending south from the Kansas to the Red River is called the Sandstone Hills Region. The region covers the north central part of Oklahoma and is covered with Blackjack and Post Oak forests.
• The Arbuckle Mountains: Covering parts of south-central Oklahoma, is a hilly area known as the Arbuckle Mountains. The region is used for cattle grazing.
• The Wichita Mountains: These lie in the southwestern Oklahoma.
• The Red River Valley Region: The area covering the southern Oklahoma is known as the Red River Valley Region. The area is composed of rolling prairie. It is a fertile region ideal for the growth of cotton, peanuts, and vegetables.
• The Red Beds Plains: Lying to the west of the Sand Hills, is the largest land region in Oklahoma known as the Red Beds Plains. The region extends from the Kansas border in the north to the center of the state. The eastern region is composed of forests.
• The Gypsum Hills: Extending north to the High Plains in the northwest Oklahoma, are the Gypsum Hills. These lie west of the Red Beds Plains. The region is marked by low hills that shine because of the gypsum contained in them. The hills are therefore also called the Glass Hills.
• The High Plains: These cover the northwestern part of the state. The region is covered with level grasslands.

 

Climate of Oklahoma

Oklahoma is characterized by a humid subtropical climate. The temperatures can be extreme in some regions and moderate in the other. The highest temperature recorded in the state was 49 ºC at Tipton on June 27, 1994; while the lowest recorded temperature was ’35 ºC, at Nowata on February 10, 2011. The state is prone to severe weather storms like thunderstorms and tornadoes. The most destructive tornado occurred on April 9, 1947 ripping apart Ellis, Woods, and Woodward counties.

Mountains

Oklahoma has many high mountain peaks and summits. The highest point in the state is Robbers Roost Peak followed by Castle Rock, Winchester Mesa and Sugarloaf Mountain.

 

The major mountains are:

Antelope Hills Wolf Mountain Indian Hill Twin Hills Walnut Mountain Honobia Mountain Black Bear Mountain Mount Sheridan Tarbone Mountain

 

Rivers

There are a number of water-bodies running across the US state of Oklahoma.

The major rivers in the state are:

Red River Little River Arkansas River Canadian River Kiamichi River Glover River Blue River Salt Fork Red River Washita River

Lakes

The major lakes in the state of Oklahoma are:

Lake Texoma Eufaula Lake Lake Hudson Lake O’ the Cherokees Gibson Lake Oologah Lake Keystone Lake